Tag Archives: Show Jumping

Welcoming Waters Ceremony for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Be Held during Betsy Gala and World Cup Qualifier

Mac Cone and Ole. Winners of the 2009 $50,000 Hagyard World Cup Grand Prix, CSI2*-W Lexington, KY. Photo (c) 2009 Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, KY – August 9, 2010 – With only one month until the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) the Kentucky Horse Park is already preparing for the opening day.  On August 20, 2010, the Welcoming Waters Ceremony will take place in the new Indoor Ring. During the ceremony the nine regions being represented during WEG will present water to the First Lady of Kentucky Jane Beshear.  The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be held prior to the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic World Cup Qualifier.  During the World Cup Qualifier, spectators can purchase a table at “The Betsy Gala” to watch international riders compete for the top prize.

The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be a chance for each region to give a gift to First Lady Jane Beshear.  This offering symbolizes the equestrians from each region giving a gift to Kentucky for hosting the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  The water will mimic the Olympic flame, which burns during the length of the Olympics.  Once the World Equestrian Games has concluded the water will be transported to Normandy, France where the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games will be taking place.

Continue reading Welcoming Waters Ceremony for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Be Held during Betsy Gala and World Cup Qualifier

European Champion Takes Over Number One Slot in Rolex Rankings

European champion Kevin Staut (FRA) has taken over the number one slot in the Rolex Rankings for the first time in his Jumping career. (Photograph: Kit Houghton/FEI)

9 August 2010 – European champion Kevin Staut has jumped up to claim the world number one slot in the latest edition of the Rolex Rankings published by the FEI today.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who won individual gold at last year’s Alltech FEI European Jumping Championships in Windsor, has moved up from third to take over the Green and Gold armband from Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN).

Lamaze, who held the world number one position last month, has now dropped down to second ahead of Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer.

Staut has been a pivotal member of the French team that last week claimed its second successive victory in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Dublin. His consistent performances in the series have now been further rewarded with a first-ever world number one slot in the Rolex Rankings for the popular French star.

View the full Rolex Rankings at www.fei.org.

Media Contact:

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

The Global Champions Tour 2010, Valkenswaard, Holland

The Global Champions Tour Comes Home

The emerald grass arenas of Stal Tops, home to Global Champions Tour (GCT) President and Founder Jan Tops, welcome the series he created home this weekend coming. The world’s best riders and horses will descend on Holland hoping to win the Grand Prix of Holland presented by the VDL Groep but there is also a full supporting programme in Valkenswaard to keep everyone entertained before and after that class. Horse Festival Valkenswaard will run the second week of their CSI** concurrently and there is also the exciting Derby to watch on Sunday afternoon so there will always be some top class jumping for visitors to enjoy. And with general admission and parking completely free, over 30’000 people made the most of the experience in 2009. This year the show is hoping all of the world’s top five will be attending, although Eric Lamaze is waiting for final clearance from his doctor at the beginning of the week. But Puis Schwizer, Kevin Staut, Marcus Ehning and Rolf Goran Bengsston are confirmed at time of writing. In addition, the three top ranked ladies, Jessica Kurten, Edwina Alexander, and Penelope Leprevost, are confirmed. And of course, the home fans will be waiting cheer the return of their winning Nations Cup team from Dublin, especially double clear round hero, Eric Van Der Vleuten.

This is the first year that the GCT is proud to welcome Jaeger Le Coultre to Stal Tops in their role as official time keeper after a successful start to the collaboration between the two companies in Turin and Cannes. Please visit the GCT website at www.globalchampionstour.com for more details on Jaeger Le Coultre as well as the full show programme.

Lulu Kyriacou

GCT Press Agent

Crelido and Michael Morrissey Dash to Victory in $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix at Kentucky Summer Classic

Michael Morrissey and Crelido won the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, KY – August 7, 2010 – An incredible crowd turned out tonight at the Kentucky Horse Park to watch the nation’s best riders compete for the top prize during the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Classic. The first round featured a long and demanding track that only five riders were able to complete without fault. The jump-off proved to be even more exciting when Michael Morrissey and Crelido beat Margie Engle aboard Indigo by just two-tenths of a second for the hard fought win.

Thirty-one riders competed over Dave Ballard’s first round course tonight in the new Indoor Ring at the Horse Park in Lexington. There were sixteen jumping efforts which included a liverpool fence, a double combination and a triple combination. The technical aspects of the course and tight time allowed proved difficult for many riders. Five riders were able to complete clear rounds, but only two riders had four-fault efforts while numerous other incurred faults from rails and time.

Continue reading Crelido and Michael Morrissey Dash to Victory in $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix at Kentucky Summer Classic

2010 Hagyard Challenge Series Continues to Be Led by Pablo Barrios

Pablo Barrios continues to retain his lead in the 2010 Hagyard Challenge Series Standings. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 7, 2010 – The lead in the 2010 Hagyard Challenge Series is still being held by Pablo Barrios of Venezuela. He completed a one-two finish in the first $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and earned a second place ribbon in the second $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic held during the 2010 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows.

Reed Kessler continues to move up in the standings as she retains the second place position, and now just 50 points now separate her from Barrios. Kessler won last Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. The young rider finish fourth during this Thursday’s grand prix event and has also finished fourth in both of the previous events held during the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows to earn points towards her current standing.

Last year’s $50,000 Leading Rider Margie Engle has now taken over the third place position after placing third with Lord Spezi and sixth aboard Indigo during this Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic.

Continue reading 2010 Hagyard Challenge Series Continues to Be Led by Pablo Barrios

Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – Competition Report, Round 8, Dublin

(L to R - Front) FEI Director of Jumping John Roche, Dutch Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens, The President of Ireland Mrs Mary MCAleese, President of the Royal Dublin Society Dr Tony Scott and Mr Paul McAuley, General Manager Emirate Equestrian Centre for Meydan. (Back) team members Eric Van der Vleuten, Harrie Smolders, Jur Vrieling and Marc Houtzager. Photo Credit: Tony Parkes.

FEI TV – For all the action from the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series and much more go to www.feitv.org.

DUTCH DELIVER IN DUBLIN AS FRENCH CELEBRATE SECOND SERIES VICTORY

Dublin (IRL), 6 August 2010 – In a thrilling conclusion to the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup, the team from The Netherlands put up a tremendous fight to win the last round in Dublin today where the French were crowned series champions for the second successive year.  The Dutch came to the Irish fixture knowing that only victory would guarantee them a place amongst the elite nations in 2011 and, inspired by their Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens, and ably assisted by the only two double-clear rounds of the competition from Eric Van der Vleuten and Marc Houtzager, they succeeded in their mission in the finest of style when finishing on a four-fault total.

The French arrived knowing they already had the series title in their grasp, but that didn’t take any of the fight out of them.  Chef d’Equipe Laurent Elias said yesterday, “We come to Dublin to win, just like everywhere else.  We had a great start to the season with three victories and we know we are the champions again, but we have a great team here and we want to win this Aga Khan Cup and finish off our great season in the best way,” he added.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=11567

Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – Draw Report, Round 8, Dublin

At the Draw for the last leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Dublin today were (L to R) : John Roche, FEI Director Jumping; Paul McAuley, General Manager Emirates Equesrian Centre for Meydan: Pat Hanly, Show Director Dublin Horse Show. Photo Credit: Tony Parkes.

FRENCH TO THE FORE AS THE LAST LEG GETS UNDERWAY

Dublin (IRL), 5 August 2010 – The French, who cannot be beaten for the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup title, will be first into the ring for the final leg of the series at the Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow.

The draw took place this morning, and the order-of-go for the competition which begins at 2.55 pm local time is as follows:

1, France; 2, Great Britain; 3, Sweden; 4, USA; 5, Ireland; 6, Germany; 7, Netherlands; 8, Switzerland; 9, Spain.

With their last-to-go draw, the Spanish are in with a chance of holding on to their place in the series for 2011.  Lying sixth on the leaderboard going into this final clash, the country which only joined the top-league series for the first time this year is in danger of being overtaken by The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland who are all currently situation in the bottom-four relegation zone in the 10-nation series.  A bad day for Spain tomorrow could prove very expensive, but team manager Marco Fuste is thinking positive.  “We have our best team possible here – it’s tough, and we are going to have to fight hard tomorrow, but we are expecting a good result and I am very happy with our place in the draw,” he pointed out.

Continue reading Meydan FEI Nations Cup 2010 – Draw Report, Round 8, Dublin

FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders

The victorious British team after winning gold at the 2010 FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders at Pardubice last weekend.

EXTRA: The 2010 European Vaulting Championships begin at Stadl Paura, Austria on Thursday 6 August.  The event will be broadcast live in Web TV under the link www.cvi-austria.org.

BRITISH WHITE-WASH AT PARDUBICE

3 August 2010 – British riders proved invincible when taking their sixth consecutive team gold as well as the individual title at the 2010 FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders which was staged at the world-famous Pardubice Racecourse in the Czech Republic from 30 July to 1 August.

It was a close-fought affair in each case. However, the winning team heading a powerful challenge from Germany by just 0.10 penalties while Emily Parker had just an 0.8 point advantage over Sweden’s Hannes Melin to take the individual honours.  The Swedish team came third while Germany’s Sonja Buck claimed individual bronze.

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FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2010

The Area 3 Young Rider Eventing team of Missy Miller, Emily Renfoe, Danielle Dichting and Devon Brown celebrate their gold medal winning performance at the 2010 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship in Lexington last weekend. Photo: Anthony Trollope.

US RIDERS HAUL IN THE GOLD

3 August 2010 – The 2010 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships came to a close on Sunday August 1st at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA – home of the forthcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Top American, Canadian and Mexican riders between the ages of 14 and 21 showcased their talents in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Reining but it was the host nation that dominated affairs when taking nine gold medals.

Jumping

US riders swept the boards in both the Individual and Team Young Rider Jumping Championships.  Ali Wolff and H & M Necoll made an amazing comeback after pulling two rails during the First Individual Qualifier to claim Young Rider Gold. They began their rise to the top by completing two clear efforts in the Team Competition. The pair then moved into the first place position during the last round of the Finals and held their lead with another clear to finish on a total of 9.93 faults. Catherine Pasmore and My Boy took the Silver Medal with 10.65 faults and Jessica Springsteen and Vornado Van Den Hoendrik took home the Bronze after accruing 13.44 faults.

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Henri Kovacs and Sassicaia II Race to $40,000 KY Summer Grand Prix Victory at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

Henri Kovacs and Sassicaia II won the $40,000 KY Summer Grand Prix at Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, KY – August 1, 2010 – The curtain closed on the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, the first in the summer series, and the last event of the week did not disappoint. The week featured classes such as the NAJYRC finals and the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and the most prize money was offered in this evening’s $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. As the sun set over the Kentucky Horse Park’s Main Outdoor Stadium it was 20-year-old Hungarian Henri Kovacs garnering the win with Plain Bay Farm’s Sassicaia II in their third Grand Prix victory as a team here in Lexington.

Thirty-two entries competed over today’s 13-obstacle, 1.50 m course, designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. The technically demanding track included a wall fence, triple bar, a double combination and a triple combination. The distances in the related lines required control of the mount, and a tight time allowed required a precise route to break the beam within the 80-second time allowed, which already had been lengthened from the original 72 second limit.

Continue reading Henri Kovacs and Sassicaia II Race to $40,000 KY Summer Grand Prix Victory at Kentucky Summer Horse Show