Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One (Shannon Brinkman)
Lexington, KY – Eleven of the United States’ best jumping riders head to Gothenburg, Sweden aiming to be named the 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final champion. The United States is attempting to retain the title after a 25-year winless draught ended in spectacular fashion last year. The 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final will run from April 24-28 in conjunction with the annual Gothenburg Horse Show in the Scandinavum Arena.
“This is a particularly exciting year to be going back to Gothenburg since, for the first time in twenty-five years, an American rider will be returning as the defending World Cup Final Champion,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. “Over the years, the Scandinavium Arena has been the site of many American triumphs.”
All eyes will be on reigning champion Rich Fellers (Sherwood, OR) as he looks to score a repeat victory with the indomitable Flexible. Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Irish stallion enjoyed a remarkable 2012 season that included victories in North America and Europe as well as an eighth place Individual finish at the Olympic Games in London.
Fellers will be joined in Gothenburg by his Olympic teammates Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, and Charlie Jayne. Madden (Cazenovia, NY) is one the most decorated riders in America, with two Olympic Team Gold medals (2004 and 2008), Olympic Individual Bronze (2008), and Team and Individual Silver medals from the FEI World Equestrian Games (2006) to her name. At the 2013 Final she will ride Abigail Wexner’s talented geldings Simon and Cortes ‘C’. Ward (Brewster, NY) joined Madden on those medal winning teams and in addition to winning Grand Prixes throughout the world, was the runner-up at the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final. He will ride Grant Road Partners LLC’s Antares F, his 2012 Olympic Games partner, and Super Trooper De Ness as he looks to go one better in 2013. Kessler (Lexington, KY) was the youngest rider in history to be a member of a U.S. Equestrian Olympic team when she competed in London last year. She makes her Final debut with her Olympic partner Cylana and the versatile Ligist. Jayne (Elgin, IL), the reserve rider in London, is making his third consecutive Finals appearance. He will ride Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s Chill R Z in Sweden.
The entire Gold Medal winning team from the 2011 Pan American Games will also be in attendance at the 2013 Final. Christine McCrea (East Windsor, CT) outran teammates Madden and Ward as she added Individual Gold to her medal tally in Guadalajara, Mexico. She will ride her winner from those Games, Candy Tribble’s Romantovich Take One, and Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Wannick WH at the 2013 Final. Rounding out the U.S. effort in Mexico two years ago were Kent Farrington (Wellington, FL) and R.C.G. Farm’s Uceko. The pair makes their second appearance at the Final this year.
A trio of up-and-coming talent will travel to Sweden to make their Rolex/FEI World Cup Final debut. Katie Dinan (New York, NY), the Individual Gold medalist from the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, has spent the last 12 months earning top finishes both stateside and abroad. She will be looking to turn heads this week with Grant Road Partners LLC’s Nougat Du Vallet. Karl Cook (Woodside, CA) has also been making a name for himself jumping on the West Coast with Signe Ostby’s Jonkheer Z. Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, CA) and Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119 will look to showcase the form that has consistently earned them top finishes in the U.S. and abroad.
Rounding out the U.S. entry is Ashlee Bond who will ride Little Valley Farms’ Wistful. Bond (Hidden Hills, CA) is making her third Finals start and will utilize the experience gained from jumping on many U.S. Nations Cup teams.
“This year’s contingent of American riders is the strongest in years, a group that includes the top-ranked U.S. riders, Olympians, and the 2011 Pan American Games Individual Gold Medalist,” said Ridland. “Equally as exciting, however, is the incredibly talented group of under-30 riders who will be representing the U.S., because through their performances on the world stage we will be getting an early glimpse of what the future holds for us.”
The first leg of the four round competition gets underway at 6:30pm local time on Thursday April 25th.
Learn more about the U.S. riders here.
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