Eventing: Rolex Kentucky: AMERICAN TIANA COUDRAY IN THE LEAD GOING INTO TODAYS’S CROSS COUNTRY AT THE SECOND LEG OF THE HSBC FEI CLASSICS™

Photo caption: Tiana Coudray (USA) and Ringwood Magister are in the lead after Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™.

FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lexington, KY (USA), 30 April 2011

Following two days of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™, America’s Tiana Coudray is in pole position with her Jersey Fresh CCI*** 2010 winner Ringwood Magister.

The duo earned the best marks from the judges for a penalty score of 40.8.

“The trot work was tidy but maybe a bit conservative. It was during the canter work that I felt confident enough to show off what Magister can do — that’s the best bit for him,” said Coudray. “When we cantered down the centre line for the final time that’s when it hit me we’d done a good test.”

Britain’s Mary King is less than a penalty behind the leading duo with her four-star first timer Fernhill Urco.

“I wasn’t expecting such a good test from him. He’s a positive-thinking horse who is always forward and I find him strong but in the last month he’s really improved,” said King, who also occupies fourth with her home-bred bay mare Kings Temptress.

Allison Springer and Arthur lie third while fellow American William Coleman and Twizzel share fifth place with US-based British rider James Alliston aboard Jumbo’s Jake.

Mark Todd (NZL), winner of the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ at Badminton last weekend, is in 17th position riding Grass Valley on a penalty score of 51.8.

A total of 44 riders will contest Derek di Grazia’s 28-fence cross-country track later today, for which days of rain has provided going that is soft in places.

“It’s very jumpable but definitely a four-star test with question after question. I think the ground will be the main challenge,” said King.

Coudray added: “Derek almost puts riders at ease because the course looks so nice but then it catches you out because you’ve underestimated it.”

Allison Springer is first out at 10am local time.

The Cross Country will be broadcast live on FEI TV www.feitv.org at 1pm (13h) GMT.

Results

1 Tiana Coudray/Ringwood Magister (USA) 40.8; 2 Mary King/Fernhill Urco (GBR) 41.7; 3 Allison Springer/Arthur (USA) 42.3; 4 Mary King/Kings Temptress (GBR) 47.7; = 5 William Coleman/Twizzel (USA) & James Alliston/Jumbo’s Jake (GBR) 48.2; 7 Kim Severson/Tipperary Liadhnan (USA) 48.5; 8 Sinead Halpin/Manoir De Carneville (USA) 48.7; 9 Boyd Martin/Remington XXV (USA) 49; 10 Clayton Fredericks/Be My Guest (AUS) 50.2.

Photographs: Free high-resolution photographs for editorial use only will be available at: www.feiphotos.org

HSBC FEI Classics™ Calendar of Events in 2011
1. 21-25 April - Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)
2. 28 April-1 May - Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA) 
3. 16-19 June - Luhmühlen presented by E.ON Avacon (GER)
4. 1-4 September - Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)
5. 13-16 October - Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA) 

HSBC FEI Classics™ Leaderboard in 2011 (after 1 out of 5 events)
1 Mark Todd (NZL) 15 points
2Piggy French (GBR) 12 points
3 Mary King (GBR) 10 points
4 Sam Griffiths (AUS) 8 points
5 Niklas Lindback (SWE) 6 points
6 Caroline Powell (NZL) 5 points
7 Nicola Wilson (GBR) 4 points
8 Laura Collett (GBR) 3 points
9 Marina Köhncke (GER) 2 points
10 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 1 point

HSBC Training Bursary:

HSBC, the platinum partner of FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the HSBC FEI Classics™ since 2008 and is the title sponsor.

At the centre of this sponsorship is a commitment to the development of the sport of Eventing at every level.

HSBC has introduced a Training Bursary, which is a unique award presented to the highest placed rider at each HSBC FEI Classics™ leg who completes a 4* event for the very first time.

The winning rider receives a training voucher to the value of $1,000, which is spent on sessions with a trainer of the athletes’ choice approved by the FEI and National Federation.

Notes to editors:

HSBC FEI Classics™ prize money
Over the next three years, HSBC will be contributing US$1 million in prize money, which represents the biggest prize fund on offer in Eventing on an annual basis.

At the end of the season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected among the five HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 events are awarded their share of a total prize pot of US$333,000, split as follows:

1st US$150,000 (Series Champion)
2nd US$75,000
3rd US$50,000
4th US$33,000
5th US$25,000

The HSBC FEI Classics™ 2012 season will begin at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) on 12-16 October 2011. This is also the location for the final leg of the 2011 season. Competitors therefore have the unique opportunity to secure points for both the HSBC FEI Classics™ 2011 and 2012 seasons by competing at Les Etoiles de Pau.

1.    Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) - 12-16 October 2011
2.    Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) - 18-20 November 2011
3.    Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) -  26-29 April 2012
4.    Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) - 4-7 May 2012
5.    Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON (GER) - 14-17 June 2012
6.    The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) - 30 August-2 September 2012

HSBC FEI Classics™ Final Standings for 2010
1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 39 points - US$ 150,000 (Series champion)
2 Andreas Dibowski (GER) 37 - $75,000
3 Caroline Powell (NZL) 21 - $ 50,000
4 Mary King (GBR) 18 - $33,000
5 Paul Tapner (AUS) 15 - $25,000
(Full standings on www.fei.org)

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Reining: Kentucky: Shawn Flarida Wins First-Ever CRI 5* Kentucky Reining Cup - By Brian Sosby

Shawn Flarida and KL Lil Conquistador.
(Photo by StockImageServices.com)

Lexington, KY - For the first time in the history of the Western saddle sport of reining, a collection of the world's best reining athletes slid into the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, to contest the inaugural five-star reining competition known as the CRI5* - the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. When the dirt in the arena settled, it was Shawn Flarida and KL Lil Conquistador who laid down a spectacular pattern to take the title on a score of 226.5 in this the highest level of reining competition in the world.

From a country music icon to the current USEF Equestrian of the Year to the four-member U.S. Team that rocked the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with their Team Gold and two Individual medals to a three-member family show down, this was a night of reining that won't soon be forgotten. Reiners from three nations (United States, Canada and Mexico) took part at the event which was held concurrent with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event sponsored by Bridgestone. In addition to the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup CRI5*, which offered $50,000 in prize money and is this year's only five-star reining event in the Western hemisphere, there will be the first-ever World Championship Freestyle competition on Saturday.
The level of competition was expert, and performances these Western horses and riders put in thrilled the crowd. In fact, three of the four members of the Gold-medal WEG team were the top four riders.

Flarida, who missed out on a possible medal at the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games when his saddle strap broke during his round was happy with his first-place finish tonight aboard. Tonight's win was a sort of birthday present as Saturday is his birthday.

"There were a couple of places where tonight could have been better," he said. "That horse has been absolutely great for me his entire career. I feel honored just to have the opportunity to ride him. This horse looks forward to showing and he's so much fun to ride."

He continued, "Anytime you can go and compete against guys that are this talented, it's fun."

Craig Schmersal finished second aboard Miss Lil Addy Tude (owned by KC Performance Horses) on a score of score of 225.

"This was the fifth time I've been on the mare," he said. "She's a tough little mare, she's really cute and she's like a little motor scooter out there and zips around and does her job. She's a lot of fun."

With his third-place horse on a score of 224.5, Mister Montana Nic (the 14-year-old bay Quarter Horse stallion who he rode to an Individual Bronze-medal at the 2010 WEG), Schmersal came to superlatives.

"I don't know what else I can say about him. He never lets me down and hangs with those little six-year-olds and just keeps on knocking them out," he said. "I'm very, very lucky to have a horse like that in my barn."

Tom McCutcheon, who was the only American double-Gold medalist at the 2010 WEG, has taken reining to new heights over the past year. Tonight, he was in fourth, but happy for his fellow WEG teammates and their scores tonight.

He guided Turnabout Farm, Inc.'s Chic Olena Starbuck (a seven-year-old, sorrel Quarter Horse mare) through the pattern to end on a score of 222.5 and a fourth-place finish.

"It was a great crowd here, and the ground was great, and it was just fun to come here," McCutcheon said. "My horse felt really good, but she's not a really big turner, but a good thick stopper and she circles good. She went out and did all that stuff for me. She didn't turn as good as I would have liked, but she went out there and did what she could do."

McCutcheon also spoke of the importance of tonight's event. "I think the diversity that this event brings to our sport following up behind the WEG Games is a great opportunity for us to showcase our sport. Right now, I think we are in a spot of growth...we are getting out to a new group of people, and it's important that we go out and put on a great show."       

Competing as one of the Non-Pro competitors was Grammy winner and country music star Lyle Lovett piloted his Smart and Shiney (a seven-year-old Palomino Quarter Horse stallion co-owned with Tim McQuay) through the pattern to an excited audience. He finished admirably in his first ever five-star competition.

"Just to ride in this arena with so many fans is an incredible feeling," said Lovett, who compared the sport of reining to his career in music.

"It's very similar, because even though it's a competition and the top reiners in the world are here, you watch them helping one another, and they are all associates and the team spirit among the competitors is just incredible," he said. "Nobody in reining likes anything better than to see somebody have a great run. When someone has a great run, everybody in the stands and in the barn is cheering for that rider and that run."

When it comes to reining, the "Royal Family" of the sport has to be the McCutcheon clan. And, Mandy McCutcheon (daughter of Tim McQuay and wife of Tom McCutcheon), had to be feeling a bit of a divide while rooting for her father and her husband, all the while doing her best to throw down the gauntlet and show the men just how it's done.

Contesting two mounts - Don Julio Whiz (a nine-year-old chestnut Quarter Horse stallion owned by Rosanne Sternberg and  Chexy Dun It (a 10-year-old, Palomino Quarter Horse mare owned by Turnabout Farm, Inc.) - Mandy had her work cut out for the night.  In the end, she finished in fifth with 222 and tied for 11th  on 218.5, respectively.

Team Sponsor's Competition

Event organizer, Brad Ettelman of HorsePower, Inc., explained the importance of the Team Sponsor event. He applauded them for coming on in a big way and said that the event wouldn't have happened without them. He went on to explain the Team Sponsor concept.

"At World Championships like the World Equestrian Games, you have national teams ride for your nation. We thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if we got some sponsors because this is a five-star and a big event.' We wanted to recreate the team atmosphere, and the sponsors you heard called out tonight helped to support us in that effort. We had a team structure under sponsor banners rather than national flags." 

Among the various sponsors - SmartPak, Purina, Ariat, ProEquine Equipment, Clark Oil - the sponsor team with the highest combined score was Team Clark Oil with 662, followed by Team Purina with 660.5. Team Clark Oil consisted of Sam Smith aboard Paid by Corona; Mandy McCutcheon aboard Don Julio Whiz; and Tim McQuay aboard Rudy Dun It.  The second place team was sponsored by Purina (Lyle Lovett aboard Smart and Shiney; Lisa Coulter aboard Western Whiz; and Shawn Flarida aboard KR Lil Conquistador).

The Inaugural World Championship Freestyle

Tomorrow, the Inaugural World Championship Freestyle winner will be named at the Alltech Arena. The Freestyle Championship will award $25,000 in prize money - the world's largest purse for a reining freestyle to date.

The Freestyle Championship begins at 5:30 p.m. (EST), and tickets are $20.

Developed from the ranch-type work performed by horses, reining was born of the great American West.  Power, agility and speed couple with a calm demeanor are at the core of this Western saddle sport. Always a crowd favorite, the sport has spread worldwide with more than 40 countries on six continents participating at the FEI level.

The event and HorsePower, Inc., would like to welcome Ariat as the title sponsor and Official Apparel and Footwear of the Kentucky Reining Cup. Joining Ariat as sponsors of the inaugural event are the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), SmartPak and Markel Insurance.

Visit the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup Alltech Arena Trade Fair on Saturday from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST.
For more information about the event, including ticket sales, visit http://www.kentuckyreining.com/.

For streaming and press releases about the event, visit http://usefnetwork.com/2011KYCupReining/.

WEG Central® - For the latest news in equestrian sport!

Jumping: Leipzig: USEF: Ward Stands Tenth as US Sends Seven to the Final Round of the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final - By Helen Murray

McLain Ward and Antares F
Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group

 
Leipzig, Germany - The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final saw a shuffle throughout the standings after the conclusion of the second round this afternoon. With forty-four World Cup points up for grabs and the chance to head into the final round on zero faults, clear rounds were at a premium. Forty horse/rider combinations jumped Frank Rothenberger's impressive track, with seven riders representing six different nations returning for the jump-off.

In Sunday's final only the top twenty-nine riders from the first two rounds will have the opportunity to jump in the championship. The US will be represented by seven riders in this round and McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) will lead the charge as the top placed American.

Ward rebounded from Thursday's first round, which saw him lower two rails despite posting a competitive time. Today Ward riding Antares F and the pair jumped a stylish clear round to be the third horse to qualify for the jump-off. The Wurttemberger gelding owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC demonstrated immaculate jumping to make light work of Friday's initial course.

In the jump-off, Ward executed tight smooth turns and utilized Antares F's huge stride to post the quickest trip of the day, however a rail at the final vertical kept them from claiming top honors.

"I went early and was going to try to win the class, I'm not hanging on to any great lead to protect." Ward said "I wanted to try to win and there was definitely an option there, but it was a very hard option and it just got a little too far away from me. He made a good effort but that happens sometimes when you try to win."

Ward stands in tenth place in the standings on ten faults.

Breathing down his neck is Richard Spooner, who is in equal eleventh place on eleven faults. Spooner and the Holsteiner gelding, Cristallo, had a polished performance in the second round, just lowering the second element of the double at fence eight.

Beezie Madden brought her winning partner from Wednesday's Opening Competition, Coral Reef Via Volo, to Hall One of the Leipzig Exhibition Center for today's World Cup class. Madden guided Coral Reef Ranch's mare to the third fastest four-fault round of the day, after having the B element of the triple down at fence four.

The Cazenovia, New York native heads to the last round of competition tied for fifteenth place on twelve faults.

Margie Engle and Ashlee Bond were the top placing Americans after the first round but each found Rothenberger's course tricky this afternoon. Engle and Gladewinds Farm, Garber, Griese and Hidden Creek Farm's Indigo faulted at the large oxer at fence three and then had difficulties with fence four the triple combination when Indigo and Engle miscommunicated resulting in a stop. Bond and Little Valley Farm's Cadett 7 faulted in the triple as well as having a rail at the middle element, later in the course they also lowered fences eleven and thirteen.

Engle currently stands tied for seventeenth place with fourteen faults, while Bond heads into Sunday in twenty-first with sixteen faults.

The remaining two combinations to advance to the final round for the US are Michelle Spadone, twenty-third place on eighteen faults, and Rich Fellers with twenty-three faults in twenty-seventh place.

Up-and-coming US riders Charlie Jayne, Kirsten Coe and Brianne Goutal will jump in Saturday's Sparkassen Cup- Grand Prix of Leipzig after having competed in the first two rounds of the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

Canada's Eric Lamaze and Hickstead won today's class after besting the field in the jump-off and heads into to the final round in fifth place on six faults. While Germany's Marco Kutscher and Christian Ahlmann share the lead heading into Sunday both on zero faults.

The 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final champion will be crowned in Hall One of the Leipzig Exhibition Center Sunday afternoon.

WEG Central® - For the latest news in equestrian sport!

Driving: Leipzig: EXELL SETS THE TONE IN LEIPZIG by Cindy Timmer

Photo Caption: Boyd Exell on his way to victory in the warm up round of the FEI World Cup™ Driving Final in Leipzig. Photo: FEI/Rinaldo de Craen

Leipzig (GER) 29 April 2011

FEI WORLD CUP™ DRIVING 2010/2011


FEI TV: enjoy LIVE programming, highlights, interviews and archive footage at www.feitv.org

FEI YouTube Channel: view all our latest reportages here.


Title defender Boyd Exell from Australia has won the warm up round of the FEI World Cup™ Driving Final in Leipzig this evening. The current four-in-hand World Champion was the only driver who finished the course in a clear round. Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson came second driving his brand new marathon carriage. Dutch driver Koos de Ronde finished third.


Ring rusty

The competitors were all a bit ring rusty after a break of several months. Some drivers competed in the last World Cup competition in Bordeaux at the start of February; others had an even longer break after the show in Mechelen at the end of December.

Wild card replacement

Home driver Georg von Stein replaced wild card driver Christian Plücker who unfortunately had to withdraw only two days ago because of two injured horses. Plücker had won the special indoor competition at the German Equestrian Centre in Warendorf in February and had herewith claimed the wild card. Von Stein finished second and was therefore the first candidate to replace Plücker. Von Stein had kept on training his horses so it was not difficult for him to prepare his team for his first ever World Cup start. Von Stein finished fifth in tonight’s competition, behind Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich.


Mistakes

Both Hungary’s Jozsef Dobrovitz and Dutchman IJsbrand Chardon made unusual mistakes. Chardon took the C-gate in one of the marathon type obstacles from the wrong side, which made him drop to the sixth place. Dobrovitz knocked four balls down in the course, designed by German World Championship course designer Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf.

Top three

Koos de Ronde also made a mistake by knocking over one of the gates before he was supposed to take it. But the team gold medallist of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky kept the speed up and set the fastest time, which made him finish third. Tomas Eriksson only received his new marathon carriage this morning but despite the little testing time, Eriksson flew through the course only knocking one ball down.
Boyd Exell drove a safe round, using his old marathon carriage instead of his new indoor carriage, which is now been adjusted for outdoor use as well. While Boyd’s team got fitter every time until his last start in Mechelen, he now concentrated on keeping his team calm which resulted in a clear victorious round.


Quotes:

Boyd Exell: “My team in Mechelen was so fit, it felt like water skiing! I am very pleased with my team in Leipzig, I kept them on the ground. This was just a warm up round so I am not getting too excited about it.”

Tomas Eriksson:“I am happy with my horses. I used my horse Speedy in the lead again. I normally only use him at outdoor shows but this is the third time this season that he has been in the lead of my team and he does a great job. My new carriage went well, I sometimes even forgot to use the breaks!”

Koos de Ronde: “I was not paying attention myself which was rather stupid, but I am convinced I will do better on Sunday in the World Cup Final. At the Final in Geneva last year, we had the same situation. All drivers are a bit ring rusty but the horses are in good shape even after a long break and they will be back in shape quickly.

Audio links:
Boyd Exell

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/DRI_Excell.MP3



Tomas Eriksson

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/DRI_Eriksson.MP3


Tomas Eriksson  -Swedish

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/DRI_Eriksson_swe.MP3

Rupert Bell



Results warm up round CAI-W Leipzig 2011:

1.     Boyd Exell (Aus) 125,63 (0)

2.     Tomas Eriksson (Swe) 129,53 (5)

3.     Koos de Ronde (Ned) 140,08 (20)

4.     Werner Ulrich (Sui) 143,41 (10)

5.     Georg von Stein (Ger) 148,31 (15)

6.     Ijsbrand Chardon (Ned) 155,51 (25)

7.     Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 167,66

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Eventing: Rolex Kentucky: USA's Coudray Springs into Lead After Dressage at 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone - By Joanie Morris

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister.
Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Lexington, KY - There was one new name added to the top three riders after the dressage at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, but it was an important one. Tiana Coudray made the trip from California worth the effort when she wowed the judges in the Rolex Stadium with Ringwood Magister. Their score of 40.8 leaves them with a narrow margin over Mary King, from Great Britain who lies second on 41.7. Thursday's winner, Allison Springer, holds on to a top-three placing with Arthur on 42.3.

Ringwood Magister, an elegant and flashy 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, has excellent paces and presence. Coudray coaxed him down the ramp into the Rolex Stadium and into the electric environment, managing him beautifully in the ring.

"He'd been really good in warm up," said Coudray. "And I started down the ramp so he kind of knew something was up."

Ringwood Magister misbehaved quite exuberantly on the way to the ring and found relaxing quite difficult, but Coudray is confident that once he gets in the ring, he goes to work. "When I got him down into the ring," said Coudray, "I still wasn't quite sure which way this was going to go. But he really put it together and went to work."

Ringwood Magister floats through his test, and frequently has enough suspension to get all four feet off the ground in both the trot and the canter.  His efforts mean he also leads the way in the 2011 USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship.

"His trot work was good, maybe a tiny bit conservative," said Coudray. "The canter, once we get there I feel confident to start showing off. His changes are good. When I got to the last two loops of the canter serpentine I think I started smiling that I'd survived it."

But it wasn't until she went down the centerline for the final time that she realized just how good a test her beloved horse had pulled off.

"It's kind of overwhelming really," said Coudray, 22, about being the overnight leader.

From Ojai, CA, Coudray began eventing in 2003 - but she has had considerable success in her short career. She was the highest placed U.S. rider at the Boekelo CCI3* last fall, finishing eighth in her first overseas CCI3*, after winning last spring in New Jersey.

King, who was just third at the Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials last weekend, is second on Fernhill Urco, another flashy grey. He is a Portuguese-bred horse and King was very pleased with his efforts at his first CCI4*.

"I wasn't expecting quite such a good test to be honest," said veteran King.  "He's such a lovely horse. He's a friendly character, he's a real positive thinking horse...and he's got three lovely paces."

King also lies fourth on the Kings Temptress.

Thursday's winner, Allison Springer, believed that someone would go into the 30s during Friday's session, so she was very pleased to still be in the top three after the first phase. She will be first to go at 10 a.m. sharp on tomorrow's cross country. The course is designed by Derek di Grazia, who takes over after Mike Etherington Smith's tenure. Di Grazia has been battling relentless rain in Kentucky and the track will certainly take some jumping.

"It's an absolutely fantastic course," said King. "It's refreshing to come here."

WEG Central® - For the latest news in equestrian sport!

Vaulting: Leipzig: ANDREANI AND WIEGELE ARE FIRST-ROUND WINNERS - by Louise Parkes

Italy's Nicolas Andreani won the first round of the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Male Individual competition at the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Leipzig, Germany tonight.  Photo: Stefan Lafrentz.

FEI WORLD CUP™ VAULTING FINAL 2010/2011
Leipzig (GER), 29 April 2011

FEI TV: enjoy LIVE programming, highlights, interviews and archive footage at www.feitv.org

FEI YouTube Channel: view all our latest reportages here

Frenchman Nicolas Andreani and Germany’s Simone Wiegele were the winners in the first round of the inaugural FEI World Cup™ Vaulting event at Leipzig in Germany this evening.  In the Male section Andreani, bronze medallist at last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, pipped world champion Patrick Looser from Switzerland, while Wiegele, bronze medallist in the Female event at the US fixture, edged out fellow-countrywoman and Kentucky silver medallist Antje Hill.

The vaulting competitors are delighted to have joined their Jumping, Dressage and Driving counterparts at the ground-breaking four-way finals in Leipzig and are looking forward to bringing their sport into the main arena tomorrow morning.

A CHALLENGE

The smaller Hall 3, in which they competed today, proved a challenge for some.  Judge, Helma Schwarzmann, pointed out that "some of the horses had problems in the arena because they are used to working in a calm environment and it was quite noisy in there.  As a result, not all of them put on their best performances", she said. 

Andreani however produced an excellent display with the help of his longeur, Maina Jooten Dupont and his horse Idefix de Braize.  "I was happy with how it went although I think I could have done even better - I expect to produce an even better performance in the next competition." 

His score of 8.780 gave him the edge over runner-up Patrick Looser, while Germany's Viktor Brusewitz finished third.  Looser remains confident despite his second-place finish tonight however.  "I wasn't satisfied with my Freestyle.  With Nicolas here I have to be at my best, but I made some mistakes so my result wasn't good enough to win.  I won't be making those mistakes tomorrow though!" he warned.  And he says that he and his horse will excel in the bigger arena.  "My horse is 19 years old and he likes competing - if the arena is bigger then he feels younger and he enjoys the noise of the crowd", he added.

SURPRISED

Female winner Wiegele said she was surprised to find herself in top spot today.  "It's a good feeling but I really didn't expect to do so well.  I have been concentrating on team training over the past few weeks but I'm very happy to finish first here!" she explained.  She beat her team-mate Antje Hill who was assisted by the same longeur, Agnes Werhahn and the same horse, Arkansas, while Italy's Anna Cavallaro slotted into third.

She said that the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Leipzig present a great opportunity to showcase the sport of Vaulting which continues to grow in popularity.  "I am very happy to be here - this event is the next step to present our sport to the world", she commented.

Both of today's winners will have to be on top form tomorrow however if they want to claim the very first FEI World Cup™ Vaulting titles.  Andreani remains determined to continue his winning streak - "I always hope to win, and tomorrow that is the plan!" he said, but if Looser can produce a more accurate performance than he did today then the Frenchman will be under intense pressure.  Wiegele will also need to be on the top of her game to pin fellow-German Hill back.  "It's going to be really exciting in the big ring tomorrow" Wiegele said. 

Result:

Female Individual Round 1 - 1, Simone Wiegele (Arkansas) GER 8.320; 2, Antje Hill (Arkansas) GER 8.246; 3, Anna Cavallaro (Harley) 7.533; 4, Ines Juckstock (Lamenticus) GER 7.313; 5, Simone Jaiser (Luk) SUI 7.226; 6, Stefanie Kowald (Alando) AUT 7.200; 7, Pia Engelberty (Sir Bernhard RS von der Wintermuhle) GER 7.160.

Male Individual Round 1 - 1, Nicolas Andreani (Idefix de Braize) FRA 8.780; 2, Record RS von der Wintermuhle) SUI 8.626; 3, Viktor Brusewitz (Airbus) GER 8.080; 4, Yvan Nousse (Carlos) FRA 7.046; 5, Lukas Klouda (Sir Bernhard RS von der Wintermuhle) CZE 6.673; 6, Daniel Kaiser (Down Under) GER 5.720.

Facts and Figures

This is the inaugural FEI World Cup™ Vaulting final.

7 vaulters are competing in the Individual Female competition.

6 vaulters are competing in the Individual Male competition.

Today's panel of judges was - Helma Schwarzmann (GER), Elzbieta Dolinska (POL) and Jochen Schilffahrt (GER).

The competition took place in Hall 3 at the exhibition centre in Leipzig. Tomorrow the vaulting competition moves into the main arena in Hall 1.

Quotes:

Helma Schwarzmann - "three years ago vaulting took place in Leipzig for the first time and thanks to Volker Wulff it has now become a World Cup competition."

Patrick Looser - "there has been big growth in our sport since 2006 and this is another great chance for it to develop even more as it is presented to a bigger public."

PRESS KIT ZONE

Visit our new FEI Press Kit Zone to get everything you need on the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2010/2011.

AUDIO LINKS

Listen to interviews with the stars of the FEI World Cup™ Final Vaulting:

Simone Wiegele - English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Vau_wiegele.MP3

Simone Wiegele  German

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Vau_wiegele_ger.MP3

Antje Hill - English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/VAU_Hill_rd1.MP3

Antje Hill German

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/VAU_Hill_ger.MP3

Nicolas Andreani - French and English combined

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Vau_Andreaani.MP3

Patric Looser - English

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Vau_looser.MP3

Patric Looser German

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Vau_Plooser_ger.MP3

WEG Central® - For the latest news in equestrian sport!

Jumping: Leipzig: GERMAN DUO SHARE LEAD GOING INTO LAST LEG OF ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING FINAL - by Louise Parkes

Caption: Reigning Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN) riding the great stallion Hickstead reigned supreme in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final second qualifier in Leipzig today. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI

ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING FINAL 2010/2011 - ROUND 2
Leipzig (GER), 29 April 2011

FEI TV: enjoy LIVE programming, highlights, interviews and archive footage at www.feitv.org

FEI YouTube Channel: view all our latest reportage here.

Germany's Christian Ahlmann and Marco Kutscher share the lead going into Sunday's third and deciding competition at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 2010/2011 on their home ground at Leipzig.  But it was reigning Olympic champion, Canada's Eric Lamaze, who reigned supreme in today's second qualifier riding the great stallion Hickstead. The win has bounced Lamaze up to fifth spot, just six points behind the leading pair as the thrilling series draws to a close.

The startlist for today's class was reduced to 40 following the withdrawal of Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al Sharbatly, and course designer Frank Rothenberger lived up to his promise to present a considerably stronger track.  A total of seven made it through to the second-round jump-off which Frenchman Simon Delestre (Couletto) and New Zealand's Katie McVean (Delphi) missed out on when picking up just a single time fault.  McVean has created quite a sensation this week however as the 24-year-old daughter of Australian legend Jeff McVean has ridden her home-bred 10-year-old mare with extraordinary confidence and panache.  Despite not making the cut into the timed round, she is lying in fourth place, just behind The Netherlands' Gerco Schroder, going into Sunday's decider after the result of the first two competitions have been calculated into points.

BIG AND BOLD

Rothenberger's course was big and bold, with the triple combination at fence four creating some of the earliest problems.  The opening vertical consistently hit the floor as horses did a double-take at the following oxer and the third-element vertical which were decorated in the colours of the German flag. And the line that included the double at eight and the following vertical at fence nine proved another big test.  It was here that Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum's chances slipped away.  She arrived on a fairly long stride to the triple-bar opener at 8a, and although the 16-year-old Checkmate cleared the second-element oxer, he found himself a distance off the following vertical and ducked left.  The partnership completed without any further ado but their seven penalties put paid to the chances of the three-time Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion claiming a fourth title.

Luck of course plays a major role in competition, just as in life, and Marco Kutscher had more than his fair share of it when his first-day winner Cash rubbed the top poles on each of the first two fences before completing clear and joining six others in the race against the clock.

JUMP OFF

First to go in the jump-off was Venezuela's Pablo Barrios, but his 11-year-old mare G&C Quick Star lowered both the Rolex planks, now third on the track, and the following first element of the treble which was now reduced to just two jumping efforts.  A good roll-back here would prove crucial to a strong finishing result.

Spain's Sergio Alvarez Moya opted for a cautious clear with his elegant stallion Action-Breaker to set the first real target at 48.79 seconds.  But America's McLain Ward came out with all guns blazing to produce a stunning run from the big-jumping grey Antares F that looked set to really put it up to the remaining four, only to clip the flimsy white planks at the very end of the track as they broke the beam in 39.37 seconds. 

Lamaze set off with equal determination, and with Hickstead in full flight they took the lead with a fabulous clear in 40.68.  But while Gerco Schroder and Eurocommerce New Orleans never looked like ousting them from pole position as they crossed the line without incident in 44.77 seconds, Christian Ahlmann's seemingly unhurried round brought Taloubet Z home just fractionally slower than the Canadian in 40.86 seconds.

The only question now remaining was whether first-day winners Kutscher and Cash could edge the Olympic champion down the order, but a pole off the second element of the former triple combination settled the matter and he had to make do with sixth spot this time out.

SHARING THE LEAD

It was still good enough to leave him sharing the top of the leaderboard with his team-mate Ahlmann and well within sight of the coveted Rolex trophy that all the riders want to take home.  There is no room for error however, as Schroder is just one point behind going into Sunday's last test, while McVean is only a single fence further in arrears with four points on the board while Lamaze carries six.

"This is Hickstead's first World Cup final - I always wanted him to be part of one before the end of his career", said Lamaze this evening. "Yesterday I was cautious and we had one down, and today we had a few rubs in the first round but he was great in the jump-off. He has had a great career and to add this day to it is wonderful, especially in front of Rolex, my new sponsors - it's a special moment for me!" he added.

Ahlmann and Kutscher said they are happy to share the lead going into Sunday's finale. "We know each other now for at least 15 years and we are good friends", said Kutscher. "I'm happy to be in the lead in the World Cup for the first time in my life and I'm also happy that, after taking a lot of risks yesterday, my horse jumped so well today."

RESULT 2nd Qualifier: 1, Hickstead (Eric Lamaze) CAN 0/0 40.68; 2, Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) GER 0/0 40.86; 3, Eurocommerce New Orleans (Gerco Schroder) NED 0/0 44.77; 4, Action-Breaker (Sergio Alvarez-Moya) ESP 0/0 48.79; 5, Antares F (McLain Ward) USA 0/4 39.37; 6, Cash (Marco Kutscher) GER 0/4 40.89; 7, G&C Quick Star (Pablo Barrios) VEN 0/8 42.02; 8, Delphi (Katie McVean) NZL 1/76.72; 9, Couletto (Simon Delestre) FRA 1/76.78; 10, Carlina (Pius Schwizer) SUI 4/71.87; 11, H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) SWE 4/72.81; 12, Coral Reef Vie Volo (Beezie Madden) USA 4/73.33; 13, Gotha (Ludger Beerbaum) GER 4/74.13; 14, Quintero la Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 4/74.16; 15, Silvana de Hus (Kevin Staut) FRA 4/74.54; 16, Cristallo (Richard Spooner) USA 4/74.69; 17, Melissimo (Michelle Spadone) USA 4/75.56; 18, Lord Luis (Lars Nieberg) 5/76.28; 19, Checkmate (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) GER 7/87.72; 20, BMC van Grunsven Simon (Jeroen Dubbeldam) NED 8/70.18; 21, Sabrina (Marcus Ehning) GER 8/73.59; 22, Regina Z (Harrie Smolders) NED 74.10; 23, Catoki (Philipp Weishaupt) GER 8/74.57; 24, Tinka's Serenade (Billy Twomey) IRL 9/76.81; 25, Wonderboy lll (Ahmad Saber Hamcho) SYR 9/78.35; 26, Vip vd Keersod (Yuri Mansur Guerios) BRA 9/79.01; 27, Tristan (Kirsten Coe) USA 9/79.45; 28, Indigo (Margie Engle) USA 10/80.47; 29, Cadett 7 (Ashlee Bond) USA 12/71.62; 30, Flexible (Rich Fellers) USA 12/72.70; 31, Rocketman 2 (Vladimir Beletsky) RUS 12/75.89; 32, Winningmood (Luciana Diniz) POR 12/89.47; 33, Athena (Charlie Jayne) USA 16/71.73; 34, Tomba (Eduardo Menezes) BRA 16/73.07; 35, Ballade van het Indihof (Brianne Goutal) USA 16/74.24; 36, Utopia (John Perez) COL 17/78.60; 37, Leonard (Jose Alberto Martinez Vazquez) MEX 17/79.13; 38, Ulrike R (Gunnar Klettenberg) EST 20/74.69; 39, Snowyriver ll (Daisuke Kawaguchi) JPN 36/73.68; 40, Cinnamon (Tilt Kivisild) EST Ret.

STANDINGS after Second Round of Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 2010/2011 (results of first two competitions calculated into points):

Equal 1. Christian Ahlmann (GER), Marco Kutscher (GER) 0; 3, Gerco Schroder (NED) 1; 4, Katie McVean (NZL) 4; 5, Eric Lamaze (CAN) 6; 6, Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) 8; Equal 7, Kevin Staut (FRA), Pius Schwizer (SUI), Marcus Ehning (GER) 9; 10, McLain Ward (USA) 10; Equal 11, Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), Richard Spooner (USA), Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) 11; Equal 15, Simon Delestre (FRA), Beezie Madden (USA) 12; Equal 17, Pablo Barrios (VEN), Philipp Weishaupt (GER), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), Margie Engle (USA) 14; 21, Ashlee Bond (USA)  16; 22, Billy Twomey (IRL) 17; 23, Michelle Spadone (USA) 18; 24, Ludger Beerbaum (GER) 19; 25, Lars Nieberg (GER) 21; 26, Harrie Smolders (NED) 22; Equal 27, Luciana Diniz (POR), Rich Fellers (USA) 23; 29, Vladimir Beletsky (RUS) 25; 30, Yuri Mansur Guerios (BRA) 27; Equal 31, Eduardo Menezes (BRA), Ahmad Saber Hamcho (SYR) 28; 33, Kirsten Coe (USA) 29; 34, John Perez (COL) 31; 35, Brianne Goutal (USA) 32; 36, Charlie Jayne (USA) 33; 37, Abdullah Al Sharbatly (KSA) 35; Equal 38, Jose Alberto Martinez Vazquez (MEX), Gunnar Klettenberg (EST) 36; Equal 40, Daisuke Kawaguchi (JPN), Tilt Kivisild (EST) 37; Equal 42, Denis Lynch (IRL), Edwina Alexander (AUS) 0.   

AUDIO LINKS

Listen to interviews with the stars of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final Jumping:

Marco Kutscher in German:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Kutscher_rd_Ger.MP3

Marco Kutscher in English:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Kutscher_rd.MP3

Marcus Ehning in German:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Ehning_rd1_ger.MP3

Marcus Ehning in English:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Ehning_rd1.MP3

Ashlee Bond:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Bond_rd1.MP3

Katie McVean:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_McVean_rd1.MP3

Malin Baryard Johnsson in Swedish:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Malin_rd1_swe.MP3

Malin Baryard Johnsson in English:

http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Rolex_Malin_rd1_eng.MP3



FACTS AND FIGURES:

The withdrawal of Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al Sharbatly reduced the field to 40 starters in today's competition.

7 qualified for the second-round jump-off.

29 qualified from Sunday's third and final competition which will decide the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion for the 2010/2011 season.

1 rider - Estonia's Tilt Kivisild (Cinnamon) - retired in the first round.

2 finished with just one first-round time penalty - New Zealand's Katie McVean (Delphi) and Simon Delestre (Couletto) from France.

McVean is the 24-year-old daughter of famous Australian rider Jeff McVean who is now retired.

8 finished with just four faults in the first round.

The time allowed in round one, originally set at 79 seconds, was reduced to 76 seconds after the first three riders completed the course.

The doubles at fences 4 and 8 proved influential, as did the vertical at 9 and the Rolex planks at 11.

German riders Christian Ahlmann and Marco Kutscher share the lead going into Sunday's final competition, each carrying a zero score.

Defending champion Marcus Ehning (GER) is lying equal-7th.

8 nations are represented in the top 10 going into Sunday's final leg.



QUOTES:

Eric Lamaze - "Riding Hickstead is a privilege - he is such a clever horse, everything with him is about speed and rhythm and he never takes his eye off the top pole of a fence, he has it all measured up."

Gerco Schroder  - "I'm very happy with my horse today and yesterday he also jumped very well. I saw Eric go in the jump-off and I thought it’s not possible to catch him so I decided to just do my own ride and it worked out well."

Marco Kutscher, talking about his jump-off round - "I turned too sharp to the double and he hit it but I'm very happy with my horse."

Katie McVean - "I'm very excited to be here amongst these riders. I came to Europe specially for the World Cup final and I am based near Eindhoven in Holland with a friend. My father is with me this week - he rode the dam of my horse Delphi. Delphi had five weeks quarantine after the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky but we won two World Cup qualifiers and so I decided we should come here - it's been great so far!"

FAB FOUR

For the first time in the history of equestrian sport, the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage, FEI World Cup™ Driving and the inaugural FEI World Cup™ Vaulting takes place under one roof in Leipzig this week, bringing together four world-class disciplines for a fabulous festival of sport.

WEG Central® - For the latest news in equestrian sport!