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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
Eriksson
beats Freund at home soil-Freund wins third World Cup title
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Sweden¹s
Tomas Eriksson has done what no driver did this FEI World Cup
season: he beat triple World Cup Champion Michael Freund! In front
of an outraging Swedish crowd in the Globen arena in Gothenburg,
Eriksson stayed ahead of Freund and his compatriot Christoph Sandmann
and climbed to the fourth place in the final standings.
The
best three drivers from the first round, Eriksson, Sandmann and
Freund, had qualified for the winning round. The times and penalty
seconds of both rounds were added together. OI hit two balls in
the first round and new that I had to go for it. I took a lot
of risks and was lucky to stay clear which put extra pressure
on Sandmann,¹ explains Eriksson. Sandmann was unable to equal
Eriksson¹s time in the speedy course, which was set at 10
cm tighter than yesterday¹s warm up competition, and knocked
one ball down. Freund however, driving with a wild card, knew
that he had to drive faster than his first round. Haste is never
good, especially in the last FEI World Cup Driving event of this
season. Freund knocked two balls down, which dropped him to the
second place in the final results in Gothenburg. This result did
not have any effect on his third World Cup title, since he had
already won the full 40 points after Vigo and could not have been
beaten anymore: OI did not feel nervous before I started in the
winning round, but I turn 50 this September and today it was the
first time I felt like 50,¹ explains the sympathetic driver
with a smile.
Freund¹s
compatriot Rainer Duen, driving his team of Oldenburger horses,
was very pleased with his fourth place: OThe Gothenburg Horse
Show is a fantastic event with super sponsors and a super crowd.
It is a great pleasure and great fun to drive here,¹ explains
the 32-year old professional horseman. Jozsef Bozsik, who travelled
all the way from Hungary, came fifth today with his mixed team
of Lipizzaner and Hungarian geldings and stallions. Switzerland¹s
Werner Ulrich encountered some difficulties with his right leader
horse. His team was not able to make adequate turns to the right,
which cost him valuable seconds, and he had to be content with
the sixth place. Second wild card driver Fredrik Persson, who
is employed by the national equestrian school and stud Flyinge
since February, finished seventh: OI just need more indoor experience
to perform better. Yesterday in the warm up competition I drove
too fast, today I drove too slowly. My goal this year is to qualify
for the FEI World Cup season 2004/2005 so I can get more indoor
experience.¹
FEI
World Cup director Max Ammann mentioned that for next season,
the same World Cup events will participate in the World Cup Driving,
as well as Hannover, who will be part of the World Cup circuit
for the first time. The drivers can qualify at eleven outdoor
international driving events; the best four results will count.
Results
CAI-W Gothenburg:
1. Tomas Eriksson (Swe) 217.39 (0)
2. Michael Freund (Ger) 220.86 (0)
3. Christoph Sandmann (Ger) 227.12 (5)
4. Rainer Duen (Ger) 118.18 (5)
5. Jozsef Bozsik (Hun) 129.77 (10)
6. Werner Ulrich (Sui) 131.76 (0)
7. Fredrik Persson (Swe) 137.05 (20)
Final standings FEI World Cup Driving Season 2003/2004:
1. Michael Freund (Ger) 40
2. Boyd Exell (Aus) 27
3. Christoph Sandmann (Ger) 26
4. Tomas Eriksson (Swe) 24
5. Gert Schrijvers (Bel) 22
6. Werner Ulrich (Sui) 15
7. Rainer Duen (Ger) 15
8. Ijsbrand Chardon (Ned) 14
9. Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 13
10. Jozsef Bozsik (Hun) 8
Created in 2001, the Driving World Cup has provided an innovative
new style of competition for indoor events, with courses combining
marathon and cone driving obstacles. The 2003/2004 season of the
World Cup includes seven events with eight competitions: Stuttgart
(GER), Stockholm (SWE), Mechelen (BEL) in 2003; Leipzig (GER),
two competitions in Vigo (ESP), 's-Hertogenbosch (NED) and Göteborg
(SWE) in 2004. The winner of the first two editions of the World
Cup was Michael Freund
(GER).
Relevant
internet addresses:
CAI-W Gothenburg: www.goteborghorseshow.com
FEI World Cup Driving: www.worldcupdriving.com
FEI: www.horsesport.org
www.horsesport.org
.
