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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 11 Jumping Championship

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Saudi Arabia's Khaled Al Eid jumped into the individual lead with Presley Boy today in the Jumping Championship at the WEG. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

GERMANY JUMPS AHEAD ON TEAM LEADERBOARD, SAUDI ARABIA’S AL EID HEADS INDIVIDUAL RANKING by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 5 October – As the American team lost their grip on pole position, Germany snatched the lead in the Jumping Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA today.  And, lying fifth overnight, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Al Eid rocketed to the top of the individual leaderboard when all those ahead of him faltered.  The 41 year old Saudi rider added just a single time penalty to his tally in an otherwise flawless performance from his stallion, Presley Boy, but the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist has his tutor, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, breathing down his neck going into tomorrow’s next Championship leg.  It’s going to be a hard-fought battle for the 2010 individual title, with only a fence dividing the top 13 riders heading into the third day of competition.

Brazil lies second in the team standings, less than a fence behind the leading Germans, while only fractions further in arrears in third, the host nation holds a narrow advantage over Canada, with France and Saudi Arabia in fifth and sixth places.  Perhaps not the biggest surprise of the day was the success of the strong Australian foursome who produced two of just 17 clear rounds to move up from 14th to seventh position. Belgium lies eighth, Sweden ninth and Great Britain holds tenth spot, and only the top ten teams from today’s competition go through to tomorrow evening’s second round team medal decider.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12279

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ALLTECH FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 10 Jumping Championship

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Mario Deslauriers and Urico won the first qualifier to help put the USA in pole position in the Jumping Championship at the WEG today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

AMERICANS TAKE THE LEAD AS JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 4 October – The host nation took a firm grip on both the team and individual leaderboards as the Jumping Championship got underway at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA today. Mario Deslauriers steered the powerful gelding Urico into pole position in the exciting Speed event, which is both the first individual qualifier and the class that decides the rankings for tomorrow’s team competition.  And he had the best back-up around in the shape of fellow-American McLain Ward who steered the great mare Sapphire home just a little slower to slot into runner-up spot.

As expected, the US riders, who are strongly tipped for medals this week, came out with all guns blazing.  But there were plenty of surprises throughout the day and the biggest of these was the spectacular performance of Hungary’s Sandor Szasz who slotted into third place.  Riding Moosbachhofs Goldwing the relatively unknown 39 year old stormed into the lead with a clear round in 71.79 seconds as the first half of the competition was coming to a close. But, with just four left to run before the lunch-break, Deslauriers and Urico raced through the timers in 71.25 seconds to re-set the target.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12271

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U.S. Tops First Day of Jumping World Championships, Presented by Rolex

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Mario Deslauriers

Lexington, Ky., Oct. 4, 2010 — U.S. riders Mario Deslauriers, on Urico, and McLain Ward, on Sapphire, set the pace in the first leg of the team competition at the Jumping World Championships, presented by Rolex. Their performance led the U.S. team to the top of the team rankings, with two more days of team jumping to go at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Deslauriers and Urico stopped the clock after a clear round in 71.25 seconds. Ward and Sapphire, riding almost five hours later in the field of 121 horses, fell just short, in 71.79 seconds.

Sandor Szasz of Hungary, who is competing in his first international championship and has never placed in a major international competition before, surprised his competitors and the roaring crowd in the Rolex Arena by urging Moosbachhofs Goldwing through the finish in 73.24 seconds.

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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 10 Eventing/Jumping

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Michael Jung

CORRECTED FINAL RESULTS FOR EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIP, JUMPING BEGINS THIS MORNING … by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 4 October – Please find below corrected final results for the Eventing Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky which finished yesterday with Great Britain taking the team title and Germany’s Michael Jung securing an all-the-way individual win with La Biosthetique Sam.

ALLTECH FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES – EVENTING, FINAL RESULT

Team: Great Britain 139.40; 2, Canada 151.50; 3, New Zealand 154.50; 4, USA 160.30; 5, Germany 200.70; 6, Belgium 227.10; 7, Ireland 236.50; 8, France 245.70; 9, Japan 334.10.

Individual: 1, La Biosthetique Sam NRW (Michael Jung) GER 33.00; 2, Cool Mountain (William Fox-Pitt) GBR 42.00; 3, Nereo (Andrew Nicholson) NZL 43.50; 4, Gazelle de la Brasserie (Karin Donckers) BEL 44.40; 5, Redesigned (Pippa Funnell) GBR 45.50; 6, Imperial Cavalier (Mary King) GBR 46.20; 7, Clifton Promise (Jonathan Paget) NZL 46.40; 8, Vettori (Stuart Tinney) AUS 47.60; 9, Port Authority (Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch) CAN 48.20; 10, Neville Bardos (Boyd Martin) USA 49.50.

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Cross-Country Keeps Germany’s Jung atop Eventing World Championships

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October 2, 2010 – Lexington, KY – As the day’s third-last starter, Germany’s Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW made the cross-country course look easy at the Eventing World Championships, presented by Reem Acra.  The pair added nothing to their dressage penalty score of 33.00, to keep the lead they took yesterday in the dressage phase at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Creeping up behind Jung after equally impressive rounds are Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain, finishing on their dressage score of 42.00, and USA’s Becky Holder on Courageous Comet, finishing on 42.50.

Of the 79 horses that started today’s course, 60 finished (75.9%).  Some 13 riders, including Jung and Fox-Pitt, finished faster than the ideal time of 11:14 and added nothing to their dressage penalties.

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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 9 Eventing Final Result

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The British team of Nicola Wilson, Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King celebrate their team gold medal winning performance in the Eventing Championship at the WEG. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

TEAM GOLD FOR BRITAIN AS JUNG TAKES INDIVIDUAL TITLE FOR GERMANY by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 3 October – In a nail-biting conclusion to the Eventing Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky today, the British stood firm to claim team gold and Germany’s Michael Jung did likewise to take the individual title.  Jung’s win was delivered with consummate ease when, last into the arena, he produced another flawless performance from his 10 year old gelding La Biosthetique Sam.  And Britain’s William Fox-Pitt, whose polished ride with Cool Mountain secured individual silver, paid the highest compliment to the winner, who led the competition from the outset.  When asked what he thought of the German rider’s result, he said, “Quite honestly it’s a case of Michael Jung – 1, the rest – nowhere! He’s so far ahead we’ve all got our work cut out for us for the next two years!”

The British triumph was the first in a World Championship since 1994 and it was achieved in the best possible way, with clears from Fox-Pitt, Mary King (Imperial Cavalier) and Nicola Wilson (Opposition Buzz) while Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) had two fences down. There was turmoil on the leaderboard, with the USA slipping out of medal contention and having to settle for fourth place while the sensational Canadians moved up into silver and New Zealand took bronze.

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Catherine Haddad and Shawna Harding Repeat Their Victories at Dressage at Devon

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Catherine Haddad wowed the crowd at Dressage at Devon with an exciting Grand Prix Freestyle set to the music of Pink's Funhouse. All Photos: Hoof Print Images

Devon, PA — Spectators come to Dressage at Devon to see show stopping performances, and Catherine Haddad with her exuberant Winyamaro delivered! The striking chestnut with the flowing flaxen forelock demonstrated powerful passage and floating half-passes to the music of Pink from her Funhouse album. The crowd cheered their approval and the judges rewarded the effort with a 74.250% and the blue ribbon for the second consecutive evening.

“I never had so much fun riding in a horse show,” said a clearly elated Catherine Haddad. “The atmosphere is fantastic.” Haddad compared Dressage at Devon with the World Cup qualifiers in Europe and found the electric environment perfectly suited her 10-year-old gelding’s personality. The flashy Hanoverian seemed to enjoy the crowd and his job. Haddad chose Pink’s music for Winyamaro because, “He’s Pink trapped in a horse’s body! When you turn on music like that, he just dances.”

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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 8 Eventing Cross Country

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Dressage leaders Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam from Germany maintained their lead in the Eventing Championship following a superb cross-country round at the WEG today. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

BRITISH TEAM GALLOPS INTO THE LEAD, BUT GERMANY’S JUNG STILL HEADS INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS…..by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 2 October – After walking the cross-country course earlier in the week, riders agreed that the result of the Eventing Championship at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky would not be decided in the dressage arena, and they were proven right today.  But no-one could have imagined just how influential Mike Etherington-Smith’s 28 fence track would be.  On a day of high drama and fantastic competition, and in front of a massive crowd of over 50,000 spectators, the dressage team order was dramatically altered as the British were the only ones to stand firm.  However Michael Jung kept the German flag flying high with a brilliant late run from La Biosthetique Sam to hold onto individual pole position.

“The atmosphere all around the park with such huge crowds was very special for me,” a jubilant Michael Jung said.  “I had a lot of fun today, and so did my horse.  I’d put the saddle on him and ride it all over again right now if I could!” said the excited leader.

ROCKETED UP THE LEADERBOARD
As the final jumping phase gets underway tomorrow morning Jung has a nine point advantage over Britain’s William Fox-Pitt who rocketed up the leaderboard from 12th to second place when one of 12 to come home clear and inside the time today.  And America’s Becky Holder lies third, separated from silver medal position by only 0.5 penalties after a thrilling cross-country run with the aptly-named Courageous Comet.  She cannot rest easy however because Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas are just 0.4 further in arrears while New Zealand veteran, Andrew Nicholson is less than one point further adrift in fifth place with Nereo.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12260

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Catherine Haddad and Shawna Harding Win Dressage at Devon Grand Prix

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Expatriate Catherine Haddad and her charming Winyamaro showcased the power and beauty of Grand Prix dressage. All photos: Hoof Print Images

Devon, PA — The Dressage at Devon performance division kicked off today with a Prix St. Georges class that ran from morning until night before Heather Blitz topped the field of 35 riders. Many of the competitors were thinking ahead to next summer, as Dressage at Devon serves as one of the early qualifiers for the Pan American Games. The international classes continued under the lights with two Grand Prix classes, won by Catherine Haddad and Shawna Harding, along with horse-themed entertainment and the 35th Anniversary party.

Grand Prix for Freestyle
Leading the victory gallop in the Grand Prix for Freestyle was American Catherine Haddad riding Winyamaro. Although Haddad has won many classes in Europe, this was the first time the expatriate has heard her national anthem on U.S. soil in more than a decade. “I’m really, really happy to be home,” she said. “It felt great!”

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Germany Remains Dominant in Dressage at Eventing World Championships

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October 1, 2010 – Lexington, KY – Germany’s Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW took the lead today in the Eventing World Championships, presented by Reem Acra, at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Jung’s score of 33.00 put him in the top spot, while countryman Simone Deitermann, riding Free Easy (36.00), held on to the third spot after leading following day 1.  Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli, riding Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve, stands second with a 35.50.

Germany took the lead in the team race, with 114.30 penalty points. Great Britain is next (128.50) and Sweden is third (131.20), followed by Australia (131.80), Italy (135.90), New Zealand (138.30) and the United States (140.00).

Marilyn Payne, president of the ground jury, commented that today’s top rides were especially enjoyable to watch.  “It’s so exciting to give 8s and 9s,” she said.  “What else can I do?  This is the most exciting thing as a judge: to be able to judge horses and riders like this.”

Jung was the third-last rider to start today and performed a beautiful dressage test, despite the fact that his horse is “an absolute bundle of energy.”  “The last few years, he has just performed beautifully,” said Jung.  He also added that the duo competes in dressage competitions at home in Germany, which might have helped his score today.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12255