Tag Archives: FEI Nations Cup

FEI Nations Cup 2011 Promotional League Update

SWISS LOOKING STRONG IN PROMOTIONAL LEAGUE SERIES by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 9 June 2011 – The Swiss, relegated from the Top League in 2010 but clearly on form when making a guest appearance in the FEI Nations Cup on their home ground at St Gallen last week, are heading the 2011 European Promotional League table after the first three legs of the series and look set for an early return to the elite level of the sport.

This year the Promotional League looks a little different, with teams from three qualifying groups entitled to battle it out for a place in the 2012 Top League.  The 12 nations which have competed in the European series so far are Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Portugal, Hong Kong and Hungary, but the Swiss advantage is a slender one going into the fourth of the six rounds at Drammen, Norway next week.

OPENING LEG
The Swiss finished sixth at the opening leg in Linz-Ebelsberg, Austria early last month, and ninth at round two in Copenhagen, Denmark a week later.  However, runner-up spot behind Sweden at Lisbon, Portugal two weeks ago has given them a 0.5 point advantage over the Spanish who have registered an eighth and two fifth-place finishes so far.  The Spanish put up some tremendously spirited performances when joining the Top League last season and are making a determined effort to qualify once again.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 Promotional League Update

Fellers and Flexible Withstand the Rain to Claim Second in the St. Gallen Grand Prix

Rich Fellers and Flexible. Photo by Beatrice Scudo.

St. Gallen, Switzerland – Switzerland’s CSIO St. Gallen ended successfully for the show jumping riders who have been representing the United States at the first three shows of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series. In Sunday’s Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland, Rich Fellers and Flexible defied both the tiny chestnut stallion’s size and the weather, jumping impressively to second place behind Great Britain’s Nick Skelton in a deluge of rain. Christine McCrea rounded out a successful U.S. effort with a fantastic third-place effort on Romantovich Take One.

Out of the 36 starters, 10 went forward to the jump-off. Five went clear again so the clock decided the winner. Skelton’s flashy grey Carlo outran Flexible by just over a second, but Fellers and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Irish Sport Horse stallion’s time of 44.83 proved he was clearly in the right league with his effort in the soaking conditions.

McCrea and Candy Tribble’s Romantovich Take One closed out the top three places with a time of 46.93.

Complete results and more information can be found here: http://www.csio.ch/.

For photos and other highlights visit: http://usefnetwork.com/.

Complete FEI Nations Cup Series information is available here: www.FEI.org.

The next stop on the Nation Cup series is Falsterbo, Sweden, on July 8.

Dutch Do the Double at St. Gallen

L to R: Peter Stoessel, CSIO St-Gallen President; John Roche, FEI Director of Jumping and Dutch team-members Eric Van Der Vleuten, Maikel Van Der Vleuten, Chef d’equipe Rob Ehrens, Piet Raymakers Jr and Jur Vrieling. Photo: FEI/Katja Stuppia.

St Gallen (SUI), 3 June 2011 – The Dutch team recorded a back-to-back double when topping the third leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series at St. Gallen, Switzerland today.  Just a week after sweeping to victory in Rome (ITA), they produced another stunning performance which promoted them to the top of the leaderboard going to the next leg of the series in Falsterbo (SWE) next month.

The unpredictability of Nations Cup Jumping has rarely been more graphically illustrated than by the swings of fortune in today’s competition.  There were high expectations for the defending champions from France, but once again things did not go their way and pathfinder, Kevin Staut, was eliminated for the second time in the current series.  The German team withdrew when things fell apart for them in the second round and the Irish, heading the leaderboard, struggled to finish in front of the Danes who slotted into eighth place.

The Swiss were the surprise package of the day.  Relegated at the end of last season, they came out with all guns blazing to finish equal-second with the resilient British while the Americans started strongly, but faded in the second round to finish fourth.

Continue reading Dutch Do the Double at St. Gallen

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 3

USA HEADS THE START-LIST FOR ROUND THREE AT ST GALLEN by Louise Parkes

L to R - Peter Stossel, President CSIO St Gallen, John Roche, FEI Jumping Director and Henk Nooren, Chef d'Equipe for the French team. Photo: FEI/Katja Stuppia.

St Gallen (SUI), 2 June 2011 – The American team will be first into the ring for tomorrow’s third leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup at St Gallen, Switzerland.  A total of nine nations will compete, as the Swiss, who were relegated at the end of last season, join the eight Top League countries for a guest appearance on their home ground.

And the host nation looks strong, with Steve Guerdat (Jalisca Solier), Werner Muff (Kiamon), Jannike Sprunger (Uptown Boy) and Pius Schwizer (Carlina) ready to show that their country is still a force to be reckoned with.  The teams will start the first round of the competition in the following order:  1, USA; 2, Denmark; 3, Germany; 4, The Netherlands; 5, Ireland; 6, Belgium; 7, France; 8, Switzerland; 9, Great Britain.

BIG ATMOSPHERE
The generous dimensions of the St Gallen arena helps create a big atmosphere and tremendous competition at this popular annual fixture, and, as Dutch Chef d’Equipe, Rob Ehrens, said last week after leading his team to victory in Rome (ITA): “It will be great to be back jumping on grass again at St Gallen.  When the footing is good on grass, then there’s nothing better!”

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 3

This Week in International Disciplines – June 1, 2011

Dressage

Dressage preparations for the Pan American Games continued as Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I competition took place at CDIs across the country. Jan Ebeling swept the small tour at CDI Flintridge with Rosenzauber 8, scoring 70.263% in the Prix St Georges, 70.702% in the Intermediaire I and 70.292% in the Freestyle.

For complete results please visit www.cornerstonedressage.com/results/2011_7.pdf.

At the CDI Lexington, Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU dominated the Small Tour. They scored 71.008% in the Prix St. Georges and 76.624% in the Intermediaire I. Claire Darnell won the Intermediaire I Freestyle with a score 73.458%.

For more information, please visit: http://www.kentuckydressageassociation.org/.

In the small tour at CDI Allentown in New Jersey, Canadian Ashley Holzer took the top spot in the Prix St. Georges, but Cesar Parra, the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Champion, was second on Grandioso with a score of 70.395%. Holzer continued her winning ways in the Intermediaire I, where Endel Ots took second with Toscano on a score of 69.430%. Parra then went on to win the Freestyle with a score of 72.417% Holzer also won the Grand Prix on her veteran Pop Art, local rider Lauren Sammis was second with Sagacious HF with a score of 67.851%. They repeated the one-two placings in the Grand Prix Freestyle.  Melissa Taylor was third behind Sammis in the Grand Prix but led the victory celebration in the Grand Prix Special with Schumacker Solyst on a score of 65.792%.

Continue reading This Week in International Disciplines – June 1, 2011

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Round 2

DUTCH DOMINATE IN ROME by Louise Parkes

The Dutch team won the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup at the Piazza di Siena in Rome (ITA) today. L to R: Eric van der Vleuten, Harrie Smolders, Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens, Jeroen Dubbeldam and Gerco Schroder. Photo: FEI/Bruno di Lorenzo.

Rome (ITA), 27 May 2011 – The Netherlands secured a convincing victory in the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in Rome (ITA) today where the Belgians were runners-up ahead of the Irish in third.

This was only the second time for a Dutch side to come out on top at the Piazza di Siena, and two of today’s team – Jeroen Dubbeldam and Eric van der Vleuten – were also on the winning side back in 2004.  The smoothness of their success was such that anchorman Dubbeldam did not have to return to the arena in round two because the result was already decided, and the Dutch now go to the next leg at St Gallen (SUI) next Friday lying third on the leaderboard, while the Belgians are in second and the Irish retain the driving seat.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Giovanni Bussu’s 12-fence track provided plenty of food for thought, with faults evenly spread but the open water proving the bogey of the day.

The French were in charge at the half-way stage, counting just two time faults when both Penelope Leprevost (Mylord Carthago HN) and Simon Delestre (Couletto) missed the 80-second time limit in otherwise faultless runs, and anchorman Michel Robert (Kellemoi de Pepita) went clear.  The Belgians were next in line carrying five while the USA was in third carrying eight.  The Dutch and British were lying joint-fourth with nine faults apiece but the Irish had already accumulated 13, so seemed unlikely to repeat their spectacular win at the opening leg in La Baule two weeks ago.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Round 2

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2

IT’S ALL EYES ON THE IRISH IN ROME by Louise Parkes

Larkhill Cruiser – Cian O'connor (IRL) - A member of the winning team. Copyright: Christoph Bricot/FEI

Rome, 26 May 2011 – The Irish team are hot favourites to win the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in Rome (ITA) tomorrow, but they got the worst of the draw today and so will be first into the ring as the action gets underway in the stunning surroundings of the Piazza di Siena.  A total of nine teams will line out in this leg of the elite eight-nation tournament, as the host country makes a guest appearance on home turf.

The order-of-go for tomorrow’s competition is as follows: 1, Ireland; 2, France; 3, USA; 4, The Netherlands; 5, Denmark; 6, Germany; 7, Italy; 8, Great Britain; 9, Belgium.

PROSPECTS
Discussing team prospects this evening, Belgian Chef d’Equipe, Philipp Guerdat, said that “everyone has a chance, but the Irish are very strong because they have been winning everywhere!”  Robert Splaine’s side stormed to victory in the opening leg of the FEI Nations Cup in La Baule, France two weeks ago, and then another Irish selection topped the podium at the FEI Promotional League in Copenhagen, Denmark a week later.  It seems they are the hottest team in town.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2

Irish Clinch Victory in Thrilling Season-Opener at La Baule

Irish eyes were smiling at La Baule in France today when (L to R) Billy Twomey, Cian O'Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Cameron Hanley won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup. Photo: FEI/Christophe Bricot.

La Baule, 13 May 2011 – Ireland won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in a nail-biting thriller at La Baule in France today. On an afternoon when the form-book was turned on its head, Robert Splaine’s side of Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Billy Twomey (Romanov), Cian O’Connor (Larkhill Cruiser) and Cameron Hanley (VDL Southwind) produced superb jumping to finish with a two-fault advantage over the runners-up from Belgium, while the mighty German side had to settle for third spot in the eight-nation clash.

Nations Cup jumping is never predictable, which is one of the reasons for its continuing popularity more than a century after it all began.  But few could have expected that the host country – defending series champion and winners on their home turf in 2010 – would finish second-last, followed only by the newcomers from Denmark.  On a difficult day for the Danes, already disadvantaged by the withdrawal of second-line rider Emilie Martinsen after her horse, Caballero, suffered a colic attack, they retired early in the second round.  So they go into the next leg in Rome (ITA) in two weeks’ time already trailing on the leaderboard, and with a mountain to climb if they are to survive their debut-season at the elite level of this super-tough sport.

A FEW SURPRISES
Course designer, Frederic Cottier, appeared to have been quite lenient as the competition began, but by the end of the first round there had already been a few surprises including elimination for World No. 1 Kevin Staut whose mare, Silvana de Hus, stopped twice at the penultimate combination to the dismay of the home crowd.

Continue reading Irish Clinch Victory in Thrilling Season-Opener at La Baule

Germany First to Go as 2011 FEI Nations Cup Gets Underway at La Baule Tomorrow

La Baule, 12 May 2011 – The German team will be first into the ring as the 2011 FEI Nations Cup gets underway at La Baule, France tomorrow afternoon when the Dutch will have the advantage of starting last of the eight competing countries.  The draw took place today, and the running order will be as follows:

1, Germany; 2, Great Britain; 3, USA; 4, Belgium; 5, Denmark; 6, Ireland; 7, France; 8, The Netherlands.

Fabulous weather has greeted visitors to the charming seaside town this week, and riders can look forward to excellent footing for their horses as the show-ground has undergone extensive renovation to repair the serious damage caused by a massive storm last August.  More than 50 cms of rainwater swamped the area, and the repair-work which began in September took five months to complete.  As a result of the work in the intervening period however, conditions are now better than ever, so the stage is set for a great opening round to the eight-leg top-level series.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS
The Chefs d’Equipe talked about their expectations for tomorrow’s competition, and for the season which will conclude in Rotterdam (NED) in August.

Continue reading Germany First to Go as 2011 FEI Nations Cup Gets Underway at La Baule Tomorrow

FEI Nations Cup Top League and Promotional League on FEI TV

Lausanne (SUI), 11 May 2011 – Friday 13 May will definitely be a lucky day for all FEI TV viewers. The opening stages of both the FEI Nations Cup Top League and Promotional League taking place at La Baule (FRA) and Linz (AUT) respectively will be broadcast on FEI TV. This will amount to over six hours of LIVE coverage starting at 11.20 GMT and ending at 17.30 GMT.

Festivities will begin with the broadcast from Linz where 17 teams – Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and host nation Austria – will be fighting for the Promotional League precious points. Coverage will continue with the world’s top eight Jumping teams competing at La Baule.

The exact timetable is as follows:
FEI Nations Cup Promotional League, Linz (AUT):
11.20 GMT – 14.10 GMT (13.20 CEST – 16.10 CEST)

FEI Nations Cup Top League, La Baule (FRA):
14.15 GMT – 17.30 GMT (16.15 CEST – 19.30 CEST)
First round, first horse in the arena at 14.20 GMT; second round, first horse in the arena at 15.55 GMT; prize giving at 17.15 GMT.

Visit now the FEI YouTube channel for an exciting free season preview and tune in on FEI TV on Friday for six hours of top class sport.

Media contacts:

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

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