Dream Team of Olympians Kick Off HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 at Pau

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William Fox-Pitt, winner of last year’s HSBC FEI Classics, is pictured here at Pau (FRA) last year with Oslo. (Image: Kit Houghton/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 22 October 2012 – The organising team at Les Etoiles des Pau (FRA), 24-28 October 2012, the first event in the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 season, have described this year’s entry as “a dream” with members of the gold, silver and bronze medal-winning teams at the London 2012 Olympic Games heading to the popular CCI4* in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the hope of gaining a valuable early foothold on the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard.

Germany’s Michael Jung, the first rider in history to hold Olympic, World and European titles simultaneously, heads a distinguished field with Leopin FST, the horse on which he won on home ground in Luhmühlen earlier this year, and will be viewed by many as the man to beat.

Britain’s Olympic team silver medallist William Fox-Pitt, winner of three HSBC FEI Classics titles (2012, 2010, 2008) and a record 50 CCIs, has entered three horses: Navigator, the 2010 runner-up back in action after a year on the injury list, Bramham (GBR) winner Chilli Morning, a stallion and new ride for Fox-Pitt this year, and the nine-year-old Bay My Hero, a recent runner-up at Blenheim (GBR) CIC3* in the eight- and nine-year-old class.

Fox-Pitt’s ever cheerful team mate Mary King (GBR), winner of the 2011 HSBC FEI Classics title, brings her Olympic ride Imperial Cavalier, fourth at Pau last year, and her home-bred mare Kings Temptress, winner of Kentucky in 2011.

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who led the Kiwis to an Olympic bronze medal, is arguably the man of the moment. He leads the HSBC Rankings and recently won three international competitions in six weeks, including Burghley (GBR).

Nicholson, perhaps the rider with the best chance of wrestling the HSBC FEI Classics out of British hands for the first time since the series started in 2008, has entered his Olympic horse Nereo, on which he finished tantalizingly close to an individual medal in fourth place at Greenwich, and Mr Cruise Control, second at Pau last year.

Three of Nicholson’s team mates have rides at Pau: Jonathan Paget with Clifton Promise, 10th at Greenwich, Caroline Powell (Onwards And Upwards) and Mark Todd (Major Milestone).

Pau has attracted a field of over 60 entries representing 17 nations, many of whom will have the specific aim of gaining early HSBC FEI Classics points.

Other Olympians on the list include Australia’s pathfinder Christopher Burton, riding Underdiscussion, winner of the Aachen CIC3*, Karin Donckers (BEL) on Lamicell Charizard, third at Pau in 2010, and for the home side Denis Mesples on Oregon de la Vigne.

Riders familiar with Pau know that course designer Pierre Michelet (FRA) will set them a challenging Cross Country test that demands the ultimate in boldness and accuracy, but even regular competitors are in for an interesting surprise this time as the ever-ingenious Michelet has reversed the track which runs across the racecourse.

The new HSBC FEI Classics season, which links the world’s six CCI4*s across three continents, promises to get off to a thrilling start.

HSBC’s Training Bursary

At the centre of HSBC’s sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level. As part of its support of the HSBC FEI Classics, HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary. This is a unique award which is presented to the highest placed rider never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of US $1,000 to be spent on sessions with a trainer of the athlete’s choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.

HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 calendar

1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 24-28 October 2012
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 22-25 November 2012
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) – 25-28 April 2013
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 3-6 May 2013
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* (GER) – 13-16 June 2013
6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 5-8 September 2013

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, since 2008.

In our HSBC FEI Hub: www.fei.org/hsbc/hsbc-fei-classics, you can access the HSBC Rankings, past series news and the information below:

HSBC FEI Classics 2012 Final Standings (full 2012 standings here):
1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 40 points ($150,000, Series Champion)
2 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 39 ($75,000)
3 Alison Springer (USA) 17 ($50,000)
4 Michael Jung (GER) 15 ($33,000)
5 Stuart Tinney (AUS) 15 ($25,000)

Prize money

The HSBC FEI Classics prize fund is the largest on offer in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis. At the end of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six HSBC FEI Classics events will be awarded their share of a total fund of US$333,000 split as follows:

1st – US$150,000 (Series Champion)
2nd – US$75,000
3rd – US$50,000
4th – US$33,000
5th – US$25,000

HSBC Rankings

The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2012.

Watch the action LIVE from Pau on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video website:

27 October – Cross Country: 12.45 CEST
28 October – Jumping: 14.15 CET

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing

Les Etoiles de Pau will provide live results on www.event-pau.fr.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

Les Etoiles de Pau Press Office
Cecilia Reymond
Cecilia.reymond@centaure-production.fr
+33 6 72 86 45 21

FEI Media Contacts
Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

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