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The FEI

Federation Equestre Internationale News

FEI GANDINI WORLD JUMPING RIDERS RANKINGS

With a total of 2425 points, Marcus Ehning (GER) leads the FEI Gandini World Jumping Riders Rankings for the second consecutive month, despite having scored no points in June. He was dropping 375 points at the end of last month, and will loose another 90 at the end of July. He has every chance of keeping his Number One position before the Olympic Games start, as his runner-up Ludger Beerbaum (2364 points) will drop 320 points.

Beerbaum, scored 75 points at CSIO Lucerne (SUI), part of the Samsung Super League, and another 95 at CSI 3* Norten-Hardenberg, where he finished in second position in the Grand Prix.

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) went up two places and is now third of the FEI Gandini World Rankings thanks to the 140 points he collected at CSI 5* Spruce Meadows (CAN) where he finished second of the Derby and the additional 40 points earned at the CSI 3* of the well known equestrian fixture in Calgary.

The Swiss rider Markus Fuchs, who was dropping a massive number of points (574) at the end of last month, fell down from 4th to 7th place, despite the 140 points he collected in Lucerne. He will loose no less than 515 points at the end of the month, so might well be pushed off the Top Ten unless he is really successful during July.

Newcomer in the Top Ten, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had a remarkable progression from 21st to 10th place, thanks to her success in the two June CSIO of the Samsung Super League's circuit. She scored 200 points in Lucerne, where she won the Grand Prix and performed a double clear in the Samsung Super League, and 105 points at CSIO Rotterdam. Her position might be further strengthened next month, as she is the only rider of the Top Ten with Otto Becker (GER) who will not loose points at the end of July.

FEI BCM WORLD DRESSAGE RIDERS RANKINGS

Due to late reception of results, the FEI BCM World Dressage Riders Rankings will only be available later this afternoon on the FEI website, section Consult / Results.


REINING
FEI CREATES NEW MILESTONE WITH US$ 100 000 WORLD REINING MASTERS
Countries send their best Reiners - Ranking Update

On 15 November, the reiners who will compete at the FEI World Reining Masters in Oklahoma City, USA will be known. That day is the nomination deadline for the first US$ 100'000.- Masters in the history of Reining. For this mega show, riders must qualify at CRIs (Concours Reining International) in their own countries. The rider who earns the largest prize money will qualify for the FEI World Reining Masters, which will take place on 2 December, 2004 in Oklahoma City, USA. Those countries which qualified for the World Equestrian Games Final in 2002 (USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Italy) are entitled to send two riders to the Masters.

The presenting sponsor behind the project is NetJets, the world's leading company in the sale and management of fractional aircraft ownership. The company owns more than 500 aircrafts worldwide with experienced service and crew, guaranteeing top availability of latest-technique aircrafts. NetJets as now applied its motto 'Leave nothing to chance' to the reining industry. Along with NetJets as the presenting sponsor, AQHA, NRHA and Classic S Ranch have generously donated funds to make the World Reining Masters a premier event in December.

So far, eleven nations organised one or more CRIs: USA, Dominican Republic, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Israel and Great Britain.

There are ranking lists for Germany, Sweden, Italy and the USA that can be found on the FEI website (section consult/results). Volker Schmitt is leading the German rankings with EUR 1246 earned at CRI Bremen last February and in Dortmund one month later. Volker Schmitt was second best at the European Championship and the best German rider at the World Equestrian Games 2002, and has been riding very successfully in the USA for quite some time. He is followed by Steffen Breug with EUR 580. Steffen Breug belongs to the German National team. The next potential candidates are Grischa Ludwig (2000 German Champion) with EUR 495 and Oliver Stein (Team Gold Medal at the 2003European Championship) with EUR 455. The next German CRI will take place during the Super Slide at Kreuth (Oberpfalz) on 5 September.

In Italy, the leading riders are Marco Ricotta and Dario Carmignani. The second Italian CRI will take place at Egna on 30 July.

The Swedish rankings are led by Rick Lemay at the moment with another CRI right around the corner in Falsterbo on 11 July.

In the USA rankings, the first four riders are very close together: Todd Sommers ( USD 22'328), Todd Crawford (USD 21324), Tom McCutcheon (USD 21'223) and Craig Schmersal (USD 20'437). Two more CRIs will take place in the coming months, so the fight is still very open.

Austria will select its competitor at Lermoos on 7 August, Switzerland at Waengi on 28-29 August. There will be two CRIs in Great Britain on 31 July / 1 August, during the Garden of England in East Sussex and at Robertsbridge. One more CRI will be organised in Netherlands at Deume on 9-10 July. Israel will host a CRI on 16-18 September.

With the World Reining Masters, the FEI in close cooperation with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the National Reining Horse Association USA (NRHA) created a new milestone for reining, a discipline which was officially recognised by the FEI in 2000. "With the FEI World Reining Masters we want to further promote and encourage the growth of Reining - hopefully to be a part of the Olympic Games in the future," says FEI Reining Committee Chairman Frank Costantini. The Masters will we organised every year from now on. They are already looking for a venue in Europe now for the FEI World Reining Masters 2005.


FEI EVENTING WORLD CUP UPDATE

The 2004 FEI Eventing World Cup season is at its height and three very different yet equally exciting qualifiers took place over the last fortnight in Moscow (RUS), Luhmühlen (GER) and Strzegom (POL).


MOSCOW ESTABLISHES ITSELF ON THE INTERNATIONAL EVENTING CALENDAR

The Olympic training base Planernaya hosted the Moscow FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier for the 2nd time from 17 to 20 June. Thirteen riders representing Russia, Ukraine and Belarus began and nine finished the event.

Pavel Sergeev of Russia and the 11-year old gelding Polus were 2nd after Dressage with 59.35 penalty points. Thanks to a bold Cross Country which they literally flew over loudly cheered by supporters and despite an average Jumping round where they collected 11 penalties (2 rails down and a 3 time penalties), the pair came in first with a final result of 99.15 points. This result is a progress for both horse and rider who were 4th in last year's FEI Eventing World Cup leg in Moscow.

Runner up position was taken by fellow Russian Adrey Grishin on the 10-year old gelding Skampolo with 118.50 points. Ukraine's Vitaly Stytsko on Argument placed 3rd with 130.19 points.

Riders from that part of the world have been virtually absent form international Eventing for the last decade, but thanks to the unremitting efforts of the Russian equestrian community strongly supported by the government of the city of Moscow, better days lie ahead. In response to the country's commitment, the FEI has included Russian Eventing in its development educational and training programmes. As a result, the World Cup Cross Country track was entirely rebuilt by Cross Designer Roland Alexander to match international standards with the financial assistance of the FEI Development Fund. A larger scope project including, apart from Russia,
Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and Bulgaria, coordinated by Andrew Griffiths, FEI development officer in Eastern Europe, is currently being put into place. The goal is to technically upgrade existing competitions and allow riders from these countries to qualify at home for international events, such as European Championships, avoiding costly travel abroad. New talents will then be making their entry to the international Eventing scene.


NERVE-RACKING FIGHT IN LUHMÜHLEN

Australia's world class rider Andrew Hoy riding the 12-year old gelding Mr Pracatan won the much disputed FEI Eventing World cup qualifier held at Luhmühlen (GER) from 17 to 20 June. A 39,50-penalty Dressage score placed the pair in 8th position, in a tie with Great Britain's Zara Phillips on Springleaze Marcaroo and well behind Linda Algotsson of Sweden, winner of the 2003 FEI Eventing World Cup Final, on Stand by Me 4 (35.90). In front of some 12,000 enthusiastic fans, Linda took the lead after a faultless Cross Country, followed by Zara Phillips and Hoy. The final result then lay with the Jumping test. With a clear round, Hoy clearly became the winner. Hoy's performance is all the more remarkable given that he also placed 6th on Yeoman's Point with 48 points. With 120 points, he is now 2nd in the FEI Eventing World Cup standings only 3 points behind the leader Darren Chiacchia (USA) with 123 points and 2 points ahead of Matthew Grayling (NZL) with 118 points.

With one rail down, Linda Algotsson took runner-up position finishing with 39.90 points, only 0.40 points behind the winner. An incredibly speedy Jumping round (70.87s. with time allowed of 88s.) cost Zara Philips three fences finally putting her in 7th place (51.50 points).

Dirk Schrade, 26, of Germany, who performed the event's best Cross Country finishing only 0:01 second before the optimum time of 7:54, placed 3rd on Sindy 43 with a final score of 41.70 penalties. He is followed by Bettina Hoy on Ringwood Cockatoo, also with 41.70 (3.20 time penalties in the Cross Country.

The full results are available on the event's website http://www.luhmuehlen.de (direct link http://www.luhmuehlen.de/anhaenge/216/erges010.pdf).

The outstanding organisation of the event should be noted. "Luhmühlen is a place with a special atmosphere for us all," Andrew Hoy commented. "Everything here is done for the good of riders and horses."


BRILLIANT GERMAN TRIO WIN AT STRZEGOM

Germany's Andreas Dibowski riding one of his two potential Olympic horses, the 13-year old gelding Little Lemon B, came in first at the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier held at Strzegom, South-western Poland from 24 to 27 June. His final result was of 60.8 penalty points, 10.1 points ahead of runner-up fellow countryman Bernd Knorr. Dibowski, who also became the event's best rider, began with a convincing Dressage score of 46.6 penalty points (68.92%). He moved on to first place after a clear Cross Country scoring 11.2 penalties for exceeding the optimum time by 28 seconds (optimum time 7m 36s.), which he kept thanks to a clear Jumping round (3 time penalties). This result combined with his performance at Luhmühlen places him in fourth place in the FEI Eventing World Cup standings with 114 points.


Bernd Knorr on Chrischona was only 17th after Dressage with 56.1 penalty points (62.61%), but thanks to his excellent Cross Country (5.6 penalties for exceeding the optimum time), he moved to runner-up position which he kept despite the 9 penalties in the Jumping test. Nicole Grimm on Gandus was 3rd with a final result of 72,9 points and is closely followed by Sweden's Linda Algotsson on My Fair Lady in 4th position with 74.5 points and Katrin Norling on Cacao Af Tollstad, 5th with 75.7
points.

German Cross Country Course Designer Christian Zehe was closely assisted by Marcin Konarski, very experienced international rider and organiser of the event. Their compact track proved rather trying allowing no clear rounds within the time. "It is a very fair 3-star cross," Dibowski said, "requiring some riding. The ground's slight natural unevenness has been cleverly used and I am sure more than one rider was surprised." Virtually all refusals occurred at narrow box type fences requiring accuracy and placed on a slightly curving line.

A special tribute should be paid to the organisers for a putting on a perfect event.

The full results are available on http://www.voltahorse.pl/articles.php?id=254


After ten qualifiers the leaderbord of the FEI Eventing World Cup is as follows:

1. Darren Chiacchia (USA) - 123
2. Andrew Hoy (AUS) - 120
3. Matthew Grayling (NZL) - 118
4. Andreas Dibowski (GER) - 114
5. Phillip Dutton (AUS) - 110
6. Andrzej Pasek (POL) - 101
7. Sonja Johnson (AUS) - 100
7. Robyn Fisher (USA) - 100
7. R. de Gouveia Jr. (BRA) - 100
7. Pippa Funnell (GBR) - 100
7. Pavel Sergeev (RUS) - 100
12. Linda Algotsson (SWE) - 90

The full standings are available on the FEI's website www.horsesport.org (section consult/results/eventing)

The next FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier will take place in Malmö (SWE) from 16 to 18 July.


WORLD SINGLES DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP IN ASTORP
Twenty nations to start in Astorp

Twenty nations had accepted the invitation to the World Singles Driving Championships in Astorp, Sweden, when the definite entries closed on 1 July.

The championships will see drivers from as far as Argentina, USA and Canada as well as from Europe. Among them will be the individual World Champion from Conty, France, Stephane Chouzenoux.

Preparations at the showground are well under way and the construction of obstacles is at a final stage.

Sweden is two times World Champions in the team competition, in 1998 and 2002, and the Swedish contingent is hoping for a hat trick on its home turf. Cecilia Qvarnström and Marie Kahrle were both in the gold winning team of 1998 and 2002, and will be in the forefront this time as well. Trainer Nicke Palsson has high hopes for his drivers, but admits that the competition is getting tougher each year.

Definite entries for the World Singles Driving Championships (CH-M-A 1)
Astorp 2004

Argentina (ARG) Team (3 drivers)
Austria (AUT) Team (3 drivers)
Belgium (BEL) Team (3 drivers)
Canada (CAN) Team (3 drivers)
Czech Republic (CZE) Team (3 drivers)
Denmark (DEN) Team (3 drivers)
Finland (FIN) Team (3 drivers)
France (FRA) Team (3 drivers)
Germany (GER) Team (3 drivers)
Great Britain (GBR) Team (3 drivers)
Ireland (IRE) Team (3 drivers)
Italy (ITA) Team (3 drivers)
Luxembourg (LUX) Team (2 drivers)
Netherlands (NED) Team (3 drivers)
Norway (NOR) Team (3 drivers)
Poland (POL) Team (3 drivers)
Portugal (POR) Team (2 drivers)
Switzerland (SUI) Team (3 drivers)
United States (USA) Team (3 drivers)
Sweden (SWE) Team (3 drivers) + 6 individual drivers



"CLUB DE FRANCE" WILL OFFER LIFE TRANSMISSION OF ALL THE OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN
COMPETITIONS ON GIANT SCREEN IN THE HEART OF PARIS

During the Olympic Games, the French Equestrian Federation in cooperation with France Galop and the French TV Channel Equidia will set up a major open space in the heart of Paris in the well-known hippodrome of Auteuil, where all the Olympic Equestrian competitions will be transmitted live.

The "Club de France" will be open from 14 to 27 August (free entrance) to all Olympic and equestrian fans.

A live studio will be organised by Equidia, with commentators, journalists and consultants who will comment the Olympic competitions of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.


AACHEN SCHOOL OF COURSE DESIGN - ASCD

The Aachen School of Course Design (ASCD) was founded in March 2004 by three of the most experienced course Designers in Jumping: Arno Gego (GER), famous course designer of Aachen CHIO, Leopoldo Palacios (VEN), FEI 2nd Vice President and Olympic Course Designer, and Olaf Petersen, Chairman of the FEI Jumping Committee.

The decision to found ASCD came from the noting that, as many others sports, the equestrian disciplines needed further scientific approach in order to increase the objective knowledge in the field of equestrian history and development, training methods, protection and welfare of the horse but also in order to:

- raise the level of Equestrian Sport in general
- increase safety of horse and rider
- raise the attractively of Jumping Sport
- and contribute to the universality of equestrian sport.

The main objectives of the Aachen School of Course Design are the further improvement, development and promotion of high-levelled Course Design, for the benefit of International Tournaments, the Olympic Sport of Jumping and the FEI.

The following activities are envisaged:

- Regular annual courses on Course Design (one/two weeks with Certificate)
- Periodical Organisation of an International Symposium on Course Design
-Consultation of interested parties and similar
- Annual Award for the best Master Thesis in the field of Course Design and
Jumping Sport

The ASCD is an independent institution, which will work in close co-operation with and under the umbrella of the FEI. The co-operation with other institutions is envisaged.

The ASCD is considered to be the early nucleus of a later growing and prospering school. It is starting by concentrating on a few important, but feasible activities in order to avoid too high starting barriers.

The 1st INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON COURSE DESIGN will be organised from 8 to
11 December 2004 in Aachen (GER)


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