 |
Federation
Equestre Internationale News
Samsung Super League
|
The
French, already in the driving seat after the first leg of the
Samsung Super League at La Baule last Sunday, look strong favourites
to make it two-in-a-row when they line out in the second competition
of the series in Rome next Friday, May 23.
Brimming
with confidence after their convincing opening victory, they are
also returning to the Piazza di Siena as reigning champions following
their success at the 70th anniversary Nations Cup show there last
year and, despite the fact that they are fielding a totally different
team this time out, they still look menacing.
Edouard
Couperie, Bruno Broucqsault, Christian Hermon and Michel Robert
will be flying the flag on this occasion but they can expect powerful
opposition from the Germans who are lurking in second place, only
three points off the leaders at this stage.
Helena
Weinberg, Franke Sloothaak, Marcus Ehning and Andreas Ripke will
be under orders to snatch the maximum 10 points and reverse the
placings at the top of the table if they can.
The
British put up a stalwart performance to finish third last weekend
and Nick Skelton, now back in flying form following an excellent
recovery from the neck injury which very nearly finished his career,
will be joined by Tim Stockdale, Keith Shore and Di Lampard in
attempting to consolidate their position.
American-based
Kevin Babington, competing in Europe for the first time this season
as he prepares for the defence of the European team title later
in the summer, is the most experienced of the Irish squad which
also includes Conor Swail who has been campaigning very successfully
on the Italian circuit.
The
Irish share fourth position at present with Sweden who send out
Maria Gretzer, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Maria Sundberg and Henrik
Ankarcrona but with just 3.5 points each, both countries will
be hoping to improve their respective positions as will the Dutch
whose squad includes the Schroder brothers, Wim and Gerco.
With
just one point on the score-board the Belgians are trailing badly
so Jos Lansink, Dirk Demeersman, Peter Postelmans and Ludo Philippaerts
will be trying to put that to rights, but the real pressure is
on the home side which was awarded only 0.5 points when finishing
at the bottom of the pile last Sunday.
The
Italian selectors have not yet confirmed their choice of team
and Chef d’Equipe Duccio Bartalucci is keeping an open mind
until after the CSI-A which takes place in Tuscany this weekend.
He has 26 riders to choose from, but still faces a truly tough
task to ensure the best possible result for his country next Friday.
Gianni Govoni, Massimo Grossato and Vincenzo Chimirri look likely
starters but no final decision will be made until next Monday.
The
Piazza di Siena, located in the Villa Borghese which this year
celebrates it’s centenary as a Public Park, has always been
a favourite venue for riders. Nothing can quite compare with it’s
unique setting in the heart of one of the most beautiful and historic
cities in the world, and as always this year’s CSIO has attracted
a strong contingent of individual riders along with the eight
competing Samsung Super League teams.
After
the 2002 fixture attracted a record crowd and with the Samsung
Super League bringing increased national and international attention
and interest, there is nothing the Italians would cherish more
than to hear their own national anthem ringing out around the
showground when the Nations Cup concludes next Friday. They have
a bit to do to make that happen, but no team will be trying harder.
For
press accreditation and further information you can contact Press
Officer, Caterina Vagnozzi, at EQUI-EQUIPE – Ufficio Stampa,
Via L. Luciani 1 - 00197 Roma, Italy.
Tel:
+39 06 3218857. Fax: +39 06 3610419. Mobile: +39 335 6107070.
The
website for CSIO Rome is http://www.piazzadisiena.com and dont't
forget the new Samsung Super League website www.samsungsuperleague.com.
SAMSUNG
SUPER LEAGUE TABLE – AFTER FIRST LEG AT LA BAULE
1.
France - 10 points
2.
Germany - 7 points
3.
Great Britain - 5 points
Jt.
4. Sweden - 3.5 points
Ireland - 3.5 points
6.
Holland - 2 points
7.
Belgium - 1 point
8.
Italy - 0.5 points.
YOU
CAN SEE IT ON TV!
The
second leg of the Samsung Super League series, which takes place
in Rome on Friday May 23, will be broadcast as follows:
Eurosport
- Wednesday 28 May 22.00 – 23.00
Thursday 29 May 9.00 – 10.00 (Repeats)
Equidia - Friday 23 May 18.00 – 19.30
Saturday 24 May 11.00 – 12.00 (Repeats)
Sunday 25 May 23.00 – 00.30 (Repeats)
TV4 - Wednesday 28 May (no time confirmed)
M-Net - Friday 13 June (no time confirmed)
CNBC Sports
CNBC Europe (GMT)- Saturday 7 June 13.00 – 14.00
CNBC Asia (HKT) - Saturday 7 June 15.00 – 16.00
ESPN Star Sports
Star Asia - Wednesday 4 June 18.00 – 19.00
Sunday 8 June 5.00 – 6.00
Star SE Asia - Wednesday 4 June 17.30 – 18.30
Thursday 5 June 6.00 – 7.00
Star India - Friday 6 June 15.30 – 16.30
S aturday 7 June 5.00 – 6.00.
You
can access all the latest Samsung Super League news and information
on our new website www.samsungsuperleague.com
and don’t forget that Biographies on all Riders competing
in the series are available at http://bios.horsesport.org.
For
full results, start lists, course plans and press releases from
this weekend’s CSIO you can view La Baule website at www.labaule-cheval.com.
Want
to know more? You can check the full rules for the Samsung Super
League series on the FEI website, section reference – rules
http://www.horsesport.org/fei/reference/reference_03/ref_03_02.html
The
Samsung Super League consists of the eight most prestigious horse
shows at which the world’s eight best national teams compare
their merit. The Super League is connected to the Samsung Nations
Cup Series through a promotion/relegation system at the end of
each season.
Samsung
Electronics, one of the world’s largest electronics companies,
is committed to supporting international sporting events thereby
returning corporate profits to the public and working towards
a more harmonious and equitable society.
www.horsesport.org
.
