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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
Samsung Super League 2004 : Can The French Do It Again?.......
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In
two days time La Baule plays host to the first leg of the 2004
Samsung Super League and, in this Olympic year, the new series
promises to provide some early pointers on the road to Athens.
In
the inaugural 2003 season the Samsung Super League brought the
sport of Nations Cup jumping to a whole new level. Here only the
best compete against the best and it was tough battle to maintain
a good position amongst the top eight show jumping nations in
the world.
The
Swedes suffered bitter disappointment when, despite a gallant
struggle, they finished last and were relegated to normal Nations
Cup competition while the inclusion of the United States of America,
who gained promotion in their place, adds a whole new dimension
to the Super League this time around.
So
the big question in everyone’s minds is – can the French
do it again?
They
proved almost invincible in 2003, establishing the early lead
when winning the first two rounds at La Baule and then in Rome
two weeks later and, with the recent addition of the FEI World
Cup title to their list of honours, French spirits are flying
high.
Bruno
Broucqsault became the first of his countrymen to hold the World
Cup aloft when storming to victory with Dileme de Cephe in Milan
10 days ago, but the French are now well-accustomed to success
having been on a roll since taking team gold at the World Equestrian
Games in Jerez two years ago.
Their
second placing at last summer’s European Championships in
Donaueschingen together with their supremacy, despite a blip in
the very last leg, throughout the 2003 Samsung Super League has
ensured that they are now one of the most feared and best-respected
forces in the sport and on Friday afternoon next they send out
a strong squad as they begin the defence of their Samsung Super
League title.
La
Baule has undergone major refurbishment which has cost in the
region of six million euros and tomorrow, Thursday, will see the
official launch of the new stadium which includes a brand new
stand and renovations to the arena surface and surrounding areas.
The Francois Andre stadium has seen many changes since it first
opened its gates to show jumping back in 1963 and has been the
French CSIO venue since 1993, also staging the World Championships
in 1970, the Womens World Championships in 1974 and the European
Championships in 1991.
What
better place then for the reigning Samsung Super League champions
to set the pace once more? Florian and Reynald Angot, Michel Hecart,
Christian Hermon and Michel Robert have been named on Jean-Maurice
Bonneau’s squad and they will be acutely aware of the high
expectations that surround them, but they will not have an easy
ride in Friday’s opening leg.
It
is clear that many countries are using this round of the Samsung
Super League series to test their Olympic contenders and the Germans
are no exception, fielding a formidable line-up which includes
2003 European individual and team gold medallist Christian Ahlmann,
Ludger Beerbaum, Johannes and Marcus Ehning and Marco Kutscher.
The
Irish too will be closely watching the performances of Peter Charles,
Marion Hughes, Jessica Kurten and Cian O’Connor who will
be joined by anchor-man Kevin Babington while the Belgian squad
includes Jos Lansink who produced an astonishing seven clear rounds
for the best individual performance in last year’s series,
along with Philippe Le Jeune, Ludo Philippaerts, Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe
and Gregory Wathelet.
The
British, who finished last season in fourth position just ahead
of the Belgians, send Mark Armstrong, Nick Skelton, Robert and
Scott Smith and Michael Whitaker while the Italians, who battled
with all of their might to stay ahead of the Swedes and thus avoid
relegation, have selected Roberto Arioldi, Bruno Chimirri, Luca
Carini, Emanuel Fiorelli and Massimo Grossato.
The
Dutch, sixth last season and rescued by an unexpected victory
on their home turf in Rotterdam, have nominated Gert-Jan Bruggink,
Wim Schroder, Jan Tops, Leopold Van Asten and Albert Zoer while
the USA selection, making their Samsung Super League debut, includes
Kimberly Frey, Judy Garofalo, Candice King, Laura Kraut and Aaron
Vale.
All
teams can nominate five riders but only four take part in the
competition which runs over two rounds followed by a jump-off
between one representative from each team if there is an equality
of points at the end of the second round.
The
points system for the Samsung Super League is as follows:
Placing
Points Last Event Double Points
1st
10 20
2nd
7 14
3rd
5 10
4th
4 8
5th
3 6
6th
2 4
7th
1 2
8th
0.5 1.
So
the stage is set for the Samsung Super League 2004. All venues
will run the competition on the Friday of their fixture with the
exceptions of Lucerne and Barcelona where the class will take
place on Sunday afternoon. The Samsung Super League dates are
therefore – 1, La Baule - Friday 7 May; 2, Rome - Friday
28 May; 3, Lucerne - Sunday 6 June; 4, Rotterdam - Friday 18 June;
5, Aachen - Friday 16 July; 6, Hickstead - Friday 23 July; 7,
Dublin - Friday 6 August; 8, Barcelona - Sunday 19 September.
In
this year of Olympic ambitions the first leg of the Samsung Super
League could hardly be more important. The eight best teams in
the world will all want to show their strength while individual
performances will be crucial ahead of selection for Athens. Regardless
of the air temperature it will be like a pressure-cooker in the
ring at La Baule on Friday afternoon – let the battle begin…..
For
full details and results from La Baule see website www.labaule-cheval.com
or email contact@unidfox.com.
THE
MBPtv BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR THE SAMSUNG NATIONS CUP COMPETITION
AT LA BAULE IS AS FOLLOWS:
Equidia
(France) Live/Delayed Live 7 May 18.00 hrs, Repeat 9 May 22.30/16
May 22.00
Eurosport
(Pan Europe) Highlights 12 May 22.30, Repeat 20 May 09.00
CNBC
Europe Highlights 5 June
ESPN
Star Sports (Asia) Highlights 19 May 18.00 hrs
M-Net
(Pan Africa) Highlights 28 May 20.00 hrs, Repeat 29 May/1 June
RTE
(Ireland) Live/Delayed Live
TVE
(Spain) Live/Delayed Live
RAI
(Italy) Live/?Delayed Live
Finnish
Sport TV Company (Finland) Highlights
Sport
TV (Portugal) Highlights
XXP
(Germany) Highlights
CNBC
Europe Highlights
Horse
TV (USA) Highlights
SAMSUNG
SUPER LEAGUE 2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
ROUND
1, La Baule (Fra) 6-9 May; ROUND 2, Rome (Ita) 27-30 May; ROUND
3, Lucerne (Sui) 3-6 June: ROUND 4, Rotterdam (Ned) 17-20 June;
ROUND 5, Aachen (Ger) 13-18 July; ROUND 6, Hickstead (GBR) 21-25
July; ROUND 7, Dublin (Irl) 4-8 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL, Barcelona
(Esp) 16-19 September.
SAMSUNG
SUPER LEAGUE –
NATIONAL
PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
You
can access all the latest Samsung Super League news and information
on website www.samsungsuperleague.com and don’t forget that
Biographies on all Riders competing in the series are available
at http://bios.horsesport.org.
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_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
.
