Tag Archives: Pius Schwizer

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Vogel Wins, but Schou and Schwizer Share the Lead Going into Final Day

Richard Vogel (GER) and United Touch S – Copyright ©FEI/Richard Juilliart

On a night of sensational sport, Germany’s Richard Vogel steered the brilliant stallion United Touch S to win the second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha (USA). But it is Denmark’s Andreas Schou (Darc de Lux) and Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (Vancouver de Lanlore) who share the lead going into Saturday’s third and deciding competition.

The top three in the opening Speed class all lost their grip, but overnight leader and world number one, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward), only slipped to third with a single fence down. However, Britain’s Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson) plummeted from second to equal-ninth when leaving three on the floor, while Germany’s Daniel Deusser (Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z) retired and is now completely out of contention.

With points from both the Speed leg and the Jump-Off now converted into penalties, there is less than a fence between the top six going into the top-30 last-day test.

Schou and Schwizer are out in front on a zero score and von Eckermann will carry just one penalty point, while 26-year-old Vogel will start with two on the board and Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and the USA’s Hunter Holloway will start with three penalties already on their scorecard.

The result is far from decided because time faults or a fence down on Saturday can change everything.

The key

Only nine of the 39 starters found the key to another superb 14-fence first-round course set by Portugal’s Bernardo Costa Cabral. Regardless of experience this was a track that tested every single rider, and while the oxer at fence 10 proved particularly influential. there were poles on the ground all the way to the very last.

First into the jump-off, flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard left the door wide open with two down with Donatello d’Auge, but Norway’s Victoria Gulliksen followed with a cracking clear from her beloved Papa Roach in 38.71 to take the early lead.

Then America’s Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue, runners-up at the 2018 Final in Paris, hit the very last fence before Harry Charles forged a new lead with Balou du Reventon that stopped the clock in 35.25 seconds.

The British rider’s advantage was short-lived when Vogel’s big-striding horse galloped through the finish in 35.11 seconds with apparent ease. Although Schou (35.58 seconds) and last-to-go Schwizer (36.18 seconds) left all the timber intact, they had to settle for third and fourth places, respectively, while Vogel reigned supreme ahead of Charles.

Delighted

Talking about his win, Vogel, whose recent form has seen him rise 23 places in the world rankings in the last month, said, “It’s our first World Cup Final, so we are delighted with how it has gone so far. Obviously, we will try to do our best on the final day, but we are already very happy!”

Runner-up Charles, who is highest ranked U25 rider and number 15 in the latest world rankings, was also more than pleased. He’s clearly thrilled to be partnering the brilliant Balou du Reventon who only joined his string last December.

“He’s not really a horse, he’s a Pegasus! For sure he’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden and even at 17 years old, he is still one of the best horses in the world. I’ve been watching him since I was growing up and it’s an honour and a privilege to be sat on him. I love every minute of every time I get to go in the ring with him!” he said proudly.

He described the course as “fantastic… I didn’t think it was too big but it rode really difficult and we got a great result. A lot of good guys from yesterday didn’t quite have the result they wanted today which was good for me! So it has made it a really exciting competition.”

Handsome stallion

Third-placed Schou also had plenty of nice things to say about his handsome stallion Darc de Lux, who has helped place him in the joint lead going into the final day.

“Yesterday we managed to stay near the top, and today he came out like he did all the indoor season and fought for me all the way around and gave me the clear round that was needed.” When the penultimate vertical came up very deep, the 12-year-old horse didn’t hesitate to oblige.

“That was all credit on him. I deserved to have a mistake in that turn. I had seen Richard’s round and I knew I had to give it all, and when I put so much pressure on him the canter gets difficult to handle. When I turned, the distance wasn’t there and I had to add one (stride), but he’s such a sharp and clever horse that he managed.”

When asked if he was surprised to find himself in the joint lead, he replied, “I think I have to say yes! But when you see his (Darc de Lux’s) record all indoor season, he jumped six World Cups and ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) and Geneva (SUI) and he’s been clear in most or maximum one down. He’s such a consistent, clever, and careful horse, so he actually deserves to be there because he is actually one of the best!”

Full results

by Louise Parkes

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Swiss Steal the Show at St Gallen

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Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei (FEI/Martin Dokoupil)

They’d been waiting a long time – a full 26 years since last topping the line-up on home ground at the Grundenmoos Arena – so the Swiss victory in the first leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup 2022 Europe Division 1 series at St Gallen was extra-sweet.

Even though they were lying equal-second with The Netherlands and Norway carrying eight faults at the halfway stage of the eight-nation contest, Michel Sorg’s side was filled with confidence. In the end, three second-round clears wrapped it up.

Whip hand

Great Britain had the whip hand at the halfway stage when, with only the best three scores counting for each team, they could drop one of the four-fault efforts posted by Joseph Stockdale (Equine America Caaharel) and Jack Whitaker (Equine America Valmy de la Lane), because pathfinder Harry Charles (Casquo Blue) and anchorman John Whitaker (Equine America Unick du Francport) were both foot-perfect.

But Stockdale was the only member of Di Lampard’s side to keep a clean sheet second time out when they were forced to add eight faults to their scoreline for a final tally of 12. And The Netherlands’ Jack Ansems (Fliere Fluiter), Sanne Thijssen (Con Quidam RB), Jur Vrieling (Long John Silver), and Marc Houtzager (Sterrehof’s Dante) overtook them for runner-up spot when finishing on the same score but in a quicker time.

Team Germany finished fourth on 16 faults, Belgium finished fifth ahead of Brazil with a faster 20-fault result, Norway racked up 24 for seventh spot, and Austria finished eighth and last on a total of 28.

Pressure

It came right down to the last rider into the ring to decide the result, all the pressure piling onto the capable shoulders of the legendary John Whitaker who could force a jump-off with the eventual winners if he could steer a second clear course over Gerard Lachat’s 12-fence track. Both Harry Charles and his nephew Jack Whitaker had collected four faults apiece this time out, but if Uncle John could add another zero to Stockdale’s clear, then it would go to a third-round head-to-head to decide the result.

It was looking really good until Unick du Francport clipped the middle element of the triple combination, leaving the cool, calm Swiss clear winners, adding nothing more to their first-round scoreline.

They were favourites from the outset, and the double-clear posted by pathfinders Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei proved pivotal. The Swiss star, who turns 30 next month and who recently added the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ title to the individual European gold medal he bagged last September, produced two spectacular rounds, while team-mate, 20-year-old Edouard Schmitz, followed a first-round mistake with Quon at the first element of the double at fence four with a brilliant run at their second attempt.

Pius Schwizer was looking foot-perfect until lowering the final two fences in round one, but produced a copybook second effort with Vancouver de Lanlore. The enthusiastic spectators gasped in disbelief when Swiss anchor Steve Guerdat made it all the way to the last with Venard du Cerisy in round one only for that to fall, and as it happened, the 2012 Olympic champion didn’t need to jump again because the job was done and dusted.

History-making

There was a real sense of history-making and Fuchs was delighted to be part of it. “Whenever I was on the team in St Gallen we never won, but we said this year now we have to win, and finally we did it!

“We were confident because Edoaurd’s horse jumped really well and Pius’ horse too, and we changed his plan for the second round to put an extra stride in the last line. And Steve had one rail at the last fence, so we all thought he would deliver in the second round, but in the end, he didn’t need to go,” he explained.

Lachat’s course certainly played its part, the line from fences six to eight proving particularly influential. “After the water jump (fence 6), there was the plank and then a short five strides to a liverpool oxer – you needed good rideability and a careful horse, and you needed scope for the oxer, so this kind of asked everything of the horse and rider,” he pointed out.

Big moment

It was a big moment posting this historic result in front of the home crowd.

“We knew we had a strong team as we were already good in the Grand Prix. I think the crowd knew that as well and they really cheered for us this afternoon. This is an amazing feeling. I felt my horse was super today and I’m happy we could contribute to this home win!” Fuchs added, while Schmitz said, “I will never forget this day!”

Guerdat was quietly happy with the result too. “I’m now a little older, so my fault at the last fence in the first round bothered me a little less than it used to! In the Nations Cup at the end, it is the team result that counts and it worked out today. It has been a great show, with great public, perfect organisation, and very nice courses from Gerard. We will have nice memories from this weekend for sure!” he said.

Swiss Chef d’Equipe Michel Sorg also had plenty to be happy about. “Edouard was already good in the Grand Prix at La Baule a few weeks ago and again here on Saturday – I am really happy that he confirmed that here today and I’m really proud of all my team!” he said.

Result here.

by Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager, Media Relations & Media Operations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Super Schwizer Snatches Longines Victory at Zurich

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Pius Schwizer and PSG Future produced a superb host-nation victory at the tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League in Zurich (SUI). (FEI/Tomas Holcbecher)

Zurich (SUI), 31 January 2016 – Pius Schwizer and PSG Future set the Hallenstadion in Zurich (SUI) alight this afternoon when snatching a thrilling last-to-go victory for the host nation in the penultimate leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League. Only nine of the 39 starters found the key to the tough first-round track set by Swiss course designer Gerard Lachat, and Ireland’s Denis Lynch claimed his second runner-up finishing spot in a row with All Star, while Australia’s Edwina Alexander lined up third with Caretina de Joter.

Today’s result has seriously boosted Lynch’s position on the Western European League leaderboard, with 17 points rocketing him up to 13th spot. Now with a total of 34 points, the Irishman is well within sight of a top-18 qualifying spot for the Final which will take place in Gothenburg (SWE) from 23-28 March. As it stands today it looks like riders with points in the mid-30s should book their ticket to the Swedish fixture.

Schwizer, however, still has some work to do if he is to make the cut. Today’s maximum 20 points still only leave him on a total of 24. So the man who has stood on the Final podium on so many previous occasions, but who has never laid claim to the coveted Longines FEI World Cup™ trophy, will be doing serious battle at the last qualifying leg in Bordeaux (FRA) next Saturday.

Bogey fences

The bogey fences on the 13-obstacle first-round course were the Longines triple combination at fence seven (oxer, vertical, oxer), the tall white planks at fence nine and the double that consisted of a vertical to an oxer at fence 11. Lachat could be forgiven for being a bit un-nerved, however, when the host country’s Martin Fuchs got the action underway with a clear from Clooney and then, fourth to go, the young German, Niklas Krieg who created a sensation when winning the previous leg in Leipzig (GER), followed suit. However, although five of the first 20 horse-and-rider combinations left all the poles in place, only four more would join them at the end of the first round.

And the jump-off was a cracker, with the excitement sizzling all the way to the very end.

Fuchs and Clooney led the way against the clock, but both the white planks and the double were still in place, and they continued to influence the result. The planks were now the third fence on the track, and Fuchs kicked them out to set the target at four faults in 41.92 seconds.

On the sporting map

Then Krieg set off with Carella, the much-loved 11-year-old mare with which he put himself firmly on the sporting map two weeks ago. But he had used up all his luck when tapping several poles in the first round, and when he hit the new vertical at fence 15 he broke the beam in 41.78 seconds to take over the lead, but only temporarily.

He was still out in front when Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci and Cassalo Z ran into double-trouble four fences from home, but Michael Whitaker then re-set the parameters with Viking who hit the first element of the double but scorched home with a breathtaking run in 39.89 seconds.

Right out in front

Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels and Cas de Liberte fell victim to the bogey planks in a slower time, so Edwina Alexander’s clear with Caretina de Joter put her right out in front, but she knew she had been cautious.

“I realised there was no clear when I was going in, but that there were quite a few fast ones coming behind me. I hadn’t tested Caretina going really fast yet – we also tried a new bit today so I was trying for a nice clear. I was too slow already at the first fence and I didn’t get a great turn-back to the vertical (second fence) so I think I did right thing,” she explained afterwards.

Crossing the line in 45.31 seconds she had indeed left the door open, although three-time winner this season and runaway leader of the Western European League table, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, couldn’t take advantage when dropping the dreaded planks with Epleaser van T Heike when third-last to go.

Big and clean

Lynch also knows that his 13-year-old All Star is not the fastest horse on the planet but he jumps big and clean and he’s been in the form of his life over the last few weeks. Setting off with complete determination the pair stormed home without fault in 42.34 seconds to set another new target and put it right up to Schwizer as the final competitor.

But the 53-year-old Swiss is a man who knows how to handle pressure, and although he rattled both elements of the double en route, he blasted through the finish in 41.97 seconds to settle the matter. This was his second FEI World Cup™ victory at Zurich, previously topping the line-up in 2014 with Toulago. He admitted afterwards that he was very hungry for success today.

“Future was already good here in Zurich on Friday, and today everything fell in place for a win but of course you have to bring it home and that’s not easy. I really wanted the win and not to finish second or third because I wanted to do well in front of my home people here in Switzerland,” he said.

There were all sorts of emotions in the air at the post-competition press conference. For one man the closing of today’s competition marked the end of a very successful era. “This is my last CSI as Sports Director,” said Rolf Theiler who has led the Zurich sports team in creating a fantastic event for the last 28 years, “and the biggest gift I could possibly ask for was a win for Pius today and Martin (Fuchs) taking the Leading Rider of the Tournament – I’m very happy!”

For further information on the tenth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League Leipzig (GER), visit www.mercedes-csi.ch or contact Press Officer Roman Gasser, roman.gasser@mercedes-csi.ch, + 41 79 635 5005.

Bordeaux (FRA) will host the eleventh and last qualifying round on Saturday 6 February. For details of the French fixture, visit www.jumping-bordeaux.com or contact Press Officer Pascal Renauldon, info@rbpresse.com, +33 (6) 08 75 94 07.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

The Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland was the venue for the penultimate leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League today.

The home crowd had plenty to shout about when Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer galloped to victory with PSG when last to go in the nine-horse second-round jump-off against the clock.

Course designer was Switzerland’s Gerard Lachat, assisted by Rolf Ludi.

The time-allowed in the first round was 68 seconds.

Denmark’s Thomas Sandgaard and Amarone missed out on a place in the jump-off when picking up a single first-round time penalty.

A total of 39 horse-and-rider combinations started in today’s competition, with Olympic champion Steve Guerdat heading up the nine-strong Swiss contingent.

Runner-up was Ireland’s Denis Lynch and All Star who also finished second at the previous leg of the series in Leipzig, Germany two weeks ago.

There were were three double-clear performances.

The fastest time in the jump-off was set by Britain’s Michael Whitaker and Viking who crossed the line in 39.89 seconds but left a pole on the floor to finish in fourth place.

The last qualifying round of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League will take place in Bordeaux (FRA) next Saturday, 6 February.

Quotes:

John Roche, FEI Jumping Director: “I’d like to congratulate Gerard (Lachat, course designer) for creating fantastic sport. And on behalf of the FEI I’d like to congratulate Zurich, and in particular Rolf Theiler and his team, for producing another outstanding event. Special thanks go to Longines, Mercedes and all the other sponsors as well.”

Edwina Tops-Alexander AUS (3rd): “I got Caretina from Pius and I’m really fortunate to have such a nice horse. Pius did a great job with her and Cameron Hanley also before that. I’m very lucky to have that type of horse at this stage of my career. There was a time when I might have found a horse like that difficult to ride.”

Denis Lynch IRL (2nd): “Going to the Final is not really my goal. I’m trying to win another spot for Ireland at the Olympic Games. Bertram (Allen) looks like securing one place and I’m hoping to secure another one. If I can do that with good runs in this World Cup series then that’s great, and I’m hoping to pick up more points in Bordeaux next weekend.”

Gerard Lachat, Course Designer: “I was a little nervous when there were a lot of clear rounds at the beginning but I was quite happy after the jump-off – everything went well; it was tough but it worked out perfectly in the end!”

Edwina Tops-Alexander AUS (3rd), talking about potential to qualify for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2016 Final: “I won a Mercedes here in Zurich in 2008 and I still have it! It’s not easy being Australian to get some invitations (to shows) and I’ve only 19 points so far but I’ll go to Bordeaux now and see what happens!”

Full standings here.

Social media: #FEIWorldCupWEL

Rider biographies: view online and download from http://www.fei.org/bios.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Zurich:

Roman Gasser
Press Officer
roman.gasser@mercedes-csi.ch
+41 79 635 5005

At FEI:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

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

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Schwizer Snatches the Early Lead with First-Time Winner at Longines Final

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Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer steered Quidam du Vivier to victory in tonight’s opening round of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Final at Lyon, France. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Lyon (FRA), 18 April 2014 – Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer clinched a sensational victory in tonight’s opening round of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Final at Lyon in France riding a horse that had never previously won an international competition.

Going 32nd in the field of 40 starters, the man who has come so very close to claiming the prestigious FEI World Cup Jumping trophy on several previous occasions steered the 10-year-old gelding Quidam du Vivier to pip the host nation’s Patrice Delaveau and Lacrimoso HDC by just 0.3 seconds, while German veteran Ludger Beerbaum lined up third with Chaman.

Defending champion, America’s Beezie Madden, had to settle for 12th place when penalised for a single error at one of the most influential fences on the course, the oxer at fence eight.  As a result she is lying outside the top-eight zone which, yesterday, she said was the place to be at the end of the first of the three tough days of competition at this annual test of the best.

Next in line

Olympic individual gold medallist, Steve Guerdat from Switzerland, is lying fourth going into Saturday night’s two-round class, while Morocco’s Abdelkebir Quaddar is next in line following an exciting performance from the explosive stallion Quickly de Kreisker who kept the spectators entertained with his lively antics. Germany’s Daniel Deusser (Cornet d’Amour), Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Verdi NOP), and Ireland’s Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade) fill the next three places followed by two more of the strong German contingent, Christian Ahlmann (Aragon Z) in ninth and Marcus Ehning (Cornado NRW) in tenth place.

It seemed more than possible that the very much on-form Olympic and European team gold medallist and Longines World No. 1 rider Scott Brash from Great Britain would edge into the lead in tonight’s closing stages when third-last to go, and he did indeed threaten to do just that.  But the final fence put paid to his chances, and, lying just ahead of Madden going into Saturday’s class, he faces a tough battle to get back into contention.  America’s Kent Farrington (Blue Angel) and McLain Ward (HH Carlos Z) were the final two to take on the first-leg Speed challenge in which four seconds were added for each fence on the floor, but both faulted once to leave them down the order.

Leading bunch

Frank Rothenberger’s 13-fence track produced the leading bunch without over-taxing the less experienced combinations. Sending them out over an oxer and on to a vertical of wavy planks, they turned right-handed to the vertical at three and on to the double at four before the big questions began.  The vertical at five was followed on a right-hand bending line to the water-tray oxer at six, and for many of the top contenders their line from here to the next vertical at seven saw them shave off valuable fractions of seconds.

The turn-back to the oxer at eight proved crucial, and only the boldest took a tight line here including the eventual winner.  As Rothenberger later explained he made the oxers very wide indeed and the four strides to the following white planks proved difficult for those who were in any way off-balance after their previous effort.  And following a right-hand bending line to another oxer at 10, a super-tight roll-back to the triple combination at 11 was required if riders wanted to stay in touch.  The penultimate oxer at 12 hit the floor many times while the final vertical only fell twice, the first time for America’s Lucy Davis and Barron and the second time for Brash who just got too deep here at the end of an otherwise foot-perfect run.

Drama

As always there were moments of drama, Latvia’s Andrius Petrovas parting company with his gelding, Complemento, when losing power on the approach to the oxer at eight despite a great run over the early part of the track. But there were also some memorable clears including the one produced by Leslie Burr-Howard and Tic Tac who are lying 14th at the end of the first day.

The 57-year-old American rode in exactly the same style as she did when winning the FEI World Cup title way back in 1986 at Gothenburg, Sweden.  And the exceptional nature of the sport of Jumping was underlined by the fact that the youngest rider in today’s competition, 18-year-old Hamad Ali Mohamed A Al Attiyah from Qatar, was born ten years after Burr-Howard recorded that great victory with McLain 28 years ago.

Beerbaum set the early target when fifth in to the ring, breaking the beam in 65.54 seconds, and another 21 horses tackled the course before Delaveau went out in front when clearing the line in 63.67.  But Schwizer and his chestnut gelding carved an even sharper line to take the lead in 63.37 seconds, and none of the remaining eight runners could better that.

Lot of experience

Talking about Quidam du Vivier afterwards, Schwizer said, “I have a lot of experience and the horse relied on that tonight. He has a lot of talent and I knew Quidam for four years before I began to ride him – that was about four months ago.  Previously he was ridden by Markus Hauri, son of Max Hauri.  He was a very spooky horse so he was brought on slowly in smaller classes to give him confidence and he never won an international class before, but he has had some good placings in 3- and 4-Stars over the last few months, including at Gothenburg (SWE).  He is a naturally fast horse, and in the end today was just my day!” the Swiss rider said.

Second-placed Delaveau said he was pleased to get the host country off to a good start, but he is not predicting the result just yet. “There are still another two days of competition so we must wait and see,” he said wisely.

Beerbaum meanwhile talked about Chaman, the horse of which he said, after winning at the Grand Palais in Paris (FRA) last year, “This is a horse to win a battle, but not a war.”  The first German rider ever to win the FEI World Cup Jumping title back in 1993, Beerbaum intends to compete over the remainder of the event with his second ride, Chiara.

Fantastic field of play

He talked about tonight’s course and conditions: “It’s not just because I finished third that I think it was a good, it is because of the facilities here – a fantastic big field of play, one of the biggest arenas in which we ride; a lot of outdoor arenas are smaller than this.  It is a perfect set-up.”  He said the course “was not a typical Table C track; it had a Table A character and there were not too many clear rounds; it was still delicate enough to jump, and in my opinion it was a great course.”

Delaveau agreed. “There was a bit of everything, nothing too difficult; it was designed with the horses in mind which is good as this is the first of three tough days.”

Rothenberger will be handing them out even bigger questions tomorrow night and again on Monday before the fate of the 2014 title is decided.

The second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2013/2014 begins at 20.00 local time on Saturday 19 April, and all the action is LIVE on FEI TV at www.feitv.org  Don’t miss a hoofbeat!

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/mBt_1Ou0qYY

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

Lyon in France is hosting the 36th FEI World Cup Jumping Final this weekend – 17-21 April.

Tonight’s competition was the first of three rounds of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final.

A total of 40 riders competed in the class which was won by Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer riding Quidam du Vivier.

First to go tonight was Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker who was competing in his 22nd FEI World Cup Jumping Final. He made a single mistake at fence 9 and is lying 16th with Viking going into the Saturday’s second Final competition.

Course designer is Germany’s Frank Rothenberger.

The oldest horse in tonight’s competition was the 17-year-old chestnut mare Tinka’s Serenade ridden by Ireland’s sole representative, Billy Twomey.  They finished in eighth place.

The youngest horses were both nine-year-olds – the bay stallion Caramsin competed by Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks and the bay gelding Amor ridden by Brazil’s Yuri Mansur Guerios.

The USA’s Beezie Madden has returned to defend her title with the horse with which she won the FEI World Cup Jumping title in Gothenburg, Sweden last year, the 15-year-old bay gelding Simon. After tonight’s competition, Madden is lying 12th.

Quotes:

Course designer Frank Rothenberger – “I said before the competition we should get 12 to 15 clear rounds and we got 14.  I gave them two or three little options, tight turns, but it was more of a classical course.  There were 31 faults at the oxers and 12 faults at the verticals.”

Patrice Delaveau FRA, when asked if, as a French rider, he feels extra pressure competing on home ground at Lyon – “Yes, but the crowd carries you and spurs you on, so it works both ways!”

Ludger Beerbaum GER, when asked if he was happy with his round today – “There is nothing I would have changed – even after the triple, I could have gone one stride less but these guys were two seconds ahead in the end so it wouldn’t have made any difference.  I am absolutely happy with my round and my horse; he couldn’t have done better today.”

Patrice Delaveau FRA – “I will ride Lacrimoso again tomorrow.  For this Final you need a horse that can go for three days and Lacrimoso is capable.”

Audio Files:

Pius Schwizer  German Version
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_schwizer_rd1_ger.mp3

Patrice Delaveau  French Version
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_Delaveau_rd_fre.mp3

Patrice Delaveau  English Version
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_delaveau_rd1_eng.mp3

Ludger Beerbaum  English Version
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_beerbaum_rd1_eng.mp3

Ludger Beerbaum   German Version
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_beerbaum_rd1_ger.mp3

Billy Twomey
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_twomey_rd1.mp3

Scott Brash
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Lyon_brash_rd1.mp3

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Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.

Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Lyon:

Pascal Renauldon
Press Officer
P.renauldon@rbpresse.com
+333 44 620 621

At FEI:

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

At Longines:

Longines International Public Relations
publicrelations@longines.com

FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Super Schwizer Wins Longines Leg on Home Ground at Zurich

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Juan Carlos Capelli, Head of International Marketing for Longines, presents Pius Schwizer with a Longines watch after the Swiss rider, riding Toulago, won the eighth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2013/2014 series. Photo: FEI/Valeria Streun.

Zurich (SUI), 26 January 2014 – Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer looks well set for a place at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in April after recording an emphatic victory in the eighth leg of the Western European League qualifying series on home ground in Zurich today.  With just two further opportunities to make the cut still remaining, the pressure is building to boiling point.  But Schwizer’s result has moved him well within reach of the coveted qualification zone as the closing stages approach.

Runner-up today was Belgian-based British rider Joe Clee with the talented Diablesse de Muze, while 2011 FEI World Cup Jumping champion and winner of the third leg of the current series at Verona, Italy, last November, Christian Ahlmann from Germany, slotted into third with Aragon Z.  A total of nine went through to the jump-off against the clock, and Schwizer clinched it with a brilliant effort from his nine-year-old horse when third-last to go.

Quite a test

The first-round track proved quite a test despite its apparent simplicity.  It required forward riding from beginning to end, and even more so once the time-allowed was lowered from 66 seconds to 63.  Course designer Gerard Lachat was assisted by fellow-Swiss, Rolf Ludi, in creating a track that increased in difficulty as it progressed, and which demanded significant commitment from both horse and rider.

The oxers, including at the opening obstacle, were wide and square, asking horses to open out and riders to ensure they arrived on a good stride.  The vertical at fence two was followed by another big oxer at three before the track swept left-handed to the London 2012 Bus wall at four which was followed by the triple combination – vertical, oxer, oxer.  This fell frequently throughout the competition, and the following vertical at six came up very quickly after another left-handed sweeping turn.  From here the degree of difficulty increased with every jump, riders having to land and run from the vertical at six to the triple bar at seven before tackling the water-tray vertical of planks at fence eight.

From there it was another left-handed swing to a big oxer at nine and a forward ride to the double at ten where the big opening oxer took its toll. There wasn’t a moment for hesitation ahead of the white vertical at 11 which was followed by seven strong strides to the big penultimate red oxer and another long five strides to the final oxer at 13.

As the class began it seemed perhaps it was all too easy because Switzerland’s Paul Estermann was only second into the ring when recording the first clear with Castlefield Eclipse, and his foot-perfect performance was followed by another from South Africa’s Oliver Lazarus and Pour le Poussage.  Just seven more would join them in the race against the clock however before the first round concluded.

It would be a quality jump-off, but few could have expected that two men placed well down the Longines rankings would give some of the sport’s biggest stars a real run for their money.

Led the way

Estermann led the way with a four-fault effort from his lovely Irish-bred mare.  And despite the fact that he lies 345 on the latest Longines rankings table, South Africa’s Oliver Lazarus showed he is quite comfortable in elite company when doing likewise with the 11-year-old Pour le Passage. From Capetown, and in the saddle since he was a very small child, this 26-year-old who has trained with German ace Ludger Beerbaum has learned his trade well, and his fast time of 34.47 seconds would eventually secure fourth place.

Great Britain’s Joe Clee is ranked 112, but once again this is indicative more of opportunity than talent as the Yorkshire-born 36-year-old really ratcheted up the pressure with a fabulous clear from the handsome Diablesse de Muze, setting the first true target in 34.79 seconds.  And that wouldn’t be easy to beat.

Switzerland’s Jane Richard Philips and the slightly unruly Pablo de Virton set off at a cracking pace but arrived too deep to the penultimate vertical at 11, and despite a great gallop to the last would have to settle for fifth in the final analysis. Christian Ahlmann opted for a slightly cautious tour of the new course, and Clee could be seen taking a deep breath of relief as the German raced his grey through the finish-line, clear but a little slower than the British rider in 35.56 seconds. And when last week’s winners in Leipzig, Germany – Patrice Delaveau and Lacrimoso HDC from France – left two on the floor the British rider’s grin just kept getting bigger.

Third-last to go however, Schwizer and the nine-year-old Toulago, made no mistake, and their turn of speed was spectacular.  Schwizer seemed surprised by just how much pace he could pick up between the opening oxer and the next, which was originally the first fence on the track.  Not even the tricky double at fence ten could stop them in their tracks as they stormed home to break the beam in 34.65 seconds and soar into the lead.  And when Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Plot Blue hit the very first fence and the final partnership of Kevin Staut and Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC from France lowered the vertical which was now third on the track it was all over.  Schwizer had it in the bag and it was time for a big Swiss celebration.

Fantastic record

Schwizer has a fantastic record in the FEI World Cup Jumping series, so it’s no surprise that today’s result gave him particular satisfaction.

“I’m really pleased and I will definitely be going to be Final!” he said this afternoon.  Talking about his winning ride, Toulago, he said, “We bought the horse at the PSI Auction as a six-year-old.  Karin Haber, who owns the horse, rode it for a while before I noticed it had a lot of potential.  I tried the horse for the first time on the Saturday morning of CSIO St Gallen last year and it has been a success ever since. We finished second in the Grand Prix at Humlikon, and 10th in the Global Champions Tour legs at Valkenswaard and Lausanne, so 2013 was a great year for us!” the 51-year-old Swiss rider explained.

Second-placed Clee was also more than happy with his result.  The 36-year-old Yorkshireman moved to Belgium ten years ago where he met his Dutch wife.  “I worked in the South of England for a while and rode at national Grand Prix level there, but I came to Belgium ten years ago to try to make my way in the sport because it wasn’t easy to get the chances at home,” Clee explained today.  “It’s not easy in Europe either but I’m very fortunate to have the support of Ludwig and Jasmin Criel now for the last six years,” he added.

Talking about his horse, he said, “We saw Diablesse when she was just coming five and bought her – she’s now 11.  We have quite a nice string of horses that we have produced ourselves, and I’m really ambitious for Diablesse so we will keep going and see where we can get with her.  I’m really lucky with my owners because they are in it for the sport – it’s their hobby and their passion!” he explained.

Today’s result moves winning rider, Schwizer, up to eighth place on the Western European League from which the top-18 will qualify for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final at Lyon, France in April. Clee now lies 14th, but with 28 points still has a lot more to do if he is to hold his position because, over the last two legs at Bordeaux, France in two weeks’ time and in Gothenburg, Sweden two weeks later, there will be many more top riders also chasing down those elusive qualifying points.

For more information on the eighth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League at Zurich, Switzerland, go to website http://www.mercedes-csi.ch or contact Press Officer Roman Gasser, Email roman.gasser@mercedes-csi.ch, Tel +41(0)79 635 5005.

The next leg takes place at Bordeaux, France on Sunday 9 February.  For all information on the French fixture, visit website www.jumping-bordeaux.com or contact Press Officer Marie-Sol Fournier, Email ms fournier@bordeaux-expo.com, Tel: + 33 556 119943.

Full result here.

Full standings here.

Facts and Figures:

Zurich, Switzerland presented Round 8 of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Western European League series.

Just two further qualifying rounds remain in this league – at Bordeaux, France on Sunday 9 February, and at Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday 2 March.

The Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2013/2014 Final takes place in Lyon, France from 17-21 April.

38 starters in today’s competition.

Course designer was Gerard Lachat, assisted by fellow-Swiss, Rolf Ludi.

3 double-clear performances – Toulago (P Schwizer) SUI, Diablesse de Muze (Joe Clee) GBR and Aragon Z (Christian Ahlmann) GER.

3 horse-and-rider combinations finished with just a single first-round time penalty – Ireland’s Jessica Kuerten (VDL Zapatero) and Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade) and Germany’s Lars Nieberg (Leonie W).

9 qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock.

The youngest horses in today’s competition were all 9-year-olds including the winner, Toulago (Toulon x Carthago) competed by Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer.

French rider Patrice Delaveau, winner at the previous leg in Leipzig, Germany a week ago, moved to the top of the Western European League leader board today when finishing 8th with Lacrimoso HDC.

Longines World No. 1, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, now lies second ahead of Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, in third place.

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/fnKaWuJxYWs.

FEI TV: don’t miss a hoofbeat – www.feitv.org.

Longines Live Timing Jumping application: available free for download from The App Store (iPhone) & Android Markets. Combining precision and performance, this is a detailed and exclusive application designed especially for Jumping fans – follow live results, see latest Longines Rankings, view competition schedules, obtain exclusive information and alerts on your favorite riders and get all the latest FEI news.

Rider biographies: view online and download from http://fei.org/fei/your-role/media/biographies.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.

Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Zurich:

Roman Gasser
Email: roman.gasser@mercedes-csi.ch
Tel: +41(0)79 635 5005

At FEI:

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

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Longines:

Longines International Public Relations
publicrelations@longines.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Super Schwizer Seizes Third Round Victory for Switzerland

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Pius Schwizer and Verdi III on their way to victory in the third leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lyon (FRA), 4 November 2012 – Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer swept to victory with Verdi in the thrilling third leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League series at Lyon, France this afternoon.  The big guns were out in force today including a heavyweight line-up of home runners, but Frank Rothenberger’s course saw just seven of the 40 starters go through to the second-round jump-off.

France and Switzerland were each represented by two riders in the race against the clock, but it was the Swiss who came off best when the ever-more-impressive partnership of Paul Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse slotted into third behind Belgium’s Ludo Philippaerts and Challenge vd Begijnakker.

“I’m very happy”, said Schwizer who has had to ask the 10 year old gelding Verdi to step up to the plate since his top ride, the mare Carlina, was sold earlier this year.  “This was a tough class; Frank (Rothenberger) didn’t make it easy for us and the competition was top level so I’m very pleased about my win today,” he pointed out.

Continue reading Super Schwizer Seizes Third Round Victory for Switzerland →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex Leaderboard Going into Sunday’s Final

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FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/WCejiOhGoIw

Philip Weishaupt on the way to victory in the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton)

Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt won tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in a thrilling three-way jump-off against the clock. But it is runner-up, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer, who holds the advantage going into Sunday’s final competition which will decide the fate of the 2011/2012 title.

As the going got tough this evening, the cream rose to the top, and clear rounds proved very elusive indeed. Weishaupt’s fellow-countryman, Marco Kutscher, was the only other starter to find the key to the course set by Louis Konickx, but reigning Olympic champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze, was unlucky to miss out on the final barrage when stopping the clock just 500ths of a second off the pace for a single first-round time penalty to finish fourth and is in serious contention going into the closing stages.

Continue reading Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex Leaderboard Going into Sunday’s Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Schwizer and Carlina Make It a Double in Helsinki

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Switzerland's Pius Schwizer and Carlina, pictured with Anthony Schaub from Rolex, after winning the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series in Helsinki, Finland today. Photo: FEI/Matti Heitanen.

YouTube: http://youtu.be/l2f3G1opGNU

Helsinki (FIN), 23 October 2011 – Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer secured a superb back-to-back double when adding victory in the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series in Helsinki, Finland today to his opening-round success in Oslo, Norway last Sunday.  Once again riding Carlina, the 49 year old rider was one of nine through to the second-round jump-off against the clock in which he set a target that could not be matched despite some heroic efforts from those who followed him.

Malin Baryard-Johnsson nearly stole his thunder with a feat of derring-do that would challenge even the trick-riding expertise of the Ukrainian Cossacks.  In a heart-stopping “save” that had spectators on the edges of their seats, the Swedish rider managed to stay onboard her 11 year old gelding H&M Reveur de Hurtebise and finish third behind Holland’s Michael Van der Vleuten while the host nation’s Nina Fagerstrom slotted into fourth.

It was Schwizer who was wearing the biggest smile at the end of the day however, as, with the maximum 40 points already posting him to the top of the leaderboard, he is well on his way to the 2011/2012 series final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April.

Continue reading Schwizer and Carlina Make It a Double in Helsinki →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Schwizer Scoops Maximum Points at Rolex Opener in Oslo

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Pius Schwizer is presented with a Rolex watch by Magali Dubois Vaucher from Rolex. Photo: FEI/Roger Svalsrod.

Oslo (NOR), 16 October 2011 – Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer swept to victory in the opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series at Oslo in Norway today with a thrilling last-to-go run from Carlina.  With 14 into the jump-off it was never going to be an easy one to take, but the 49 year old rider raced home to pin Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and Souvenir into second, while Portugal’s Luciana Diniz and Winningmood slotted into third.

“This is my very first success in a World Cup qualifier, so I’m super-pleased with the result!” Schwizer said after collecting the winner’s prize of a Rolex watch.  “I’ve been second and third a few times, but it feels really great to be first – and Carlina was brilliant today!” he added.

DIDN’T COMPROMISE
The compact Telenor Arena in Oslo measures just 35 metres by 75 metres, but course-designers Terje Olsen-Nalum and Anders Hafskjold didn’t compromise on height and width, giving the 40 starters plenty to think about.  The triple combination at fence six – oxer, vertical, oxer – proved influential, but it was the 1.70m-wide oxer at fence nine that hit the floor most often in the first round as nine horse-and-rider combinations faulted there.

Continue reading Schwizer Scoops Maximum Points at Rolex Opener in Oslo →