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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
FEI
Eventing World Cup travels to New Zealand for the first
time
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For
its fourth qualifier, the FEI Eventing World Cup will leave the
United States and travel all the way to New Zealand.
WHAT
Already well renowned for its national level horse trial competitions,
the Mitavite Horse Trials held at the Kihikihi Domain (Akaroa
County) will host New Zealand's inaugural World Cup qualifier.
This class will be the highlight of the Easter trial which also
caters for a CIC Two Star, Open intermediate and Novice classes.
It
is only fitting that a world equestrian legend is behind the design
of New Zealand's very first FEI Eventing World Cup Cross-Country
course. Cambridge based double Olympic Gold Medallist Mark Todd
and course designer John Nicholson have worked closely and have
devised some innovative and interesting obstacles some of which
reflect the wide range of sports practised at the Kihikihi Domain.
These include a stock racing car, a giant football, cricket wickets
and a polo stick. Other jumps of interest include a cottage named
in honour of Charisma, Mark Todd's champion horse that passed
away a little over a year ago. A vertical timber wall at the top
of a
step embankment will also prove to be a new challenge.
With
free spectator entry, there are plenty of opportunities for the
public to enjoy the FEI Eventing World Cup proceedings over Easter
Weekend. A number of equestrian trade stands and food and refreshments
will be on-site. The New Zealand FEI Eventing World Cup Qualifier
is proudly supported by Mitavite Horse Feeds, The Waipa District
Council and Newstalk ZB.
WHEN
The event will span over three days, commencing with Dressage
on Friday 9 April (14h00), Cross-Country on the afternoon of Saturday
10 April and Jumping on Sunday 11 April (11h30).
WHO
Nearly 250 competitors will compete over the three days. Sixteen
riders and 19 horses have sights firmly set on gaining World Cup
qualifying points in order to secure a place amongst the world's
best riders at the Final in France.
A
leading contender will be host nation's own Matthew Grayling on
Revo. The pair won the highest level of competition in Australasia,
the 2001 Adelaide Four Star Three Day Event, and are therefore
no strangers to top level success. They are also two-time winners
of the New Zealand National One Day Championships. Grayling will
be hoping for a similar result over the weekend with Revo returning
to top competition after an injury spell.
An
overseas entry has been received from Thailand's Pongsiree Bunleuwong,
who is in New Zealand to qualify for the forthcoming Olympic Games
in Athens and has entered two horses in the World Cup class: Toy
Boy and Eliza Jane.
After the first three qualifying events, the United States dominate
the FEI Eventing World Cup Leader Board. With 123 points, Darren
Chiacchia (USA) is ahead of Australia's Phillip Dutton (110 points).
They are followed by Andrzej Pasek (POL) with 101 points and Robyn
Fisher (USA) with 100 points. Kihikihi will be the fourth event
of the series and is guaranteed to lift the winning New Zealand
rider into at least fourth position. The point system is weighed
so that if a rider wins a leg, they will almost certainly qualify
for the Final vying for the anticipated EUR 80,000 prize-money.
"It's an exciting prospect for any one of the 16 riders here
at Kihikihi this weekend" said event spokesperson Bevan Houlbrooke.
The FEI Eventing World Cup complete standings can be consulted
on http://62.2.240.131/fei/pdfs/consult/02_03/C_04_st_WC.pdf
***
The
FEI Eventing World Cup is the sport's first linked series consisting
of 17 qualifiers culminating in a yearly Final. It is organised
at the highest level (three-star) of the short Eventing format
which is the new standard for Championships and the Olympic Games.
The series is designed in manner to encourage the participation
of the world's best riders and horses and thus promote such emblematic
values of Eventing, as the constant quest for harmony between
physical skills and mental balance, contact with nature, precision,
stamina, agility and insightful training. The FEI Eventing World
Cup is a showcase of a sport resolutely turning to the future.
www.horsesport.org
.
