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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
29
March 2004
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-
FEI World Cup Dressage, CDI-W 's-Hertogenbosch and Duesseldorf
Final
- FEI World Cup Jumping
- FEI Top Ten Final supported by Gandini and Rolex allocated to
Geneva
- Silver Camera Award, conditions of participation
- Death of famous Dressage stallion Dutch Gold
FEI
WORLD CUP DRESSAGE
CDI-W 's-Hertogenbosch
Anky Sweeps to top of the League
A
superb performance from Anky Van Grunsven and Gestion Salinero
secured the Dutch diva victory in the final qualifier of the FEI
Western European League in front of an ecstatic home crowd at
Indoor Brabant. With wins at Mechelen and Amsterdam under her
belt plus a second on her initial outing at Maastricht, the five-time
World Cup winner goes into the Final next week as Queen of the
League.
" Gestion Salinero was great, the best he has been so far"
said van Grunsven. " The atmosphere here was brilliant, very
special as always, and we are having a big party tonight for sure!"The
especial reason for a party was the Gestion team's clean sweep
of the top three places. Van Grunsven's pupil Edward Gal ride
Gestion Lingh to second place on 78.45 per cent, securing his
ticket to Duesseldorf next week, and third marked the return to
top form of Gestion Goliath for a delighted and emotional Arjen
Teeuwissen for third on 76.42. In fourth place, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff
did a great job with her beautiful mare Wahajama-Unicef to finish
the League in seventh place. However, there are three German riders
ahead of her - Heike Kemmer, Hubertus Schmidt and Isabell Werth,
who finished sixth here on Apache to cement her fourth place in
the standings four points above Linsenhoff. Due to the high quality
seen throughout this Western European League season, it had already
been decided that three further Final places would be awarded
instead of the normal eight. Sweden's Louise Nathhorst and Danish
dental student Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig-Lehn secured their places
here as expected.However, unforeseen circumstances arose this
week with the withdrawal of the title-holders Debbie McDonald
and Brentina, and while
Finland's Kyra Kyrklund had qualified under the new arrangements,
the former titleholder has retired from the fray. Therefore the
FEI World Cup Director Joep Bartels has announced the increase
to twelve of qualified Western League riders with the availability
of two further wild cards, one for a thrilled Linsenhoff and,
for balance, one for Dutch rider Marlies van Baalen standing in
thirteenth after her ninth place here on Blom's Idocus. Sweden's
Tinne Vilhelmsson, 14th on points, completes the quota.A capacity
crowd of 8,000 watched the last FEI World Cup qualifier of the
season. Just before the prize-giving World Cup Director Joep Bartels
was honoured for his
exceptional contribution to the World Cup, as he is retiring as
Director at the end of this season.The competition was fierce,
but in a wonderful finale to a fantastic season, all the prize-winners
made an impromptu 'show', taking the applause in passage in one
impressive cadre down the arena. But the show is not over yet.
Duesseldorf here we come.
FINAL
DUESSELDORF 1- 4 APRIL 2004
Debbie McDonald and Brentina will not defend their title in Duesseldorf.
FEI
World Cup Champion Debbie McDonald has had to withdraw Parry and
Peggy Thomas's chestnut mare Brentina from the FEI World Cup Dressage
Final in Duesseldorf due to injury. After their warm up competition
at CDI Dortmund three weeks ago, where they won both the Grand
Prix and Grand Prix Special,
Brentina was found to have a slightly swollen leg. Despite careful
monitoring, hopes that the US combination could defend their title
were dashed when leading veterinarian Dr Peter Cronau diagnosed
a mild tendon strain. While not serious for the mare's future,
this would however make any performance during the next few weeks
inadvisable. (see FEI website www.horsesport.org, section news,
World Cup Dressage for full press release).
FEI
World Cup Dressage Final to be broadcast on Eurosport Highlights
of The FEI World Cup Dressage Final are scheduled to be broadcast
on Eurosport in a prime time slot - Wednesday 14 April at 21.00
C.E.T.
World
Cup Dressage Final: www.duesseldorf-masters.de
FEI
WORLD CUP JUMPING
Ludger Supreme in 's-Hertogenbosch
On his sixth start in the 2003/2004 FEI World Cup Jumping series
Ludger Beerbaum at last made his mark when victorious today with
Goldfever at the penultimate qualifier in s'Hertogenbosch, Holland.
It has been a strange season for the German ace who had only picked
up eight points on his previous outings at Berlin, Geneva, Leipzig,
Vigo and Paris but it came together for him at the Dutch fixture
at which spectators enjoyed a thrilling seven-horse jump-off.
Ludger was first to jump against the clock and he said afterwards
"I had to set the pace but I feel I had luck on my side today
because I only won by 100th of a second and one other rider was
faster than me".
He threw down a strong challenge when steering Goldfever home
and clear in 31.81 seconds and fellow-countryman Otto Becker presented
no real danger when following with two mistakes from Dobel's Fiala.
However Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, winner at Mechelen in December,
had the hand-brake off as he galloped through the finish more
than a second faster with Mackinley but a single error cost the
Swede dearly.
Dutch riders had been extremely dominant throughout the show and
Leopold Van Asten, representing competition-sponsors VDL Groep
with Think Twice 11, had the crowd behind him as he galloped across
the line clear but almost one second off the target-time in 32.67
seconds while Germany's Franke Sloothaak also left all the timber
intact but could not match Ludger's time when breaking the beam
in 32.55 seconds.
Markus Fuchs was second-last to go but the Swiss rider is clearly
still suffering considerable pain from the leg-problem that has
been dogging him for some time now. Due to the difficulties he
has been experiencing, the FEI agreed to give him a wild-card
qualifying spot for the final in Milan next month if he could
earn his place in an FEI World Cup competition jump-off and, having
done that today, he decided to retire with Tinka's Boy leaving
only Bruno Broucqsault to challenge Ludger for pole position.
And the Frenchman proved well up to the challenge, keeping the
crowd on the edges of their seats as he produced a superb round
from the 14 year old mare Dileme de Cephe who stopped the clock
just a frustrating 100th of a second off the German rider's time
in 31.82.
Commenting on the length of time it has taken him to make any
real impression on this year's series Ludger said "it's difficult
to know why it has been like this but you know life is a bit like
that sometimes don't you think? You can't explain it, it just
happens, but things are better now and I will travel to Goeteborg
to see if I can qualify for the final - that's my goal".
He must feature prominently in the line-up again at the final
qualifying leg if he is to make the cut as, despite today's success,
he still only has 28 points on the board and approximately 40
will be required to firmly secure his place.
Ludo Philippaerts remains at the head of the FEI World Cup leaderboard
but Otto Becker has improved from seventh position to runner-up
spot while Rolf-Goran Bengtsson joins Rodrigo Pessoa in fourth
behind Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum in third after today's competition.
It's still all to play for at the final qualifier in fourteen
day's time and, with luck now back on his side, Ludger Beerbaum
will have all guns blazing when he lines out in Goeteborg for
what promises to be a tense and exciting battle for those precious
last-minute qualifying points. Visit the website of the World
Cup Final : www.worldcupmilano2004.com
THE WORLD'S TOP TEN IN GENEVA FOR THE FOURTH TIME
Spring has brought excellent news for the Geneva International
Horse Show: the confirmation that the fourth edition of the Top-10
World Final will once again take place in conjunction with the
CSI-W in December 2004.
The
International Jumping Riders' Club (IJRC) voted in favour of CSI-W
Geneva organising the fourth edition of the Top-10 world final.
This
final, held once a year, is only open to the 10 best riders of
the planet, i.e. the Top Ten of the FEI / Gandini World Jumping
Riders Rankings. The two first Finals were won by Ludger Beerbaum
(GER), with Goldfever in 2001 and with Gladdys'S in 2002. Last
year Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Baloubet du Rouet took the honours.
The
fourth edition of the Top 10 Final will thus ensure the highest
level of participation at the Geneva Horse Show, which always
attracts so many equestrian fans.
For
the fourth consecutive year, the Top-10 World Final will be presented
by the watch company Rolex and the Italian High Fashion Fabrics
Gandini. Rolex has been sponsoring the Geneva International Horse
Show since the 1996 World Cup Final.
SILVER CAMERA AWARD 2004
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV), the FEI and the
Sparkasse announce the contest "Best Equestrian Photo of
the Year", for which the Silver Camera Award is presented
on the occasion of CHIO Aachen 2004, from 13 to 18 July.
A
jury of experts will determine the winner and present the prizes.
In addition to the "Silver Camera" trophy, the winner
will receive a cash prize of EUR 2.600.-, the second EUR 500.-
and the third placed EUR 250.-.
The
contest is open to professional photographers who may present
a maximum of 3 photographs. The photographs showing equestrian
sport scenes from around the world must have been taken between
1 April 2003 and 30 April 2004.
The
closing date for submission of the pictures is on 15 May 2004.
Pictures
and CV of the photographer shall be sent to: Aachen-Laurensberger
Rennverein, "Silver Camera Award", Albert-Servais-Allee
50, D-52070 Aachen,
Germany
The full conditions of participation are available on the FEI
website, http://www.horsesport.org/fei/news/news_08/new_08_02.html
IN MEMORIAM
Grand
Prix Dressage stallion, Dutch Gold, died recently at the grand
old age of 28 years.
Sired by Jennie Loriston-Clarke's famous Dutch Courage, Dutch
Gold retired at the end of 1992 having competed at Grand Prix
level since 1985. He was a member of the British Team at the Seoul
Olympics and all European Championships since 1985.
Dutch Gold was the sire of 2 graded stallions and numerous eventing
and dressage horses and was famous for doing displays of the Grand
Prix movements to music which were seen by audiences all over
the world. Dutch Gold was owned by Jennie Loriston-Clarke and
Miss Maragret Clayton.
www.horsesport.org
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