Category Archives: Show Jumping

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Gold for Team Europe at Youth Olympics

August 20, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

MedalPresentation-EuropeanTeam — Team Europe celebrates winning gold in the Youth Olympic Games Team Jumping - back row (L-R): Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Wojciech Dahlke (POL) and front row (L-R): Carian Scudamore (GBR) and Valentina Isoardi (ITA). (Photo: IOC)

20 August 2010 – Team Europe has won the coveted team gold at the Youth Olympic Games after a nail biting jump-off between three teams in a day of unsurpassed excitement in the jumping arena.

Three teams – Europe, Australasia and Africa – were all on four penalties going into today’s second round and it proved to be a battle to the end for these continents. It looked as though Europe would clinch gold when their last rider, Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), cleared fence after fence with Gippsland Girl in what was looking like another wonderful clear for Europe. But a rail down at the last fence left Europe, Australasia and Africa tied on eight penalties, forcing a jump-off against the clock over a shortened course to determine the medal placings.

Both Europe and Australasia picked up four faults in the crowd-pleasing jump-off, but Europe’s faster overall time earned the gold, Australasia got silver and Africa bronze, to the huge delight of the riders and their supporters. After the historic presentation of medals for the first ever Youth Olympic Games equestrian competition, the riders galloped joyously around the ring on their lap of honour, elation at winning an Olympic medal evident on every smiling young face.

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Edwina Alexander Interview – Rolex Diary

August 18, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Edwina Alexander is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Here are Edwina’s third and fourth entries.

The last couple of months…

Itot has recovered well from his slight injury and we have both been very busy over the last couple of months on the Global Champions Tour (GCT), and have competed in Cannes (which I won with Itot, and was the only rider with three clear rounds), Monte Carlo, Estoril and Chantilly (I came third and was beaten by two ladies – Laura Kraut (1st) and Pénélope Leprevost (2nd). He really feels back to his normal self which is great and he’s been jumping extremely well.

I went to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco where we stayed with some friends and had a spectacular view as the cars came out of the tunnel. It was great to see a fellow Aussie (Mark Webber) win, although it was disappointing that the National Anthem was played a day late and not in Hamburg!

After the GCT round in Turin I went to Wiesbaden where I had a really good show, and on the first day I was second with Socrates (Cevo Socrates), and my young horse, Kisby (8-y-o), was second in the young horses. The following day I won the final of the youngster tour and Socrates was fourth in one of the other classes. Zorro rode in the Grand Prix and he was clear, but he just got a little bit green in the jump off and he had a couple down, which was a shame.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

National Horse Show Association of America Announces 2010 Dates and Locations for ASPCA Maclay Regionals

August 17, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

New York, NY – August 17, 2010 – The National Horse Show Association of America is pleased to announce the dates and locations for this year’s ASPCA Maclay Regional competitions. The horse shows’ qualifying classes determine which riders will compete in this year’s ASPCA Maclay National Championship, which will be held at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 127th National Horse Show on November 3-7, 2010.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden in 1987, and Nicole Shahinian Simpson in 1992. The 2008 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, and in 2009 Zazou Hoffman, of Santa Monica, CA, was named the winner.

Separate entry blanks for the ASPCA Maclay Regionals must be mailed to the National Horse Show. All other classes and stall requests should go directly to the host horse show.

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Niklas Lindbäck Claims HSBC Honours on Home Ground at Malmö

August 16, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

NLindback-841L — Niklas Lindbäck and Mr Pooh claimed the HSBC honours on home ground in Malmö, Sweden (Photograph: Lotta Gyllensten/FEI)

16 August 2010 – Niklas Lindbäck scored a popular home win in the 10th leg of the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing at Malmö (SWE) and boosted Swedish spirits at what was an important national team trial before the forthcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA) next month.

Lindbäck, who rose from 10th after Dressage on Mr Pooh to take the top spot after Cross-Country with the second-fastest round, held on to win with a clear over the coloured poles. “I’m so very pleased with my horse and with my whole team. It’s great to win on home ground and I’m glad the crowd appreciated it. It’s been a good competition in which riders were certainly put to the test,” he said afterwards.

Two other Swedish riders finished in the top 10, Katrin Norling and her experienced Pandora Emm, third, and Malin Larsson on Piccadilly, ninth. But aside from Australian visitor Clayton Fredericks’s eighth place on Brookleigh, German riders were the main beneficiaries.

Dressage leader Simone Deitermann (GER) was second on her Badminton hero Free Easy NRW, while three of her compatriots are now making serious headway on the FEI HSBC World Cup rankings, which are still led by Michael Jung (GER).

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

Laura Kraut Wins Again in Valkenswaard

August 14, 2010 Associate Editor 1 Comment

lauraGP — Laura Kraut. Photo by Lulu Kyriacou.

Laura on the Double!

14/08/10 – There was no stopping Laura Kraut at Valkenswaard today. Having already won the warm up speed class on Unique, she proceeded to cap a memorable day by jumping three clears for the second time in two weeks to clinch her second GCT Grand Prix victory in the same period! The American who prior to Chantilly had never won a Grand Prix on the series, now has a back to back double, something that has not happened in recent GCT history, if ever. Today’s show was also especially notable as His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Monaco was among the audience.

The first round was another Uliano Vezzani masterpiece. With nearly every fence falling at some point the bogey fences were probably the combination (vertical, two strides, oxer, one stride, vertical) and the early line which included the open water with five strides to a double. But the course still produced 12 clear rounds from 50 starters, including Laura, GCT rankings leader Marco Kutscher (Cash) and former GCT Champion Jessica Kurten (Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois). With a share of the million Euro bonus at stake and only Rio left to score points towards winning it, there was a lot to play for as the second round started over a changed but slightly shorter course. Pressure was put on the leaders by the first of the four faulters from the first round, Judy Ann Melchior with Levisto Z. The grey made it all look easy although Kevin Staut matched the feat on another grey, Silvana, but it was looking for a while as if a double clear would never happen. The capacity crowd groaned as Patrick McEntee (Chivas Mury Marais), Penelope Leprevost (Topinambour), Jos Lansink (Valentina Van T’Heike), Beezie Madden (Coral Reef Via Volo), Alvaro de Miranda (AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan) and Jessica Kurten all lowered one rail each leaving all of them on a total of four over two rounds. Laura was the first to go double clear and then she was joined by Christian Alhmann and Taloubet Z, Denis Lynch with Latinus and almost inevitably, Marco Kutscher.

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

GCT Valkenswaard Day One – Ben and Simon Just Quickest

August 13, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

ben — Ben Maher. Photo credit: Lulu Kyriacou

Ben Maher Best in 14 Horse Jump Off

13/08/11 – Ben Maher flew to Valkenswaard from a short holiday break and showed he had made the best of the rest when he snatch victory in the 1.50m class this afternoon in Valkenswaard by only three tenths of a second. Riding Oscar who belongs to Ben’s holiday hosts, Mr and Mrs Cook, he rode a superlative jump off despite losing a stirrup over the second last fence. The win was all the more outstanding because Ben has only been jumping the horse competitively for a few weeks; GCT Chantilly was one of their first international outings together. “He just gets better and better,” said a smiling rider afterwards. Fourteen horses had been presented for the jump off over Uliano Vezzani’s course so the winner was bound to be the one who was the bravest, particularly as there was a long gallop to the last. Bernardo Alves, who was the first one to really attack the jump off course on his Monaco winner Bridgit and his time of 43.67 took nearly three seconds off the previous leaders, Gerco Schroder and Eurocommerce Pennsylvania, who ended up fifth. Emilio Bicocci and Olea brought the crowd to their feet but they could only managed 41.15. Michel Robert tried the same audacious gallop to the last that had worked so well in Chantilly with Kellemoi de Pepita but failed by over a second although 45.62 did earn him 1600 Euro for fourth spot.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

Death of Canadian Olympian Walter Pady

August 12, 2010 Associate Editor 1 Comment

12 August 2010 – The FEI deeply regrets the death this week of 1952 Helsinki Olympian and former Chair of the Canadian Equestrian Team, 77-year-old Walter Pady, following a car accident in Ontario.

Initially identified as an Eventing talent and a member of Canada’s first Olympic equestrian team in the three-day event competition in Helsinki (FIN), Mr Pady switched to Jumping and scored a number of top placings during Canada’s first European show jumping tour in 1954.

At the end of his competitive career, Mr Pady dedicated himself to Canadian equestrianism. Chairman of the Canadian Jumping team for 10 years, he was then chair of the Canadian Equestrian Team in the 1980s, contributing hugely to the development of Canadian horse sport.

The FEI expresses its condolences to Mr Pady’s family and friends.

Media Contact:

Grania Willis
FEI Director Press Relations
Tel: +41 787 506 142
Email: grania.willis@fei.org

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping, Uncategorized

FEI Awards – “One in 1.3 Billion Rider” Encourages Equestrian World to Send Nominations

August 10, 2010 Associate Editor Leave a comment

10 August 2010 – China’s first Olympic Eventing rider Alex Hua Tian is urging the equestrian community to make its nominations for the five-category 2010 FEI Awards.

Hua Tian, whom the Chinese media dubbed the “one in 1.3 billion” in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, won the FEI’s HSBC Rising Star Award last year. The award rewards a rider aged between 14 and 21 who demonstrates significant talent and outstanding commitment. The judging panel, chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya, selected Hua Tian for his riding skills and the unwavering dedication that enabled him to cope with intense press scrutiny and pressure before and during the 2008 Olympic Games.

“I was deeply moved to have been nominated by my instructors, Nicola Ward, a New Zealander who, with her Irish Husband, John, taught me in Hong Kong when I was eight years old and by Tamara Weal, who taught me in England when I was 11,” said Hua Tian. “I am sure that in every Pony Club, Riding Club or community there must be many outstanding young riders, who would be hugely inspired to have their passion and dedication encouraged by being nominated for the FEI Awards. I know I was.”

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Welcoming Waters Ceremony for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Be Held during Betsy Gala and World Cup Qualifier

August 9, 2010 Associate Editor 5 Comments

Cone005113 — Mac Cone and Ole. Winners of the 2009 $50,000 Hagyard World Cup Grand Prix, CSI2*-W Lexington, KY. Photo (c) 2009 Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, KY – August 9, 2010 – With only one month until the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) the Kentucky Horse Park is already preparing for the opening day. On August 20, 2010, the Welcoming Waters Ceremony will take place in the new Indoor Ring. During the ceremony the nine regions being represented during WEG will present water to the First Lady of Kentucky Jane Beshear. The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be held prior to the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic World Cup Qualifier. During the World Cup Qualifier, spectators can purchase a table at “The Betsy Gala” to watch international riders compete for the top prize.

The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be a chance for each region to give a gift to First Lady Jane Beshear. This offering symbolizes the equestrians from each region giving a gift to Kentucky for hosting the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The water will mimic the Olympic flame, which burns during the length of the Olympics. Once the World Equestrian Games has concluded the water will be transported to Normandy, France where the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games will be taking place.

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European Champion Takes Over Number One Slot in Rolex Rankings

August 9, 2010 Associate Editor 1 Comment

StautK_EuroChJU09kh2197 — European champion Kevin Staut (FRA) has taken over the number one slot in the Rolex Rankings for the first time in his Jumping career. (Photograph: Kit Houghton/FEI)

9 August 2010 – European champion Kevin Staut has jumped up to claim the world number one slot in the latest edition of the Rolex Rankings published by the FEI today.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who won individual gold at last year’s Alltech FEI European Jumping Championships in Windsor, has moved up from third to take over the Green and Gold armband from Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN).

Lamaze, who held the world number one position last month, has now dropped down to second ahead of Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer.

Staut has been a pivotal member of the French team that last week claimed its second successive victory in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Dublin. His consistent performances in the series have now been further rewarded with a first-ever world number one slot in the Rolex Rankings for the popular French star.

View the full Rolex Rankings at www.fei.org.