Tag Archives: Show Jumping

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Kutscher and Obolensky Are in a Class of Their Own at Zurich

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YouTube: http://youtu.be/wK0-_t4Gq08

Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Frieler.

Zurich (SUI), 29 January 2012 – Germany’s Marco Kutscher steered Cornet Obolensky to victory in the tenth qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series at Zurich in Switzerland this afternoon.  The 13 year old stallion produced an exhibition of effortless jumping to outclass the rest of the 40-strong field on a tough day that saw six riders opting to retire in the opening round.

Course designer, Rolf Ludi, really piled on the pressure with a colossal track that quickly separated the best from the rest.  But one man who was unfortunate to miss a place in the seven-horse jump-off was Belgium’s Ludo Philippaerts whose 14 year old Kassini Jac left all the fences intact, only to be penalised for crossing the finish line just outside the 69-second time limit.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, JRPR, Products/Services, Show Jumping

Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award during First Week of Winter Equestrian Festival

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Ljubov Kochetova. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 26, 2012) – Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova showed off her upbeat attitude while competing a five-year-old Westphalian gelding named Corrado during the first week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival, and her positive attitude helped her take home the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is presented to a barn or rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show and the winner receives a gift certificate for $100 worth of Premier products.

Kochetova, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, competed in the 2008 Olympics aboard Ilion Kilen. She said she currently has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London. “We are still in the middle of the race to see who will compete in the Olympics,” she said.

Kochetova was pleased to win the Premier Sportsmanship Award. “I am very grateful to Premier,” she said. “Corrado is a very young and inexperienced horse so if he wins anything I am thrilled.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson Claims the Green & Gold

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Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson wearing the Green & Gold at the ninth qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping in Leipzig (GER). Photo: Karl-Heinz Frieler / ROLEX

Swedish show jumper Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson has claimed the coveted Green & Gold armband from Canadian rider and Rolex Testimonee, Eric Lamaze, after he was crowned the Number One rider in the world according to the latest Rolex Rankings. Bengtsson is the first ever Swede to become the number one ranked rider in the world.

Lamaze originally held the Green & Gold between July and August 2010, and also between June and December 2011; however, following impressive performances at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifiers in Lyon (first place), Stuttgart (third place) and Geneva (second place), Bengtsson soon staked his claim to the Number One spot.

Bengtsson’s great run of recent form also includes fourth place in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Abu Dhabi (UAE); fourth place at the CSI5* in Paris (FRA); and fifth place in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier in London Olympia (UK). Not forgetting his individual victory at the FEI European Championships in Madrid (ESP), Bengtsson had a truly remarkable 2011; his achievements were duly recognised when he won Sweden’s most prestigious sports award at the Swedish Sports Gala 2012.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Contributors/Press, Events, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

The Rolex One to Watch – January 2012

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Germany’s René Tebbel, pictured here riding Light On, shares the Rolex One to Watch for January 2012 with Shalva Gachechiladze of Georgia. Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

25 January 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for January 2012 is jointly awarded to René Tebbel (GER) and Shalva Gachechiladze (GEO). The pair both jumped from number 304 to 238 during December – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 66 places.

Based in Emsbüren, Germany, 42-year-old René Tebbel had a very successful young riding career, winning gold at the German Junior Championships in 1986 and again at the European Junior Championships the following year. Tebbel went on to win team silver at the 1990 World Cup, and his victories did not end there.

Tebbel won gold in the German Championships in 2005 riding Source Homme, and won again in 2006 and 2007 riding Coup de Coeur. As well as his successes at the German Championships, Tebbel has also earned numerous first and second place rankings at various Grand Prix events with horses Radiator, Farina and Levien of Cabanes. Tebbel also trains his two children, Maurice and Justine, who are amongst the best young riders in Germany for their age groups.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Eventing/H.T., Events, Polo, Show Jumping

Devoucoux Sponsors Team of Riders for Pro DerbyCross Competition

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(Wellington, Florida, January 25, 2012) Devoucoux fielded a strong team of riders for the Pro DerbyCross competition held on Friday January 20, 2012 during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington Florida.  The Professional Riders Organization produced this innovative competition, in which teams compete individually against the clock over a hybrid course of cross-country and show jumping obstacles.  All proceeds benefited Operation Homefront, an organization providing emergency financial relief for U.S. service members and their families as well as Wounded Warriors during their recovery.

Each of the 5 teams consisted of two event riders, a polo player and a showjumper. Team sponsors included Devoucoux, the premier French saddle maker, Farmvet/Cavalor, the source for animal health products and premium feeds, Guardian, a premium horse bedding, Omega Alpha, effective supplements through science, Smartpak, the innovator in equine supplements, and Windsor, a private residential sporting club.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Ahlmann Takes the Win at Leipzig, but Eckermann Steals the Spotlight

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YouTube: http://youtu.be/d9kwx59_26o

Defending series champions, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet, won the ninth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series in Leipzig, Germany today. Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Frieler.

Leipzig (GER), 22 January 2012 – Defending champion, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, returned to the scene of his 2010/2011 triumph to win the ninth qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series at Leipzig, Germany this afternoon.

Host-nation competitors filled the top-three places, but both the winner, and third-placed multiple champion Marcus Ehning, had to take a back seat in the aftermath as the spotlight shone brightly on rising star Katrin Eckermann who was pipped for pole position by only the narrowest of margins.  The 21 year old from Muenster, who has just emerged at Senior level after a highly-successful career in Young Riders, produced a thrilling and polished performance to take runner-up spot and has put her name firmly on the German radar.  She said afterwards that today’s competition will be her last indoor outing of the season as she has other plans for her lovely grey gelding Carlson.  But everyone, including her German counterparts, agreed that this self-effacing young lady’s name will feature prominently in future years.  A new German jumping star has announced her arrival.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

15 Year Old Emanuel Andrade Makes Grand Prix Debut in $25k A-T Grand Children’s Benefit

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Emanuel Andrade makes Grand Prix debut, by Jack Mancini, Mancini Photos.

Emanuel Andrade (15) made his debut in the Open Jumper arena in the $25,000 A-T Children’s Benefit Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida at onset of 2012.  The teen, who champions the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com), faced off against stiff competition from a field of top international riders, including Olympic veterans and Debbie Stephens, Pablo Barrios and Step By Step Advisory Board member Margie Engle.

Andrade rode two horses, Oxford and La Fe Florli, in the class. After the 45 rounds had been completed, Andrade took the 11th place with La Fe Florli and the class was won by Catherine Pasmore aboard Van David.  The second place ribbon went to veteran Andrew Bournes and third place went to iconic Olympic rider Rodrigo Pessoa.  The formidable young equestrian took the Championship in the Junior Jumpers Low division riding P.S. I Love You and placed second in the Junior Jumper Highs on Luky Des Roquelines the same week.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Polo, Show Jumping

Team Guardian Tops the Field at PRO DerbyCross in Wellington

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Team Guardian. Photos: Stockimageservices.com

Wellington, FL – January 21, 2012 – It was an epic night for Team Guardian who dominated PRO DerbyCross at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

A team event with teams of five made up of three eventing riders, a show jumper and a polo player, jumped a hybrid cross country and show jumping course and the fastest combined score won.

Captain Karen O’Connor’s squad was so impressive that she didn’t have to jump for a score (one eventing score gets dropped) but she led her team to a dominating effort on Team Rebecca’s Veronica – impressing the crowds as the final competitor.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Lillie Keenan Triumphs in USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search

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Laura Chapot and Valentia Take Top Prize in World Development Group 1.35m Jumpers

Lillie Keenan and Monterrey. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – Forty-one of the nation’s top young riders showed in the USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search in Wellington this morning with a win for Lillie Keenan aboard Chansonette Farm LLC’s Monterrey. Riders showed over a course set by Danny Moore, of Spring Hill, FL, and the top twelve were invited to return under saddle.

The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.

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Community/Charity, Show Jumping, USEF

McLain Ward Breaks Leg in Fall

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McLain Ward and Oh d'Eole winning the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1. Photo by Sportfot

It’ll be mid-May before grand prix fans might see two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward back in the ring. Ward, 36, suffered a compound fracture of his left patella, or kneecap, on the evening of Jan. 14.

Ward was riding Oh d’Eole in the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix during the first week of competition at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. Oh d’Eole, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare, had won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 two days before. “She was getting a little green under the lights [during the night class],” said Ward.

They ran into trouble at a one-stride combination. “She jumped so high jumping into the combination over A that I went to pull her out from the B, but she left the ground anyway. Then, I hit my kneecap on the standard.”

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