Horses - Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) News - September 2001 - Equiworld

Federation Equestre Internationale News

25 September 2001

* Samsung Nations Cup Final In Madrid
* Executive Board Meeting In Madrid (ESP)

SAMSUNG NATIONS CUP FINAL IN MADRID

The Netherlands came out on top in a thrilling finish to the 2000/2001 Samsung Nations Cup Series which went right down to the wire as the last rider into the ring decided the result.

And it was the hot-favourites from Germany, joint-leaders with the Dutch after the first round, who lost out as only a clear from Heinrich Hermann Engemann would clinch the title for his side but, last to go, he returned with four fences down to drop his side to fourth behind the host team from Spain in third.

Belgium finished a very close with Ludo Philippaerts and Parco, who claimed the Leading Horse and Rider titles in the year-long Samsung Nations Cup league, putting in yet another superb double-clear performance.

Against all the odds and after a week of intense negotiations the United States of America were able to field a team for the Samsung Nations Cup World Final.

It took a co-ordinated effort from the Samsung and Madrid organisers and bloodstock agents Pedens along with the co-operation and determination of the riders themselves, supported by USA Equestrian, to make it happen, but the Stars and Stripes finally flew over the showgrounds at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid which lies just 20 minutes outside the centre of Spain's capital city.

The three-strong American squad were last of the seven participating nations having put up a gallant performance against all the odds. "We know we are the underdogs" New Yorker Alice Debany-Clero had said during the draw the previous day, "but the terrorists tried to paralyse our country last week and by coming here to compete we want to show them that we will not lie down because of what they did" and, standing in as Chef d'Equipe, she kicked off the American attack with a foot-perfect round from CEO in the first round.

The Spanish, who have had little exposure at Nations Cup level this year, put in a truly impressive performance on their home turf to the delight of Madrid’s spectators among whom Her Majesty Queen Sofia and FEI President the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón.

As yet there is no venue confirmed for the Samsung Nations Cup World Final in 2002 but the 2000/2001 series has produced some superb sporting moments - none perhaps more touching than the minutes silence and the powerful ripple of applause which rippled around the stadium in Madrid as the United States team paraded before the competition began.

Results -
1, Holland - 8 faults in 220.31 seconds (Gert Jan Bruggink/Joel 0+0, Rob Eras/Collezione Cesaro la Perla 0+4, Piet Raymakers/Van Schijndels Patrick 8+0, Leon Thijssen/Hot Shot 4+6);
2, Belgium - 9 faults in 226.92 seconds (Gilbert de Roock/Nero de la Tourelle 4+0, Stanny Van Paesschen/O De Pomme 1+4, Marc Van Dijck/Verelst Goliath 8+4, Ludo Philippaerts/Parco 0+0);
3, Spain - 12 faults in 228.91 seconds (Ricardo Jurado/Falcon Internet Gysmo 0+4, Rutherford Latham/Frimousset 2+1, Cristino Torres/Danceur de Laverie 7+0, Fernando Sarasola/Nikita de Laubry 5+9);
4, Germany - 12 faults in 217.71 seconds (Toni Hassmann/mobilcom Goldika 0+0, Lutz Gripshover/Warren NRW 0+4, Marcus Renzel 4+8, Heinrich Hermann Engemann/Iris 8+16);
5, France - 16 faults in 225.11 seconds (Olivier Jouanneteau/Euleme 4+0, Edouard Couperie/Pro Pilot 4+4, Nicolas Delmotte/Discrette IV 12+4, Hubert Bourdy/Helios 0+4);
6, Italy - 16 faults in 226.89 seconds (Roberto Arioldi/Dime de la Cour 8+0, Massimo Grossato/Elkintot 4+0, Enrico Maria Frana/Dohitzun Guernica 13+0, Gianni Govoni/Loro Piana Las Vegas 4+4);
7, USA - 19 faults in 226.12 seconds (Alice Debany-Clero/CEO, Claire Bronfman/Charlton 5+0, Richard Spooner/Robinson 2+4).

Samsung Electronics has supported sports marketing activities world-wide with a strong initiative in equestrian sports since 1988. In 1996 Samsung took the world-wide sponsorship of the Nations Cup in co-operation with the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the ruling body of the world-wide equestrian SPORT. The fifth Nations Cup Series season 2000/2001 started in September 2000 and will end with the World Final on 23 September 2001 in Madrid, Spain. The current season consists of 27 Nations Cups in 24 countries.

Samsung DIGITall, everyone's invited.
For further information about the Samsung Nations Cup Series or other sports
marketing activities, visit http://www.samsungnationscup.com or http://www.samsungelectronics.com

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING IN MADRID (ESP)

The Executive Board met on 24 September 2001 in Madrid, the day after a very successful Samsung Nations Cup Final.

The Executive Board would like to convey its sincere appreciation to the Madrid Organising Committee for the glamorous set up of the Final. The TV coverage was excellent, with the second round of the final broadcasted integrally live on the Spanish channel TVE 2.

The presence of the USA team, which was only secured at a very late stage, was warmly welcomed by the enthusiastic crowd.

The Executive Board confirmed the allocation of the 2003 European Eventing championship to Punchestown (IRL).

Among the items discussed were the following:

The Executive Board studied the 2002 budget and recommended for approval by the Bureau at its forthcoming meeting in November in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP).

The Executive Board decided to establish three levels of technical requirements for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The first level would include the minimum requirements, the second the recommended additional requirements and the third one the items that were considered as a luxury by the FEI.

On recommendation of the Jumping Committee, the Executive Board agreed to recognise the Nordic Tour, a series of events in Scandinavia. The Nordic Tour was aimed at upgrading some of the best Jumping events in this region. Riders would be able to qualify at Oslo, Helsinki and Aahrus, and possibly at an additional event in Sweden. The Final would be held in conjunction with The Stockholm Horse Show.

A preliminary study on the World Equestrian Games, prepared by the Marketing consultant Thue & Selvaag was discussed. The Executive Board decided to broaden the study and that the future of the World Equestrian Games would be held at the Forum held in conjunction with the General Assembly in April 2002 in Rabat (MAR). A decision to keep the World Equestrian Games format or to go back to the organisation of separate World Championships will be taken at the end of 2002.

The Executive Board supported the decision of the Strategic Planning Committee to form an Ad hoc working group to study and evaluate Endurance. This group will carry out a general evaluation of the discipline from an external point of view, and consider its future development.

The Executive Board approved the new Olympic format for the Eventing competitions to be implemented in Athens in 2004. The team and individual competitions would be run concurrently for the three tests (dressage, cross country and jumping). All three tests will be ridden by all competitors to determine the team medals. The best 25 riders classified in the team competition will compete in an additional Jumping test, the Individual Final. There will be a maximum of five riders per nation with three best to count for the team and all riders eligible for the individual competition.

The qualification procedure for the Reining competitions of the 2002 World Equestrian Games was approved. Ten nations will be qualified to take part with teams of four or three riders. A total quota of 46 horses and 46 riders will be allowed to compete in Jerez.

The Executive Board approved the dates for the 2003 General Assembly, to be held from 28 April to 2 May 2003 in Uruguay.

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