SAUGERTIES, NY (July 27, 2010) — Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward and Goldika 559 won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday, marking the third Grand Prix victory for the duo this year in the Strongid® C 2X Stadium at HITS Saugerties.
Ward, of Brewster, New York and 18-year-old mare Goldika 559, owned by McLain Ward & Blue Chip Bloodstock, were one of 27 horse-and-rider combinations to take the field on a course designed by International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico, which saw just four pairs advance to the jump-off.
Hernandez’s first-round course proved challenging, as the first six competitors pairs failed to go clean, with a majority of faults coming in the two double combinations. The time allowed, at 83 seconds, was tight as well and caused many to incur time faults over the course.
In addition to $75,000 in prize money, the American Gold Cup CSI 2*-W, is an all-important World Cup Qualifier
Moreland Hills, Ohio – July 26, 2010 – Stadium Jumping, Inc, the nation’s oldest and most respected horse show production company, is pleased to announce the return of the famed American Gold Cup to the Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland.
The American Gold Cup will be the grand finale following two weeks of show jumping in the beautiful Chagrin Valley at this year’s Cleveland Autumn Jumper Series.
Hickstead (GBR), 27 July 2010 – The pressure is intense ahead of this Friday’s seventh leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Hickstead. The Sussex venue has staged the British Nations Cup since taking on the mantle of the Royal International Horse Show in 1992, but the atmosphere is expected to be more highly-charged than ever before as the top show jumping nations in the world battle it out for the right to remain amongst the elite in their sport.
This season’s Meydan FEI Nations Cup series has turned into an epic battle, because four of the 10 competing countries will be relegated to the Promotional League following the last leg in Dublin next week. After six of the eight competitions have been completed it could hardly be a closer-fought affair, and this Friday’s penultimate clash will be pivotal in deciding who stays in and who goes out. One country that is definitely destined to say farewell to superleague jumping in 2011 however is Poland. With no points accumulated after six courageous competitive efforts, and now unable to field a team, they have withdrawn from both Hickstead and the final leg in Dublin.
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I’ve been traveling a lot recently and have been part of numerous conversations about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. While in Aachen, Germany last week, I had the opportunity to talk about Games planning. I heard from quite a few people who said they wanted to attend, but were hesitant because of rumors that hotels are sold out. Not so! There are plenty of rooms available with an assortment of rates. Click on the image of the map attached. This is an interactive tool – simply drag your mouse over the cities listed to find out which hotels still have space, as well as rates, proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park and availability of shuttle service. It’s easy to make reservations using the Games website at www.alltechfeigames.com. Look for the “accommodations” tab on the lower right side of the home page.
Here in the States, there’s another rumor going around that parking and transportation will be a problem. Nothing of the sort! There are three easy ways to get to the Kentucky Horse Park: LexTran city buses will be leaving downtown throughout the day with an incredibly low round trip rate of $2; Select hotels are offering shuttle service for $15 round trip; and if you want the convenience of driving to the Park, parking is available within walking distance for only $20. There really is a price and level of convenience for everyone.
With only 63 days till opening ceremonies, make your reservations now as tickets are going fast. For direct links to ticketing, as well as hospitality, visit www.USEF.org/WEG/tickets/.
Please share this message with your colleagues and friends.
See you in September!
John Long
Chairman, World Games 2010 Foundation
CEO, United States Equestrian Federation
Johns Island, SC — July 26, 2010 — The Charleston Summer Classics’ final week of competition at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, SC found most attendees weren’t so anxious to head home, but rather thinking of extending their stay at nearby Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island beach resorts.
Sunny skies and ocean breezes provided another perfect backdrop last week for not only competition in the arenas, but at area golf courses and nearby beaches as well. “We really have been fortunate with the weather here. With classes starting at 7:30 each morning many of the families have been able to hit the beaches by early afternoon and enjoy all this area offers,” Bob Bell of Classic Company said.
WAYNE, Illinois, July 25 — Shawna Harding on Rigo, a nine-year-old gelding, won the U.S. Developing Horse championship sponsored by the Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International Sunday, the first national title for the rider.
Shawna of Aiken, South Carolina, and the black Hanoverian by Rotspon and owned by Tonya Rowe, received a score of 73.238 per cent in the championship competition and 69.386 per cent in the qualifying test for a combined score of 71.697 per cent.
Kassandra Barteau of Maple Park, Illinois, on GP Delano, moved up to finish as reserve champion on scores of 66.404 per cent in the qualifying test that had tied them in third place and 69.143 per cent in the championship class for a final result of 68.047 per cent. Anna Whitfield-Watkins of Fort Davis, Texas, on Cipriani, was third with scores of 68.246 per cent in the qualifying and 67.919 per cent in the championship for a combined total of 67.870 per cent.
The German team that claimed Young Riders gold at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders at Kronberg, Germany: Chef d'Equipe Maria Schierhölter-Otte, Fabienne Lütkemeier, Louisa Lüttgen, Sanneke Rothenberger and Stella Charlotte Roth. Photo Credit: Stefan Lafrentz
GERMANY DOMINATES THE MEDAL PODIUM AT KRONBERG
26 July 2010 – German riders proved unstoppable at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders on their home soil in Kronberg when scooping gold in all six categories of competition. And to further emphasise their absolute domination, they also claimed gold and silver in both the Young Riders Individual and Freestyle Championship. The Netherlands took Junior and Young Rider team silver while Danish riders also featured prominently on the medal podium.
Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and the Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany, played host to these Dressage Championships for the third time. The wonderful venue where Ann-Kathrin’s mother, Liselott Linsenhoff-Schindling, trained her horse Piaff which won the Olympic gold medal in München 1972, previously staged these Championships in 1980 and 1986. Ann-Kathrin herself competed as a Young Rider in 1981 in Rotterdam when she won team gold and individual bronze, and she proudly and generously opened the gates of the Schafhof to a huge number of talented riders and their horses for this 2010 event from 20 to 25 July.
25/07/10 – Well before there French got the home win they were waiting for in today’s Equidia Grand Prix, Eric van der Vleuten was the very first competitor in the ring this morning on VDL Groep Cannelina (below right). And although 50% of the thirty-two starters were clear and through to the jump off, he was never headed in the Prix Savelys. His grey mare, already in the money earlier in the week, was smooth and efficient round the turns in the timed phase and the clock stopped 38.79. None of the other 16 combinations could catch the Dutch pair, try as they might and Holland got another win at Chantilly after Harrie Smolders’ yesterday. Eric’s win was a good result for his sponsors VDL Groep, as well as for the GCT, because they are one of the main sponsors at GCT Valkenswaard in addition to their generous support of Eric. Eventually second was Edwina Alexander on a relatively new ride, dark chestnut mare Kisby, who had a time of 39.29 and third place went to another of this weeks earlier winners, Simon Delestre, riding Napoli du Ry. Their time was 39.59. Bernado Alves was fourth with Monaco GP winner Bridgit.
24/07/10 – The female of the species was most definitely deadlier than the male in Chantilly today as American Laura Kraut and Cedric headed another all girl 1,2,3. The riders had warmed up earlier in the day with the Prix Amunde, a Table C Speed class. This is where faults are converted to time so if you are very fast it is possible to win even with a fence down. However in this company only being fast and clean over the rails would be good enough. The course featured several alternatives where the line was shorter but the jumps more difficult and Penelope Leprevost riding British bred Belle was the first to set a decent target. 60.68 looked fast and it did take Harrie Smolders on Exquis Powerfee to get in front. The horse who won or was placed in several GCT against the clock classes in 2009 scooted round in 59.12 and then his rider had to wait for the other half of the class to finish to see if he would win. But although he had to endure a couple of close shaves as first Denis Lynch (All Inclusive NW) and then Jerome Hurel (Nectar des Forets) got close the top two did not change. “I think the GCT know all about Powerfee by now” said Harrie “But it is fair to say he is my best all round horse. You can always count on him as a standby for any class!”
