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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Superb Nicholson Takes Pole Position at Rolex Kentucky

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Andrew Nicholson with Quimbo on Cross Country at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 – now holding onto first and second places. (Photo: StockImageServices.com/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 28 April 2013 – Andrew Nicholson’s Cross Country performance on Quimbo was the stuff of dreams at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013. The New Zealander is now deservedly holding onto first and second places at the top of a considerably altered scoreboard with a fence in hand over third-placed Buck Davidson (USA).

Nicholson put in an excellent early round on a matured Calico Joe, now in second place, to finish bang on the optimum time, but his performance at the end of the Cross Country on Libby Sellar’s talented 10-year-old was simply breathtaking – a joy to watch and a master class in accurate, sympathetic horsemanship in which horse and rider were as one throughout.

“That was probably my most exciting ride ever,” said an understandably elated Nicholson. “Quimbo is an unbelievable horse. For the first time at this level, that was just an amazing performance. When I got to eight minutes, I said ‘Let’s get serious’ and he amazed me as he went faster and faster at the end.”

Dressage leader William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Chilli Morning bowed out after the stallion, which had been jumping carefully, took a good look at the rails into the first water complex and stopped. But Fox-Pitt proved an exemplary pathfinder on his first ride Seacookie TSF and has moved up six places to fourth with the German-bred gelding, just 1.4 penalties behind Davidson.

Fox-Pitt described Chilli Morning’s exit as “one of those things. Maybe he over-jumped the fence before and gave himself a bit of a shock. There was no point carrying on. He’s a 13-year-old and wasn’t here for the experience.”

Despite the hiccup with Chilli Morning, he declared the course: “Superb. Derek di Grazia [designer] is really stamping his mark here, giving the riders lots to think about with tricky distances and tricky little turns. He is encouraging riders to think on their feet, which is fantastic.”

Nicholson concurred, saying: “I’d like to congratulate Derek. The course was big and horse-friendly. He started off by getting us thinking positively with big wide fences and then there were technical ones like the hollow at fence six where you had to sit on your backside and work a bit. He mixed it up well.”

In a day of commendably positive riding on perfect footing, Will Faudree (USA) and Pawlow have climbed six places to fifth; fellow American Lynn Symansky flew round on Donner to rise 13 places to sixth and New Zealand’s Olympic team bronze medallist Jonelle Richards and The Deputy have risen nine places to seventh.

Buck Davidson, whose father, Bruce was one of the most successful riders around Kentucky including winning individual gold at the 1978 world championships there, looked justifiably ecstatic at the end of the day. He thrilled both his family and a large home crowd by riding three committed clear rounds; he is now also in eighth place on the young horse Mar de Amor.

James Alliston, a British rider based in California, would be far less experienced than the likes of Nicholson and Fox-Pitt, but he also achieved three clears, and is in ninth place on the former Oliver Townend (GBR) ride Tivoli, ahead of fellow West Coast rider Kirsti Nunnink (USA) on her gallant grey mare R-Star.

There were 27 clear rounds from the 30 finishers, 11 of which were inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 21 seconds; seven riders were eliminated and five retired, including Mary King (GBR) on Fernhill Urco following a refusal at the brush fence coming out of the Head of the Lake (fence 20).

Alexandra Knowles, fourth after dressage, was eliminated for three refusals on Last Call after losing impulsion at the sunken road at fence 13; Marilyn Little (USA), equal fifth, was unseated when RF Demeter pecked after the third of a complex of three spreads (fence 17); Becky Holder (USA), seventh, was unshipped when Can’t Fire Me crumpled on landing over the duck fence (fence 24), and Shandiss McDonald (CAN), ninth, slipped from the reckoning with 20 time penalties on Rockfield Grant Juan.

Coming into the final jumping phase, it looks as though Andrew Nicholson will not only easily retain his lead in the HSBC FEI Classics – so far, only British riders have won the title before – but will set up a historic first head-to-head, with William Fox-Pitt, in the Rolex Grand Slam next weekend at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) (3-6 May).

Watch FEI YouTube interview with Andrew Nicholson after Cross Country here.

HSBC Rankings

The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.

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.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Bauman
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810 ext. 10

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

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

Dressage, FEI, FEI

The Reem Acra Dream Comes True at Last for Langehanenberg

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L to R – runner-up Adelinde Cornelissen NED, new Reem Acra champion Helen Langehanenberg GER and Edward Gal NED who finished third. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 27 April 2013 – Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg lived up to all the promise she has shown over the last few seasons to clinch the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title in style today with the fabulous stallion, Damon Hill. She was a lady on a mission from the outset, driven on by the huge hunger she felt after having to settle for runner-up spot at last year’s Final before missing out on individual bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games by an agonising 0.03 percentage points.

Today the 30-year-old rider pushed all that into the past, producing a breath-taking performance that catapulted her into the lead when fourth-last to go of the 17 through to the closing stages. And despite their best efforts, defending champion Adelinde Cornelissen and her Dutch colleague Edward Gal could not do better, having to settle for second and third places respectively.

Langehanenberg is the eighth German rider to take the coveted trophy in the history of the FEI World Cup Dressage series, and the first since Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty did a back-to-back double in 2001 and 2002. “It’s just a dream come true; it’s a great feeling!” she said afterwards, hardly daring to believe what she has achieved. But her success was hard-earned, as this Final was fiercely fought by some of the most polished, talented and experienced riders the sport of Dressage has ever produced.

Out in Front

It was Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno who were out in front at the half-way stage. The 27-year-old from Milan, who competes in the uniform of the Caribinieri and is daughter of Dressage judge Enzo Truppa, threw down one of her daring trademark performances that included one-handed piaffe for a score of 79.696. This relegated the previous competitor, Denmark’s Sidsel Johansen, to temporary runner-up spot with Schianto, who thoroughly pleased the crowd with one of his best tests of the season for a mark of 75.393.

Sweden’s Minna Telde and Santana didn’t threaten with their mark of 74.107 when next into the ring as the action resumed. And although 23-year-old Dane, Anna Kasprzak, showed lovely, balanced passage throughout a thoroughly steady test with the 14-year-old Donnperignon, her good mark of 77.857 still left Truppa out in front.  Sweden’s Patrick Kittel and Watermill Scandic HDC met a wall of sound from the spectators when entering the arena, but despite great piaffe and passage their score of 78.393 wouldn’t upset the leader or the top end of the scoreboard either. It took German veteran, Isabell Werth and her “work in progress” Don Johnson FRH to do that when raising the game with a score of 80.429 with just four more left to go.

New Standard

But Langehanenberg set a whole new standard when next in, her stallion punching out great piaffe and passage and devouring the ground with his long, loping walk as they executed their floor-plan with absolute accuracy. Any fear that the one-tempi canter changes would haunt them after their error in this movement during Thursday’s Grand Prix were dismissed by the consummate coolness of it all. Clearly this was a test that would take some beating as the scoreboard showed 88.286.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven could have been intimidated to find herself and Don Auriello sandwiched in between Langehanenberg and 2010 Reem Acra champion Edward Gal from The Netherlands, but instead the Swede simply rose to the occasion. Her elegant 13-year-old bay gelding showed wonderful extended trot en route to a mark of 82.661 to show that his place amongst the stars was well-deserved. Gal then followed with the “dark horse” of this Reem Acra Final, the black gelding Glock’s Undercover who some thought might just spring a surprise in the closing stages. But while the 12-year-old horse demonstrated exquisite piaffe and passage their total of 84.446 was well short of Langehanenberg’s target.

Only defending champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival now stood between the German and the biggest result of her career, and the Dutch rider’s big gelding was his usual flamboyant self as he strutted his way through passage, piaffe and his trademark pirouettes. The crowd held their breath as the judges took their time in posting their marks. But when 86.214 came up on the scoreboard it was clear that the hat-trick Cornelissen had been hoping for would not materialise and it was Langehanenberg holding the Reem Acra trophy aloft at the end of the day.

Trained

The German rider has trained with double Olympic gold medallist Klaus Balkenhol for the last 10 years and her back-up team also includes her parents, particularly her mother who travels to all her shows, and her husband Sebastian who steps into the coaching role in Balkenhol’s absence. She said this evening that one of the things that amazes her about her horse is his continual improvement and his self-assurance.

“He gave me so much confidence during the test today, it felt like the best test we have ever done, I was scared to do too much but he told me, “take it easy Helen, we can do this together!”

She reflected on what has happened over the last eight months or so. “After London (Olympic Games 2012) I wondered what we could do, because I thought it was already perfect, but this is my horse, I think it’s perfect and then he just does it   even better again, he is amazing! He really is something special, he can read and write!” she said.

Pleased

Cornelissen was pleased that she didn’t encounter the problems she faced during Thursday’s Grand Prix. “It was a lot better this time, no spooks; I just gave it my best shot and I’m very happy with the day. I love my new music but we are not on automatic with it yet; we are still getting used to it. In another couple of shows it will be perfect!” she said.

Gal said, “I had a great ride and I’m quite happy with him (Glock’s Undercover). He needs to get more used to the atmosphere in an arena like this, where the crowd goes right above his head. He has a lot more to learn, things that I can’t train at home, so we need to do more shows and he will get more confidence and that will help us to be even better.”

Fourth-place Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven was rightly pleased with her result. “It was an amazing feeling with the atmosphere and the audience, and I’m kind of proud of sitting up here with you guys,” she said looking over at the top three riders. “I think we did pretty well. Don Auriello is changing all the time; he is getting stronger and more mature; he is continually improving,” she added.

Super Riding

Ground Jury member, Sweden’s Gustav Svalling, pointed out that five horses got a score of over 80 percent today. “It was super riding; they are incredible athletes and I was so pleased to be judging.  It was very tight, Helen was fantastic, her horse has such a good walk and Parzival was so close. I gave Edward a 10 for piaffe and transitions; they were so soft, but the walk for his horse is not the strongest while Helen’s horse has a super walk,” he pointed out. “Before Totilas we (the judges) didn’t give 10s, but now we do,” to which Gal quickly retorted, “So you all have to be thankful to me for that!”

The mood was celebratory as the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final drew to a close. There was the sense of the time having come for Langehanenberg to shine and for the new champion it is now time to step back and enjoy her success.

During the week she was one of the many to stand and admire the fabulous dresses designed by sponsor Reem Acra that were on display. She was wondering how she might look in one of them. Perhaps, after today’s success, she might just find out….

Result: 1, Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 88.286; 2, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 86.214; 3, Glock’s Undercover (Edward Gal) NED 84.446; 4, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) SWE 82.661; 5, Don Johnson FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 80.429; 6, Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA 79.696; 7, Watermill Scandic (Patrik Kittel) SWE 78.393; 8, Donnperignon (Anna Kasprzak) DEN 77.857; 9, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 75.393; 10, Santana (Minna Telde) SWE 74.107. Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

17 horse-and-rider partnerships started in today’s Freestyle which brought the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series to a close.

Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno were leading at the halfway stage on a score of 79.696.

The Ground Jury positions around the arena for the Freestyle Final were : At K, Mrs Elizabeth McMullen (CAN); At E, Mrs Maria Colliander (FIN); At H, Mr Andrew Gardner (GBR); At C, Mr Gustaf Svalling (SWE); At M, Mr Gotthilf Riexinger GER; At B, Mr Jean-Michel Rudier (FRA); At f, Dr Wojtek Markowski (POL).

Today’s victory for Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW brings the German tally to eight in the 28-year history of FEI World Cup Dressage.

The Netherlands holds the record, with 12 victories in total.

It is 11 years since the last German win, recorded by Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty who registered back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2002.

All three riders on today’s podium are Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage champions.  Third-place Edward Gal held the trophy high after victory with Totilas in 2010, and runner-up Adelinde Cornelissen from The Netherlands was back-to-back winner in 2011 and 2012.

The newly-crowned Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage champion, Helen Langehanenberg from Germany is 30 years of age and is based in Havisbeck, Germany.

With the stallion, Damon Hill NRW, today’s winner Helen Langehanenberg helped Germany to team silver but finished just outside the medals, in fourth place at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Langehanenberg was runner-up at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 2012 and helped earn team silver at the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 2011.

Quotes:

Helen Langehanenberg, when asked if she thinks there is room for much more improvement in the work shown by her stallion, Damon Hill NRW” – “Maybe a little, but for now I just want to enjoy this first!”

Edward Gal – “My horse can be very relaxed in training but when he comes into the arena he gets tense.”

Helen Langehanenberg – “Dame is a breeding stallion, so sometimes I take him out of work for 10 to 14 days to breed but he’s not at all difficult when he comes back to be ridden – he’s a very easy horse. He has six-year-olds on the ground now and I have three of his youngsters riding and two more waiting in my barn.”

Audio Links:

Helen Langehanenberg

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_LANGEHANENBERG_Freestlye.mp3  English
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_LANGEHANENBERG_Freestyle_German.mp3   German

Adelinde Cornelissen

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_adelinde_end_eng.mp3  English
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_adelinde_end_dutch.mp3

Edward Gal

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_Gal_end.mp3

Patrick Kittel

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_Kittel_end_eng.mp3  English
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/FEI_Kittel_end_swe.mp3  Swedish

Anna Kasprzak

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Fei_Kasprzak_end_dan.mp3  Danish
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Fei_Kasprzak_end_eng.mp3  English

Jacqueline Brooks

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Reem_Brooks_end.mp3

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI

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

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

*Featured/Spotlights, Polo

Power Horse Plays Pony Express Sunday in Finals of Polo Gear Invitational at Grand Champions

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Alejandro Pomo of Palm House tries to take possession with three Power Horse players, Melissa Ganzi, Walter Scherb and Brandon Phillips, all over him. Photos by Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – April 27, 2013 — Power Horse held off Palm House in the final chukker to win a thrilling 10-9 match on Friday and advance into Sunday’s final of the sixth annual Polo Gear Invitational at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Power Horse will play Pony Express in the championship at 9:30 a.m. followed by a round robin to determine the consolation winner between Palm House, Longfield and ELG.

Five teams competed throughout the day in four games at Grand Champions.

Pony Express advanced into the final with a 6-4 victory over Longfield and 4-2 win over ELG in round robin play. In the other round robin game, ELG defeated Longfield, 4-2.

Kris Kampsen and Brandon Phillips each scored four goals to lead Power Horse. Teammates Melissa Ganzi and Walter Scherb each scored a goal in the first half.

It will be Kampsen’s second consecutive spring season championship final appearance. Last weekend Kampsen was a member of the winning team ELG/Psycho Bunny in the Palm City Open season-opener.

Kampsen competed Friday morning and then quickly packed his mallets for the 85-mile trip to Miami Beach to compete in the La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup.

Brandon Phillips of Power Horse on his way to scoring one of his four goals against Palm House
Brandon Phillips of Power Horse on his way to scoring one of his four goals against Palm House

The morning game was exciting from start to finish. Even though it was the first time Power Horse played together, the chemistry was evident from the opening chukker.

“We have either played against each other or played with one another plus we all watch each other play so we know each other’s style and adapt to it,” Phillips said.

“I have been playing with Kris since we were kids,” Phillips said. “This is a lot of fun; it’s a lot more relaxing than 20- and high goal. It’s fun that’s everyone is having a good time. You still get mad at yourself but it’s definitely not as intense as the season.”

Several of the pro players are competing on younger horses.

Melissa Ganzi, co-host of the tournament, is coming off the high goal season with Piaget and working her way back from a severe groin pull.

In the afternoon, she got the opportunity to relax and watch husband Marc of ELG play against their son Grant of Longfield. Father edged son, 4-2. Marc Ganzi led his team in scoring with two goals and Grant scored one goal.

“It’s refreshing to play with all of our friends and our local pros that have always supported Grand Champions,” Melissa Ganzi said. “The fields are beautiful. This is the nicest time of year to play. Playing early in the morning and late in the afternoon couldn’t be any nicer.

“It’s competitive,” Ganzi said. “Alejandro Pomo ruined all of my goal attempts; he is a force to be reckoned with. It’s super fun and we’re in the finals.”

Longfield's Nic Roldan beats Pony Express' Pancho Eddy to the ball
Longfield’s Nic Roldan beats Pony Express’ Pancho Eddy to the ball

In the fifth chukker, Power Horse tied the game at 8-8 on a penalty goal by Phillips. Early in the sixth chukker Phillips converted another penalty shot for a 9-8 lead and Kampsen scored with four minutes in what turned out to be the winning goal.

Carlucho Arellano, who scored with 45 seconds remaining to trail by only one (10-9), led scoring for Palm House with four goals. Pomo added two goals and John Gobin and Glen Straub each scored one goal.

“This is fun and competitive,” Arellano said. “If you come out here expecting to cruise you will get beat. You compete hard but you keep that fun attitude.

“I feel like either team could have won today,” Arellano said. “It came down to a couple plays in the very last minutes. They got a couple good goals in at the end and we only got one in. Time ran out on us.”

In the first round robin game, Justin Daniels scored three goals to lead Pony Express to a 6-4 win over Longfield.  Bob Daniels and Pancho Eddy each scored a goal in addition to one handicap goal. Nic Roldan and Grant Ganzi each had two goals for Longfield.

In the second round robin game, ELG defeated Longfield, 4-2, with Marc Ganzi leading all scoring with two goals despite playing with a broken thumb. Teammates Lucas Lalor and JJ Celis each had one goal. For Longfield, Ganzi and Roldan each scored a goal.

In the third and final round robin of the afternoon, after a scoreless opening chukker, Pony Express defeated ELG, 4-2. Bob Daniels and Tomas Goti each scored two goals for the winners. Ganzi and Celis each had one goal for ELG.

Polo Gear, one of the top sponsors and supporters of polo established in 1993 and incorporated in Florida, manufactures, distributes and sells polo products to players, teams and polo events worldwide.

The other spring tournaments are the May 3-5 USPA Spring Challenge; May 10-12 USPA Sun Cup; May 17-19 USPA Eastern Challenge; and May 24-27 Memorial by Piaget.

GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE

April 26-28: The Polo Gear Cup

May 3-5: USPA Spring Challenge

May 10-12: The USPA Sun Cup

May 17-19: USPA Eastern Challenge

May 24-27: The Memorial by Piaget

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Fox-Pitt Moves into Lead, Knowles Is Top American after Phase One of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Allie Knowles and Last Call (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – With the second day of dressage completed at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) now sits in the lead with Chilli Morning after earning an impressive 33.3. Fox-Pitt had a practically flawless dressage test with Christopher and Lisa Stone’s 13-year-old stallion in front of the Ground Jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), and Brian Ross (USA).

“He is a lovely horse to ride on the flat,” commented Fox-Pitt. “You need a horse as capable as Chilli is to be able to score that sort of score. I am very excited.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Quimbo are a close second after earning a score of 38.0. Deborah Sellar’s 10-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding performed a lovely test for Nicholson. Quimbo performed well under the pressure of the Rolex Stadium in his first CCI4*.

“I think he pretty much gave 100 percent. He is only 10 years old and with these four-star tests, I think they have to be physically strong to maintain the necessary collection and fluency of the movements,” said Nicholson of his young mount’s notable score.

Nicholson lost his Thursday lead with Calico Joe but still sits in third with a score of 40.8 with Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding.
Twenty-six year-old Allie Knowles (Paris, KY) had a stellar performance in her first CCI4* appearance with her and Christie Campbell’s Last Call. She currently sits in fourth place with a score of 43.3 after riding a beautiful, rhythmical test on the 14-year-old Mecklenburg mare, holding her own with the best in the world.

“I feel just so lucky to be here, let alone to have done so well in dressage and to be sitting between two of the greatest riders ever,” said Knowles. “I’m a little overwhelmed.”

Being the highest-placed American after dressage, Knowles leads the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship. She was very pleased with her test, in which the only noticeable mistake was in her last flying change.

“She performed incredibly well,” Knowles said of Last Call. “I didn’t know what to expect because we have never seen anything like that together but she does have a very good disposition. She does tend to stay relaxed if I stay relaxed.”

The pair won the Galway Downs CIC3* in 2011 and finished in sixth place in an Advanced division at The Fork Horse Trials this year.

Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) is the second highest-placed American, tied with Mary King in fifth place after scoring a 43.7 with RF Demeter. Little performed a smooth, flowing test with Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare. The pair finished ninth here in Kentucky last year and placed fourth in The Fork CIC3*earlier this spring.

Riders will now tackle the solid CCI4* cross country course designed by Derek di Grazia. The course covers 6500 meters and has 28 numbered fences.

“I think the cross country course looks good, a strong track,” said Fox-Pitt. “As always here the undulation is a big part but the ground is very good.”

Cross country begins Saturday at 10:00am ET with William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF.

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Kentucky Three-Day

Chilli Is on Fire for Fox-Pitt at Rolex Kentucky

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Chilli Morning now in the lead at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC FEI Classics, after setting the competition alight on Dressage Day 2. (Photo: Anthony Trollope/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 27 April 2013 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and the eye-catching chestnut stallion Chilli Morning set the competition alight at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC FEI Classics, with a superb Dressage test today, to go into the lead with a 4.7 penalty advantage.

But a thrilling showdown is now assured as Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Fox-Pitt’s only challenger for the Rolex Grand Slam, is breathing down his neck in second and third places with Quimbo and Calico Joe.

Nicholson, the current HSBC FEI Classics leader after his victory at Pau (FRA) last year, scored the only other sub-40 penalties mark with the exciting prospect Quimbo. Earlier, he set an early standard with a mark of 40.8 on his first ride, Calico Joe, who put in a significantly improved performance in this phase.

“I hoped the test would score in the 30s and I did have a sneaky look at the scoreboard, at which point I thought, ‘OK, right!’” said Fox-Pit, who has won at Kentucky twice before, in 2010 and last year.

“It can be quite demoralising to look at the marks sometimes, but this was feeling so good I thought it was worth the risk. Chilli has an amazing presence and loves being in the arena where he thinks he’s king.”

Chilli Morning was fifth at Pau last year, but a stallion has never won at CCI4* level before – there are currently only three competing at this level in the world. However, Fox-Pitt, who took over the ride last year after the horse was produced by British rider Nick Gauntlett, explained: “It puts him under extra pressure, of course, but he’s got a great temperament. He’s a very dear, kind horse that you can give a cuddle to. He never puts his ears back and is a real gentleman.”

In contrast to the vast combined experience of Fox-Pitt and Nicholson, fourth-placed Alexandra Knowles (USA), a young rider and CCI4* débutant based locally in Paris, Kentucky, has found herself in exalted company. She scored the excellent mark of 43.3 on the mare Last Call and is 0.7 ahead of another big name, Mary King (GBR), riding the grey Fernhill Urco. King, the 2011 winner at Kentucky, is tied in fifth place with last year’s HSBC Training Bursary winner, Marilyn Little (USA) on RF Demeter.

Fox-Pitt, who will be first out of the 46-starter field on tomorrow’s Cross Country course on Seacookie TSF, currently lying 10th, says he is looking forward to riding Derek di Grazia’s course. “It looks a superb course, but we all know that things can change. There are some big questions out there, and lots of turns and skinny fences, but the footing is amazing, especially considering all the rain we had on Wednesday.”

Results after Dressage

  1. William Fox-Pitt/Chilli Morning (GBR) 33.3
  2. Andrew Nicholson/Quimbo (NZL) 38.0
  3. Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 40.8
  4. Alexandra Knowles/Last Call (USA) 43.3
  5. Mary King/Fernhill Urco (GBR) 43.7
  6. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 43.7
  7. Becky Holder/Can’t Fire Me (USA) 44.2
  8. Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 45.2
  9. Shandiss McDonald/Rockfield Grant Juan (USA) 45.7
  10. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 46.2

See full leaderboard here.

Download the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 press kit: www.feipresskits.org/.

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, 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.

View the current HSBC FEI Classics series standings here.

FEI TV, the FEI’s official video website, will cover the action LIVE in Kentucky (see start times on www.feitv.org/live):

27 April – Cross Country
28 April – Jumping

Download the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 press kit: www.feipresskits.org.

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* presented by DHL PAKET (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, you can access the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013 series standings, HSBC Rankings and all news relating to the current and past series.

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 share a total prize 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 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.

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.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Bauman
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810 ext. 10

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

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

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

US Qualifies Seven for Final Competition of 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final; Madden Stands Second

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Beezie Madden & Simon (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)

Gothenburg, Sweden – Valuable World Cup points were at stake Friday evening in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final as riders vied for a place in Sunday’s final competition. Uliano Vezzani tested the 38 riders that returned for round two over a flowing 13-obstacle track in the Scandinavium Arena. Riders within the top 26 placings following tonight’s round qualified to jump in Sunday’s final competition and of those entries seven will be representing the United States.

Thursday’s Speed Leg winner, Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY), proved why she is consistently ranked among the best in the world as she guided Simon to another clear round over Vezzani’s course. The pair returned as the final pair in the jump-off and looked ready to maintain their lead going into Sunday. However, Madden made an aggressive move to the final oxer with Abigail Wexner’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding resulting in four faults.

“I thought the pace was good for my horse,” said the Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games medalist. “I got a little too excited to the last; I’m kicking myself.” The pair finished in ninth position in tonight’s class and lay second in the overall standings heading into Sunday’s finale on one fault.

“I think he’ll be good; he’s relaxed and comfortable in this place. I can be on the real offensive,” said Madden of her strategy heading into the final rounds of competition. “It’s pressure but we’ve been in that position before.”

McLain Ward and Super Trooper De Ness (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)
McLain Ward and Super Trooper De Ness (Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group)

Finishing just ahead of Madden in tonight’s competition was her teammate from the last three Olympic Games, McLain Ward. Riding Grant Road Partners LLC’s 11-year-old Belgain Warmblood stallion Super Trooper De Ness, Ward (Brewster, NY) looked to seize valuable World Cup points with a strong finish on Friday evening. In the jump-off the pair set a quick pace from the beginning but an additional stride to the second jump resulted in four faults. The two-time Olympic Team Gold medalist nonetheless was very pleased with his rising star who is stepping up to everything asked of him.

“I was thrilled with Super Trooper; he jumped fantastic. This is his first time indoors and I wasn’t even sure if I would use him in this leg,” said Ward. “I added up in the seven in the first line; it wasn’t his rail, it was mine. I feel like he’s within a hair of winning at this kind of show.”

Ward stands in a three-way tie for sixth in the overall standings on five faults. The final U.S. entry in tonight’s 15 horse jump-off was 18-year-old Reed Kessler in her Final debut. Kessler (Lexington, KY) demonstrated why she and her 11-year-old Belgain mare Cylana were chosen to be part of the U.S. effort at the London Olympic Games with a stylish clear round this evening. In the jump-off the pair posted a competitive time but a rail jumping into the double resulted in four faults and a 12th place finish. They head into Sunday on nine faults and in tenth place overall.

Charlie Jayne (Elgin, IL) was aiming to improve his 11th place position following round one and looked capable of doing so with Chill R Z as they set off on course. However, Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s 10-year-old Zangerscheide stallion let enthusiasm get the better of him, rolling poles at 8A and 11B. They finished in 28th position in round two and occupy the 18th position with a score of 16 heading into Sunday.

Additionally, Katie Dinan, Kent Farrington and Karl Cook have all qualified to represent the U.S. in Sunday’s finale. Dinan (Wellington, FL) was looking to repeat her clear performance from the night before with Grant Road Partners LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nougat De Vallet but three rails over the course left them in 35th place for round two. In their Rolex/FEI World Cup Final debut they head into Sunday on 18 faults in equal 20th place. Farrington (Wellington, IL) repeated his eight-fault effort from the previous night with his 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold medalist Uceko. R.C.G. Farm’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding finished in 29th on Friday and stands 23rd overall on a score of 19. Cook (Woodside, CA) is also making his Finals debut and guided Signe Ostby’s 11-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Jonkheer Z to an eight-fault trip in round two. They complete the U.S. entry for Sunday on a 20 faults in 25th position.

The U.S. was also represented by Rich Fellers, Lucy Davis, Ashlee Bond and Christine McCrea in Friday’s competition. The 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final Champions, Fellers (Sherwood, CA) and Harry Mollie Chapman’s Flexible were looking to make up for a disappointing trip in round one, but an additional four faults in the second round will keep them out of continuing their title defense on Sunday. Davis (Los Angeles, CA) and Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119 jumped a five-fault round, a rail at 11B and one time fault, to finish in 24th place in round two.  Bond (Hidden Hills, CA) returned in round two with Little Valley Farms’ Wistful and, in an improved effort over the previous night, completed with eight faults in 25th place.  Pan American Games Gold medalists McCrea (East Windsor, CT) and Candy Tribble’s Romantovich Take One incurred 12 faults over the course of their round and completed in 32nd place on Friday.

Portugal’s Luciana Diniz heads into Sunday’s final two rounds with a total of zero faults and the overall lead. Kevin Staut of France lays third overall behind Madden on two faults. The top five riders are all within a rail of one another.

The winner of the second round of the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final were 2012 Olympic Games Individual Gold medalists Steve Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonnets of Switzerland, posting a speedy time of 34.09 seconds in tonight’s 15-horse jump-off.

The final competition of the Rolex/FEI World Final, which is being held in conjunction with the annual Gothenburg Horse Show, gets underway Sunday at 2:00pm CEST.

For more information about the 2013 FEI World Cup Final, visit: http://www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Olympic Champion Guerdat Wins, but Diniz Tops the Leaderboard after Second-Day Rolex Thriller

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Steven Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets jumped into contention when winning tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Gothenburg (SWE), 26 April 2013 – Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, won tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final with a spectacular performance from his London 2012 ride, Nino des Buissonnets.  But it is Portugal’s Luciana Diniz and Lennox who hold the lead going into Sunday’s deciding competition after the three riders lying ahead of her on the leaderboard all faulted today.

In a competition that bristled with excitement from the outset, Guerdat produced a devastating turn of speed in the 15-horse jump-off to clinch it, while The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager slotted into second place.  Diniz’s third place finish was confirmed when Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Quintero la Silla), Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (Picsou du Chene) and America’s Beezie Madden (Simon) all followed her into the ring but failed to leave the course intact.  It was deep disappointment for Madden after her opening-day triumph, but she trails Diniz by just a single penalty point going into Sunday’s third and final leg.

Withdrawal

There were 38 starters following the withdrawal of Hong Kong’s Raena Leung, and a generous 15 clears were recorded over Uliano Vezzani’s first-round track.  The double of vertical to oxer at fence eight proved the most testing of the 13 obstacles, and continued to play its part as the jump-off unfolded.

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and Ego van Orti led the way against the clock with a clear in 42.10 seconds and Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks shaved two seconds off that with Monte Bellini before Ireland’s Denis Lynch lowered the first element of the double at eight, now the third fence on the track, in a very speedy 38.33 seconds with All Star.  The turn from the oxer at fence five, now second on the new course, to that first element of the double would prove crucial to the result and Germany’s Marcus Ehning was the next victim here with Copin van de Broy.

It was Frenchman Roger-Yves Bost who recorded the next clear with one of his trademark thrillers from the equally-electrified Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois who broke the beam in 37.92 seconds to take the lead.  Belgium’s Ludo Philippaerts and Challenge V Begijnakker were almost a half-second quicker, but a stumble after the second element of the double left this pair off balance and even though they established a shorter route by turning between the second fence and the second element of the former triple combination – now the penultimate fence – he hit the vertical after the double for four faults in 37.42 seconds.

Plan Was to Win

Guerdat was next into the ring and, as he said afterwards, “My plan was to win. I knew if my horse was clear he would be difficult to beat. The turn before the double wasn’t so good so that made it easy to decide to do the turn after it.” His breath-taking run to the penultimate oxer and his racing gallop to the final Rolex oxer brought gasps from the crowd as the clock showed 34.09 seconds.

Try as they would, the rest just couldn’t match that, although the next rider into the ring, Dutchman Marc Houtzager, came closest when breaking the beam in 36.80 with Sterrehof’s Tamino.  America’s Reed Kessler (Cylana) and McLain Ward (Super Trooper de Ness) both had a fence down but, with just five left to go, Frenchman Kevin Staut was clear with Silvana HDC in 39.23 seconds and then Diniz followed suit with Lennox in 37.22.

The crowd went wild as home hero and reigning FEI European champion, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, set sail with Quintero la Silla, but they fell afoul of the tricky turn to the first element of the double, while Pius Schwizer momentarily lost his line of communication with Picsou du Chene, and it cost him dearly when the gelding faltered after the first fence and then demolished the second. They also brought down the vertical third-last, and their nine faults in total saw the Swiss man who has been so consistent in the Rolex series in recent seasons slip dramatically down the leaderboard.

Cool as Cucumbers

First-day winners, Beezie Madden and Simon, looked cool as cucumbers over the early part of the track, but it suddenly fell apart coming down to the second-last and although they cleared that, their frenzied run to the last resulted in a very expensive four faults that saw them finish ninth in this competition and slip down the overall standings to second place.

There is so little in it going into the final day however, with Diniz holding just a single-point advantage over Madden and Kevin Staut stalking the leading ladies another point further in arrears. They had better all look out for Staut.  He is a man on a mission, and his delight at another fault-free performance from his much-loved mare made his big smile even wider tonight. Bengtsson lies fourth ahead of Houtzager in fifth, and if Guerdat’s form today is anything to go by then he will be a force to be seriously reckoned with as he holds sixth spot.

Guerdat said tonight, “I needed to win today to have any chance of moving up the ranking.  My horse was good yesterday; the mistake was unlucky; sometimes you touch the poles and they stay up and sometimes they don’t.”

Route to the Final

Guerdat talked about his route to the 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final.  “I messed up the timing a little bit.  After the Olympics I decided to rest Nino as much as possible but maybe I did it too much.  I took him to Bordeaux, Den Bosch and Lanaken, but unfortunately he lived up to his character and he wasn’t listening at all and started stopping on me.  There was panic in the house at this stage, but we decided to take him to Paris where he wasn’t too good either, so then I started riding him twice a day to get his confidence again before coming here to Sweden.  Yesterday he wasn’t perfect but he was really good today.  I’m hoping that we are not coming right one day too late.”

Diniz congratulated course-designer Vezzani. “The course design has been wonderful for me – I love him!” she said.  Talking about her lead-up to Gothenburg, she said, “I had two big victories in January, the Grand Prix at Basel and Zurich, and they have given me confidence; they gave me motivation and to finish in the top three on Sunday is my plan now. I’m happy and enjoying every round; I’m in the best phase of my life.  The goal is always to enjoy my horse; top five would have been good enough for me today!” she added.

Big Pressure

Guerdat teased Rolf-Goran Bengtsson by interjecting, when the Swede was asked if he felt big pressure in front of his home crowd, “He’s so old it’s no problem for him!”

Rolf laughed and agreed – “Steve is a little bit right; I’ve been here so many times but jumping in front of the home crowd gives me even more motivation.” Talking about Quintero la Silla, he said, “I’m pleased with him.  He was a little strong between one and two in the first round but ended up good and clear.  In the jump-off I wanted to go fast. I saw Steve so I knew I couldn’t beat such a perfect round.  We were too deep to the first and then I rode too aggressive to the double and had one down, that’s the way it goes!”

He will ride Quintero again on Sunday.  “He maybe has more scope than Casall; he always wants to go clear even though he has a very special way of getting over his fences!” Bengtsson explained.

Scope will be in big demand as Vezzani throws down one final challenge for Sunday’s last two-round competition which will decide the fate of the 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup title.

Results:

Result of Second Final Competition : 1, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) SUI 0/0 34.09; 2, Sterrehof’s Tamino (Marc Houtzager) NED 0/0 36.80; 3, Lennox (Luciana Diniz) POR 0/0 37.22; 4, Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois (Roger-Yves Bost) FRA 0/0 37.92; 5, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA 0/0 39.23; 6, Conte Bellini (Kristaps Neretnieks) LAT 0/0 40.23; 7, Ego Van Orti (Edwina Tops-Alexander) AUS 0/0 42.10; 8, Super Trooper de Ness (McLain Ward) USA 0/4 35.98; 9, Simon (Beezie Madden) USA 0/4 36.62; 10, Quintero La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 0/4 36.81; 11, Challenge VD Begijnakker (Ludo Philippaerts) BEL 0/4 36.81; 12, Cylana (Reed Kessler) USA 0/4 37.83; 13, All Star (Denis Lynch) IRL 0/4 38.33; 14, Copin van de Broy (Marcus Ehning) GER 0/4 40.19; 15, Picsou du Chene (Pius Schwizer) SUI 0/8 43.53.

Full result here.

Standings going into Sunday’s Final Competition: 1, Lennox (Luciana Diniz) POR 0; 2, Simon (Beezie Madden) USA 1; 3, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA 2; 4, Quintero la Silla/Casall la Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 3; 5, Sterrehof’s Tamino/Sterrehof’s Uppity (Marc Houtzager) NED 4; 6, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) SUI 5; 6, Picsou du Chene/Verdi III (Pius Schwizer) SUI 5; 6, Super Trooper de Ness (McLain Ward) USA 5; 9, Carlo (Sergio Alvarez Moya) ESP 8; 10, Cylana (Reed Kessler) USA 9.

Standings after the second of the three Final competitions here.

Audio Links:

Luciana Diniz

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_diniz_por.mp3   Portuguese
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_diniz_eng.mp3  English

Steve Guerdat

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_guerdat_day2_eng.mp3  English
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_guerdat_day2_french.mp3   French

Marc Houtzager

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_houtzager.mp3

Facts and Figures:

38 starters after the withdrawal of Hong Kong’s Raena Leung (Orphee du Granit).

15 first-round clears.

7 clear in the second-round jump-off.

There was a full house of 12,000 spectators in the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden tonight.

With points now turned into penalties, Portugal’s Luciana Diniz heads the leaderboard going into Sunday’s deciding competition ahead of first-day winner Beezie Madden from the USA.

13 fences on the first-round course designed by Uliano Vezzani.

The double at fence eight proved influential in both the first round and jump-off against the clock.

Quotes:

Houtzager -”I didn’t see Steve going and I didn’t take all the risks but when I came to the finish three seconds slower than him I felt he must have been flying because my horse isn’t that slow!”

Uliano Vezzani – “My target was for 10 into the jump-off, but I was happy because all horses jumped very well.  Sunday is the last day over two rounds and the horses should be good for that.  I had my plan ready for Sunday already but got more information today so I may change it just a little.”

For further information on the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2012/2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden (24-28 April), check out www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

By Louise Parkes

Gothenburg Media Contacts:

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

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

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

It’s Still Wide Open for the 2013 Reem Acra Title

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Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover finished second in yesterday’s Grand Prix and will be a force to be reckoned with as the Freestyle brings the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2103 series to a dramatic conclusion in Gothenburg tomorrow. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 26 April 2013 – As the fate of the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title hangs in the balance ahead of tomorrow’s deciding Freestyle, the big question on many lips is whether Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg can prevent double-champion, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, from making it a back-to-back hat-trick of wins with the great Jerich Parzival. However gone are the days of easily predicting the winning combination in this sport which has experienced an extraordinary transformation in recent years.

A decade ago the battle would be fought between just a couple of red-hot contenders, with the rest trailing a long way behind. However rising standards of professionalism and horse-power have changed all that, as was demonstrated by a host of super-competitive performances in yesterday’s Grand Prix.

Expectation

Expectation was that Cornelissen would be closely pressed at this year’s Final by Langehanenberg who, as she says herself, has “grown up” over the last few seasons of the Reem Acra sponsored indoor series.  She has certainly honed her exceptional skills to become a significant threat to the defending champion’s supremacy thanks to some impressive results with her stallion Damon Hill NRW, and yesterday that was confirmed when she topped the Grand Prix while the Dutch rider had to settle for fourth place when things didn’t go according to plan.

Cornelissen however is not one to be easily dismissed.  As Isabell Werth said this afternoon, “Adelinde yesterday lost her spot as favourite to take the title again, but it could still change tomorrow – we will have to wait and see!”  The multi-medalled German rider also believes that Cornelissen’s Dutch compatriot, Edward Gal, could provide the most powerful threat of all.

“Before it seemed this World Cup battle was between Helen and Adelinde, but then suddenly Edward was really good in Den Bosch at the last qualifier,” Werth explained.  “I think now he can push them both tomorrow, and after that there will be four others fighting for their places between fourth and eighth,” she added.  No doubt, Werth herself will be in hot contention in that second group with her ever-improving 12-year-old Don Johnson FRH.

Top End

At the top end of the game however, all eyes will be on Langehanenberg.  She demonstrated supreme calmness and confidence yesterday when securing victory despite the colossal pressure of being first into the ring. “I used to be nervous,” she admitted when interviewed today, “but I’ve learned to control that and not let it control me anymore.  As soon as I start to think about the test I put it out of my mind again and don’t let it take me over.  I’ve learned how to deal with nerves, and it has paid off,” she explained. And she added, “Dame (Damon Hill NRW) is in really great form.  It wasn’t easy going in first yesterday, but he helped me so much because when we were coming up the tunnel to go into the arena he was pulling me so hard, like he was saying, ‘Come on! Let’s get in there and do it, Helen!’”

She has an advantage over many others in that her equestrian career has been all-embracing.  She worked and trained with Ingrid Klimke during her teenage years, competing in Jumping and Eventing, before deciding to specialise in Dressage, and believes this has paid dividends.  “It taught me about balance and feeling which are so important,” she said.  Her career really took off when she was selected as reserve rider for the German Dressage team for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong with the lovely mare Responsible.  “Then Dame came, and he is such a special horse; together we made it to the World Cup Final three years ago and that was a very big step forward,” she explained.  And she couldn’t resist adding, “It’s very exciting because Responsible and Dame have a baby together, born only last Monday!”

Final Challenge

There is little chance of Langehanenberg becoming complacent before tomorrow’s final challenge however.  She is very grounded, and said today, “I have a good feeling, but every day is a new day and if I ride well, our test fits with the music, I try to have no mistakes and we both enjoy ourselves then the rest is not in our hands.”

According to the rules of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, all participants who finish the Grand Prix with at least 58% qualify for the Grand Prix Freestyle, so all 17 who competed yesterday have made the cut.

The action begins at 13.20 local time when Canada’s Jaimey Irwin enters the arena with Lindor’s Finest and will be brought to a close by the defending champions Cornelissen and Parzival at 16.15.  It promises to be a thriller from start to finish.

You can find the full start-list for tomorrow’s Freestyle here.

Don’t miss a piaffe or a pirouette – watch all the excitement on www.feitv.org.

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI

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

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

Christopher Payne and Holden Ride to the Top of ESP Spring 3 $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic

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Christopher Payne and Holden rode to the top of the hunter leader board during the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic at ESP Spring 3. Photo By: Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – April 26, 2013 – After coming off of a brilliant winter circuit, New Hope LLC has continued to shine in Wellington, FL. The Equestrian Sport Production Spring 3 Horse Show proved to be no exception to the success of the team at New Hope as they brought home numerous tricolors, taking the top spots on the leader board in both the hunter and jumper rings. It was under the lights Saturday night that professional rider Christopher Payne truly shined, guiding Holden to the first place finish out of a field of 28 horses in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic.

It was with true finesse that Payne took the top call in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic. Under the scrutinizing eyes of the judges, he piloted Holden to the high score of 91 in the first round, returning for round two, which was held under the lights. His high-scoring first round had him return last, and the anticipation was high as he executed a nearly flawless second round course for the top score of 92 from the judges. He wore a target on his back as the other competitors attempted to mimic his first round efforts, but his final score of 183 points sealed their fate as the night’s victors.

“It’s a great event,” Payne described. “They’re not very many opportunities for the hunters to go in the evening, so it really felt special.  Holden seemed to really enjoy being out there under the lights!”

Earlier in the week, Holden took the top spot with Payne in the irons in the Diptera 3’3″ Open Hunters, walking away with the championship. The 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding also took the championship in the Adult Amateur 51 & Over Working Hunters with owner Susan Moriconi, and the third place award in the $500 M&S/NAL Adult Hunter Classic.

Christopher Payne navigated Harlan and Good Call to the two top positions in the Performance 3’3″/3’6″ Working Hunter division. Payne and his own Harlan took two first place ribbons over fences, as well as the second and third place ribbons. Harlan sealed the deal with a second place finish for their efforts under saddle. Aboard Good Call, owned by La Reve Farm, Inc., Payne caught the judges’ attention, and Payne stood center ring for both championship presentations, taking home the coveted tricolors with both mounts.

In the First Year/High Performance Working Hunters Payne and Channing, owned by Susan Moriconi, took home the reserve championship. Moriconi’s Clarity also had a chance to shine in the Pre-Green Hunters, eventually earning the championship after sweeping the over fences with Payne in the irons.

Julie Holzberger and her own Revealed took the Diptera 3′ Open Hunters Championship. They once again proved successful in the $500 M&S/NAL Adult Hunter Classic, riding to the first place finish. Young and talented Jane Brooks and Lifeline took the UHealth Children’s Hunter Championship, as well as riding to the blue ribbon win in the $500 M&S/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic.

In the jumper ring, Sarah Sturges and Sambalita rose above 31 entries in the $2,500 NAL Low Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Classic to ride to the top of the leader board. Sturges easily navigated the first round of the jumper course with no faults in 70.312 seconds, and moved on to the jump-off with her eye on the prize. Although Sambalita is a new mount for Sturges, the two performed as though they had been building a relationship for years. She took the reins and adeptly secured the first place with the blazing time of 31.405 seconds, leaving all rails in place for the fastest double-clear effort.

As the Equestrian Sport Production Spring Series comes to an end in Wellington, FL, there is no doubt that New Hope LLC will continue to rake in the tricolors as they begin their approaching tour. Belford and Payne of New Hope LLC have trained some of the country’s top show hunters and are continuously adding numerous accolades to their already impressive record. The team has consistently earned championships at the nation’s top horse show, and their inspiring program has helped transform horses, as well as develop some of the sport’s top riders and trainers. For more information, please contact paynecl@hotmail.com.

Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Wellington, FL 33414
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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Leads with Holder Not Far Behind after Day One of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me (Shannon Brinkman/USEF photo)

Lexington, KY – Competition began today at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Twenty-two combinations rode their dressage tests in front of the Ground Jury of Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), and Brian Ross (USA).

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Calico Joe took the early lead after scoring a 40.8. Nicholson rode a beautiful test, taking the lead during the morning session and never relinquishing it throughout the day. His ride looked effortless aboard the Twenty Twelve in Mind’s 11-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding.

“He felt like he was very cool when he went down the ramp,” said Nicholson of his mount. “He let me ride him and he pretty much gave me 100% the whole test.”

Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me performed a lovely, flowing test earning a 44.2 from the judges putting them in second place. The pair gave a solid performance with bold movements that were rewarded by the judges with high marks. Being the top-placed American, Holder leads the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship after the first day of competition.

“It’s always an amazing feeling to ride down that ramp into the Rolex arena,” said Holder. “There are no more amazing fans in the world than here in Kentucky and it’s a great feeling to be in there. It was really nice to have Teddy today be nice, calm, and relaxed and put the test forth that I know that he has in him.”

Holder and the 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding won the Richland Park CIC3* last year and an Advanced division at the Pine Top Spring Horse Trials earlier this spring.

Shandiss McDonald (CAN) and Rockfield Grant Juan performed quite well in the pair’s four-star debut, earning a 45.7 for third place. McDonald and Jorge and Amanda Bernhard’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding executed their test under the most pressure they have experienced.

“I was happy that he was settled and relaxed and willing and did his job,” said McDonald of handling the atmosphere in the Rolex Stadium.

Will Faudree (Southern Pines, NC) is the second highest-placed American after the first day of dressage, sitting in fifth place with Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow with a score of 47.2. With the 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, Faudree finished second in the Advanced division at Southern Pines Horse Trials and 14th in The Fork CIC3* earlier this year.

Dressage resumes Friday in the Rolex Stadium with James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake at 10:00am ET.

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2013/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2013Eventing.

By Kathleen Landwehr