FEI PRESS NEWS 25/03
12 AUGUST 2003
- Pan American Games Dressage event
- 2004 World Cup Final Jumping allocated to Milan
- Samsung Super League in Dublin
- Samsung Nations Cup in Bratislava
- Test event in Sydney
- FEI World Combined Driving Championships for Ponies
- Course for FEI Driving Indoor Competitions
PAN AMERICAN GAMES IN SANTO DOMINGO (DOM)
DRESSAGE
Leslie Reid (CAN) led all the way, winning the Prix St-Georges and
Intermediate 1, to capture the individual gold medal. Bernadette Pujals of
Mexico was 2nd in the freestyle and captured the Silver medal while Yvonne
Muniz (DOM) had to settle for Bronze.
A record number o 43 competitors and 10 teams participated in the Wednesday
and Thursday sessions of the Prix St George counting for the Team medals.
USA won the team Gold ahead of Canada, only 0.25 behind, who earned the
Silver medal followed by Mexico who grabbed the Bronze.
The Jumping competitions of the Pan American Games will start tomorrow 13
August.
www.santodomingo2003.com
OPEN EUROPEAN VAULTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Matthias Lang (FRA) retires from competition with a new European title
The World Champion Matthias Lang (Farceur Brécéen HN longed by Marina
Joosten Dupon) dominated the Championship and concluded his career with an
extraordinary score of 9.336 ahead of the German vaulters Jan Bayer and Kaï
Vorberg. The final was a very emotional moment for Matthias Lang, as he had
started his international career here in Saumur as part of the French team
at the 1995 European Championships.
The Female World Champion Nadia Zülow (Rubins longed by Annika Speck) kept
her European title won in 2001 in Poland with a total of 8.763 ahead of
Rikke Nielsen Laumann (DEN) and Maud Bousignac Dumont (FRA).
The Team Gold medal was awarded to Germany (Mainz-Laubenheim), followed by
title defender Switzerland (RC St. Gallen) and Poland (K.J. Aromer).
The complete results can be found on www.saumur.org
2004 FEI WORLD CUP FINAL ALLOCATED TO MILAN (ITA)
In consultation with the Jumping Committee and the World Cup Working Group,
the Executive Board today confirmed the allocation of 2004 FEI World Cup
Final to Milan (ITA), from 21 to 25 April 2004.
The Final will be organised in the the largest indoor sports building of
Northern Italy, located in the outskirts of Milan. The Filaforum of Assago
never hosted an equestrian event before, but organised many major sport
events in volley ball, basketball and athletics.
A CSI*** will be organised as Test Event for the final from 18 to 21
December 2003 in order to assess the installations.
The Organising Committee of the Final will be the Italian Equestrian
Federation (FISE). The experience of the FISE in the organisation of
important equestrian events, such as the 1998 World Equestrian Games, the
Samsung Nations Cup Final in 2000 and the yearly CSIO Rome was a significant
asset of the Italian candidature to organise the Final.
The Organising Committee intends to organise the Italian qualifier of the
Dressage World Cup, that usually takes place in San Patrignano in January in
conjunction with the test event in Milan next December. "The addition of the
CDI-W to the show jumping programme will provide a real test for the
organisation and for the facilities in the lead up to the World Cup final",
commented FISE President Cesare Croce.
The venue, located some 15 minutes from the city centre, will provide a 37 x
77 arena and a seating capacity of 12 000 for the Final (6000 for the test
event in December).
The press service will be organised by the FISE Communications department
(contact Lucia Montanarella at lucia.m@flashnet.it ; +39 335 6165415).
The President of the Italian Federation is welcoming the equestrian fans to
Milan for the 2004 World Cup Final and saying: "We are delighted about the
allocation to our country, for the first time ever, of such an important
event as the FEI World Cup Final. In the last few years we have been
organising some of the major competitions of the international calendar and
we are grateful to the FEI that once more has put trust in our Federation,
our country, our ability in organising events. The facilities in Milan are
of top level and I am confident that starting from 2004 this horse show will
become one of the most popular indoor events in Europe".
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE
French victory in Dublin
Despite all the predictions that the home side would come out on top, it was
the longtime Samsung Super League leaders from France who reigned supreme to
claim the Aga Khan trophy for the second year running at Dublin Horse Show
last week-end.
The French already held the lead at the halfway stage after clear rounds
from Florian Angot (First de Launay), Christian Hermon (Ephebe For Ever) and
Michel Hecart (Quilano de Kalvarie) but they were not alone as the Dutch, at
last beginning to show the kind of form usually expected of them, matched
their zero total.
Marc Houtzager and HBC Jacomar, winners of the Dublin Grand Prix last year,
joined Eric Van der Vleuten (Audi's Jikke) and Wim Schroder (Eurocommerce
Montreal) to leave all the fences standing and that was quite a feat as
course-designer, Linda Allen, had set them a real challenge.
Just three horse-and-rider combinations completed double-clear rounds -
Hermon and Ephebe For Ever for France, Jos Lansink and the enormous grey Ak
Cumano Z for Belgium and Britain's Robert Smith with Mr Springfield.
The British were lying third as the second round began, carrying just the
four faults collected by William Funnell and Cortaflex Amber du Montois at
the bogey middle-element of the treble at fence seven which caused huge
problems throughout the competition.
Linda Allen had set a real trap, with a line of fences from a triple bar at
fence six to the tight-distance combination at seven and on to an oxer at
fence eight but after victory at Hickstead, British confidence is
considerably higher and Michael Whitaker sealed the four-fault tally when
steering the volatile mare, Fleur, home without incident at his first
attempt.
The Belgians were in fourth with 12 faults at this stage, Sweden and Ireland
next with 13 faults each, Germany in seventh with 16 faults and Italy
trailing the field with 17 on the board.
Dutch chances slipped away as the second round unfolded and the French began
to look just a bit vulnerable when Angot hit the infamous treble and the
following oxer for eight faults.
Goffinet and Flipper d'Elle however, who had already become real favourites
with the spectators earlier in the week, improved on their four-fault
first-round result to go clear this time and when Christian Hermon completed
his double-clear, the result was already assured.
Carrying eight faults with just three riders gone in the second round they
could not be caught.
Despite Whitaker's good start, Fleur became increasingly difficult and
lowered three fences for 12 faults to provide his team's second-round
discard score so, counting four from Nick Skelton and Arko who had two down
at their first attempt and just a single time fault from Funnell, whose
skill was tested to the full by his heady chestnut mare, to Smith's second
clear Britain completed with nine on the board, a full eight faults ahead of
the Dutch and Irish in third.
Belgium finished fifth (20 faults), Germany sixth (24 faults) and Sweden
seventh (26 faults) while Italy was eliminated when only two riders returned
to the ring in the second round.
Italy are now staring relegation in the face as their total of 8.5 points at
this stage in the series leaves them at the bottom of the order behind
Sweden with 11 points, Holland with 15, Belgium with 16.5, Germany with 23,
Great Britain with 33, the Irish carrying 41 and the French, still holding
all the aces, with a total of 47.
"Last year we won here for the first time in 45 years and it is a great
pleasure to win again in this country which is so famous for producing good
horses" Bonneau said.
He was well-pleased with the performance of new recruit, 27 year old Laurent
Goffinet and the truly exciting little stallion Flipper d'Elle.
"It is Ireland, England and France who will have a good battle at the end of
this series" he predicted and that is how it looks as the series moves on to
Rotterdam later this month.
Results:
1. France - 8 faults: Florian Angot/First de Launay 0+8, Lauren
Goffinet/Flipper d'Elle 4+0, Christian Hermon/Ephebe Forever 0+0, Michel
Hecart/Quilano de Kalvarie 0+DNS.
2. Great Britain - 9 faults: Arko/Nick Skelton 8+4, Fleur/Michael Whitaker
0+12, William Funnell/Cortaflex Amber du Montois 4+1, Robert Smith/Mr
Springfield 0+0.
Equal 3. Ireland - faults: Robert Splaine/Coolcorron Cool Diamond 4+4, Cian
O'Connor/Waterford Crystal 4+4, Billy Twomey/Luidam 5+0, Kevin
Babington/Carling 8+0
and
Holland - 17 faults: Marc Houtzager/HBC Jacomar 0+10, Eric van der
Vleuten/Audi's Jikke 0+8, Wim Schroder/Eurocommerce Montreal 0+1, Peter
Geerink/Norit Joint Venture 8+8.
5. Belgium - 20 faults: Philippe Lejeune/Karioka del Follee 8+4, Jean-Claude
Vangeenberghe/Quintus 4+4, Stanny Van Paesschen/Bioagrico Ohio vd
Paddenborre 31+10, Jos Lansink/AK Cumano 0+0.
6. Germany - 24 faults: Rene Tebbel/Farina 8+8, Franz-Josef Dahlmann/Pikeur
Carlo Cassini 13+4, Andreas Ripke/Holsatia 4+0, Fritz Fervers/Diabolo
D'Ysieux 4+4.
7. Sweden - 26 faults: Malin Baryard/Irco Sun 7+5, Helena Persson/Classic H
4+4, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson/Mac Kinley 4+8, Maria Gretzer/Cinderella 5+4.
8. Italy - Elim: Massimo Grossato/Loro Piana Elkintot 16+DNS, Enroco Maria
Frana/Dohitzun Guernica 12+12, Bruno Chimirri/Landknecht 1+5, Roberto
Arioldi/Loro Piana Dime de la Cour 4+DNS.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE that the website for the SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE FINAL IN
BARCELONA in now up and running at www.csiobarcelona.com
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE LEADERBOARD
1. France - 47 points
2. Ireland - 41 points
3. Great Britain - 33 points
4. Germany - 23 points
5. Belgium - 16.5 points
6. Holland - 15 points
7. Sweden - 11 points
8. Italy - 8.5 points.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE -
NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
www.samsungsuperleague.com
SAMSUNG NATIONS CUP SERIES
CSIO-W Bratislava (SVK)
No less than 13 teams participated to the Samsung Nations Cup of Bratislava,
which took place last Friday 8 August 2003.
Belgium finished first with a total of 4 points, ahead of Italy and
Switzerland, equal second with 8 points. Rudi Helsen / Grand Ouvert and
Gilbert De Rook / Liberty of the winning Belgian team both had a double
clear round, while Bert Prouv / Reggi Roosters, who scored the drop score of
5 points in the first round, did not start in the second round. Niels
Bruynseels /Domino de Fel went clear in the first round but scored 4 points
in the second round.
After 11 events of the Samsung Nations Cup Series, Switzerland comforts its
leading position with a total of 37 points, ahead of the USA (26) and Spain
(21). At the end of the season, the best nation of the Series will be
promoted to the Samsung Super League for 2004.
The complete results of CSIO Bratislava can be found on the website of the
Slovak Equestrian Federation at http://www.jazdectvo.sk
TEST EVENT FOR THE GAMES OF THE XVIII OLYMPIAD
Athens (GRE), 13 - 29 August 2004
With only one year to go to the 2004 Olympic Games, which will be officially
open on 13 August 2004 in the Greek capital, the entire Olympic family is
starting to get into the Olympic mood. Given the complex organisation of the
world's foremost sporting gathering, test events are held the year preceding
the Games in order to examine key issues such as sports venues,
accreditation, accommodation, transportation, media facilities, security,
results system, etc. Six sports will be under the spot light this year:
archery, canoe/kayak, equestrian, rowing, sailing and volleyball.
The equestrian test event will be held as a two-star CIC from 15 through 17
August at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. The officials involved
are those officiating at next year's Olympic Games. FEI and IOC
representatives will travel to Athens to closely monitor all aspects of the
event.
WHO
Twenty-two riders representing Australia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany,
Greece, Italy and Switzerland will compete to claim the EUR 30,000 of
prize-money. Among them,
Andrew Hoy (AUS), three-time Olympic champion Team (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta
1996 and Sydney 2000) and an Olympic silver medallist Individual in Sydney
2000.
Bettina Hoy (GER) who currently leads the standings of the FEI Eventing
World Cup. Bettina suffered from a fall at the Lulworth International Horse
Trials in July which had left her unconscious for over four minutes.
Fortunately, after undergoing a thorough neurological examination, she was
declared fit to resume competition. She is bringing to Athens the nine-year
old gelding Diamond Magic with whom she successfully completed two CICs**
this year (Somerley Park and Burnham Market FRA) and one CCI** (Compiègne
FRA)
Greece's own Heidi Antikatzidis who placed 6th individually in the 2000
Sydney Olympic Games and was 4th in the 2001 European Championship.
The full list of riders and horses is available from the FEI Communications
Department.
WHERE
The event will be held at the Equestrian Centre in Markopoulo, on the city's
outskirts, which is nearing completion. The venue is due to be handed over
to Olympic officials on the final day of the year and has been budgeted at
almost EUR 250 million.
The Centre consists of a Jumping course, a Dressage arena, grounds for
Eventing, training and auxiliary facilities. The Jumping stadium counts
6,000 permanent seats plus provisions for another 14,000; the seating
capacity of the Dressage arena is 8,000. The training facilities include a
semi-sheltered arena, three arenas for Dressage and four for Jumping,
stables for 300 horses, and a veterinary clinic. A new racetrack is also
part of the complex. It is a 8,000-capacity facility with stables for over
1,600 horses, training grounds, restaurants, and a 4,000-capacity parking
lot.
WHEN
Dressage: Friday, 15 August, 8h30 - 13h30
Cross Country: Saturday, 16 August, 9h00 - 10h30
Jumping: Sunday, 17 August, 21h00 - 22h00
Prize-giving : Sunday, 17 August, 22h00
JACK'S CORNER (DRIVING SPECIAL)
FEI WORLD COMBINED DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
KARLSTETTEN (AUT), 14-17 AUGUST
For the first time in the history of Driving, the FEI World Combined Driving
Championship for Ponies will be held in Karlstetten (AUT). Karlstetten is
located in the lovely country side of Lower Austria just a few kilometres
away form the river Danube.
Further to the withdraw of France for the organisation of the event, the
championships were almost cancelled. The riding club Karlstetten was at that
stage organising the Danube-Alpine-Cup Driving 2002 and it was quite a
challenge to apply for the Pony Championships 2003 with just a year to go
for the preparation of the event. Today with 17 Nations and 87 competitors
having announced their participation, it can be said that the FEI Driving
Committee was right in pushing Karlstetten candidature.
Altogether four world titles will be decided next week. The Team
classification will be determined by adding together the scores of the best
team competitor in each competition for Singles, Pairs and Four-in-Hand. IN
addition to the 9 participating teams, 35 Singles, 30 Pairs and 22
Four-in-Hand carriages will compete for the individual title in their
discipline.
The Ground Jury will be chaired by Gè Koenig from the Netherlands and
include Klaus Christ form Germany, Diana Brownlie from Great Britain, Martha
Hanks-Nicoll from the United States of America and Manfred Grauszer from
Austria.
The demanding Marathon, with 7 obstacles built by the German course designer
Wolfgang Asendorf, will be held on Saturday 16August.
Participating Nations: Australia, Belgium (team), Denmark, France (team),
Germany (team), Great Britain (team), Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands
(team), Norway, Poland, Sweden (team), Switzerland (team), United States of
America (team) and Austria (team).
For further information on the FEI World Combined Championship Pony 2003 at
Karlstetten (AUT), please visit the website at: www.pony-wm2003.com.
Frank Spadinger, contact +43 (699) 12629718, f.spadinger@gmx.at)
COURSE FOR FEI DRIVING INDOOR COMPETITIONS
An FEI Seminar for Judges and Course Designers of Driving Indoor
competitions will be organised on 3 and 4 October 2003 in Warendorf (GER).
Persons interested shall apply to the FEI Secretariat
(d.carlucci@horsesport.org) until 27 August.
-------------------------------------
Muriel Faienza, FEI Communications
FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
