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The FEI

Federation Equestre Internationale News

Samsung Super League - It's On The Way...........

Get ready for the Samsung Super League Series – eight thrilling events, eight world-class teams but just one Samsung Super League title!

With just five weeks to go before the action begins at La Baule, France on May 11 the tension is already mounting.

It has been a tough battle to qualify for this Formula One of international team show jumping, with placings in the Samsung Nations Cup series between March and October and the results from the 2002 World Equestrian Games combining to decide the selection.

For the Swiss there was huge disappointment when, having finished ahead of the Irish at the end of last season’s Samsung series, they were edged out by Ireland’s better performance in Jerez. Switzerland might therefore be expected to campaign relentlessly on the Nations Cup circuit this year to ensure pole position at the end of the series which would guarantee promotion to Super League status in 2004.

The Irish on the other hand need to improve dramatically on their performances of last season which saw them only just squeeze into the final qualifying place, because the team which finishes at the bottom of the Super League leaderboard is automatically relegated to normal Nations Cup competition for the following year.

Great Britain, The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Italy have all earned their Super League stripes along with those two power-houses of international show jumping – France and Germany. The French were in a class of their own at WEG 2002 while the Germans completely dominated last season’s Samsung series. Will a home win at La Baule give the French the early advantage in this first Samsung Super League season?

The rules for the series are fairly straightforward. Eight teams, eight events, and a points system that works 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

Teams may consist of no more than five riders, four of whom will compete in the Super League. In the case of equality of points for first place, there will be a jump-off in which one competitor from each team will participate. For all other places, nations completing on an equal score will divide the relevant points and if there is an equality of points at the end of the series the final placings will be decided by the positions achieved in the previous competitions.

At most events, only the eight Super League teams will compete. However at Aachen, last year’s winners (Switzerland) will be invited, following the tradition, and both St Gallen and Barcelona will welcome their national teams. Non Super League teams may only attend three Super League events in one season and will carry points earned at a Super League event into the normal Samsung Nations Cup series rankings.

At six of the eight legs of the series, the eight best-placed teams from Round 1 must return for the second round, but at St Gallen and Barcelona the home side may also compete in Round 2 if not already placed within the top eight provided their score does not exceed the score of the last qualified team by more than eight penalties.

The venues for the first season have been chosen by assessing the quality of rider participation over a three-year period from 1998 to 2001 and by applying other established criteria such as quality of footing and stabling. They are as follows:

Round Venue/Date Nations Cup Day

1. La Baule FRA (8-11 May) Sunday 11 May
2. Rome ITA (22-25 May) Friday 23 May
3. St. Gallen SUI (29 May-1 June) Sunday 1 June
4. Aachen GER (17-22 June) Friday 20 June
5. Hickstead GBR (23-27 July) Friday 25 July
6. Dublin IRL (6-10 August) Friday 8 August
7. Rotterdam NED (28-31 August) Sunday 31 August
8. Barcelona ESP (19-21 September) Sunday 21 Sept.

World-renowned venues all steeped in the tradition of Nations Cup show jumping where the best of the best will by vying to become the very first Samsung Super League Champions.

It will be a clash of giants and the build-up is already underway. THE SAMSUNG NATIONS CUP SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION.


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

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