FEI COMPETITION REPORT
LISTEN TO PODCAST INTERVIEWS WITH:
Laurent Elias http://www.mixbroadcast.com/users/lloydbell/access/client_zone/RDS_Laurent_Elias_end.mp3
George Morris http://www.mixbroadcast.com/users/lloydbell/access/client_zone/RDS_George_Morrris_end
Ben Maher http://www.mixbroadcast.com/users/lloydbell/access/client_zone/RDS_Ben_Maher_end.mp3
Natale Chaudani http://www.mixbroadcast.com/users/lloydbell/access/client_zone/RDS_Natale_Chaudani_end.mp3
France scooped the 2009 Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series title in Dublin today
when finishing fourth, but Italy stole its share of the limelight when new
coach and manager, Markus Fuchs, spurred his side to victory in an
extraordinary conclusion to the eight-leg series.
The Italians could have been forgiven for a lacklustre performance as they
already knew that they face life in the Promotional League next season.
But instead of simply going through the motions, they came out with all guns
blazing this afternoon and blew the rest away with an inspired
performance. The British gave it their very best shot too and managed to
finish joint-second with the Swiss, but whether this has been enough to save
them from joining the Italians in the relegation zone is still uncertain.
When the leaderboard calculations were completed at the end of the competition
both
OUT IN FRONT
Luck did not seem to be favouring the Italians when they were drawn first to go
this afternoon, but at the halfway stage they were already out in front along
with the Americans - each carrying four faults. The British and Germans
both had eight while the Swiss were carrying 12 and the Irish, French and
Belgians completed the second-round start-list carrying 16 faults apiece.
The elimination of second-line rider Jur Vrieling when his stallion VDL Orame
refused twice at the first element of the bogey double at fence five did
nothing to help the Dutch who joined the Swedes, carrying 32, on the sidelines
as only eight of the 10 nations went into round two.
Alan Wade's track presented less problems second time out but both the tricky
double at five and the penultimate triple combination continued to take their
toll. Juan Carlos Garcia had made the best possible start for
NEAR MIRACLE
By the time the fourth-line riders came into the ring in the second round it
was clear that a near-miracle might just be about to happen. Markus Fuchs
said yesterday that he was quite determined his new charges would not finish
last, and his words were about to be borne out with a vengeance.
The Irish continued to struggle and remained in last place, and the Belgians
added 12 more to complete with 28 while Germany, hampered by the
double-elimination of Max Kuhner whose stallion, Coeur de Lion, was another to
strongly object to the double which had a water-tray under the second element,
racked up 22 in total. The French rallied to add only four more to their
16 from the first round thanks to clears from both Timothee Anciaume (Lamm de
Fetan) and Kevin Staut (Kraque Boom) and completed with 20, and when
Switzerland and Great Britain each finished with 16 on the board the Italians,
now carrying 12, needed a clear to seal a sensational and unexpected victory.
Piergiorgio Bucci and Kanebo gave them just that.
PLENTY TO CELEBRATE
The French, meanwhile also had plenty to celebrate. They only returned to
the premiership of team jumping this season after some time out and now have
the inaugural Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series to their credit. Chef
d'Equipe admitted that his team had a difficult time in the first round today "but
I was happy with how they coped with the pressure in the second round" he
said. "We have had a great season, and this is the best possible
result" he added.
While the French were quietly delighted, the Italians seemed almost stunned by
their success and everyone wanted to know what Markus Fuchs had done to produce
such a turnaround in form for his side. At the betting offices in
Laurent Elias has shown more than a little magic too this season. The
quiet Frenchman said that he managed to turn things around for
RESULT OF FINAL COMPETITION AT
1.
2.
2. Great Britain 16 flts; Robin Hood (Ben Maher) 4/0, Rosinus
(Geoff Billington) 4/4, Fresh Direct Corlato (Tim Stockdale) 0/4, Murka's Pom
d'Ami (Peter Charles) 4/4.
4.
4.
6. Germany 22 flts: Cellagon Lambrasco (Janne-Friederike Meyer) 0/10,
Coeur de Lion (Max Kuhner) Elim/ELIM , Neolisto Van het Mierenhof (Andreas
Knippling) 4/4, Lolita (Toni Hassmann) 4/0.
7. Belgium 28 flts: Utopia vd Donkoeve (Pieter Devos) 4/0, Aktion
Pur Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) 8/4, Top Gun (Peter Postelmans) 12/8, Vigo
D'Arsouilles (Philippe Lejeune) 4/8.
8.
9.
10.
QUOTES
Markus Fuchs, Italian Chef d'Equipe - "We will be sending this team to the
European Championships in
Markus Fuchs, - "When I took this job I didn't do it to seal FISE's money
- I did it to make the Italian team better again"
Laurent Elias, French Chef d'Equipe - "today all my riders did what they
had to do".
Laurent Elias, - when asked why Kevin Staut did not attend the post-competition
press conference "Kevin is not feeling well - he has a fever".
FACTS AND FIGURES
19 year old Swedish rider, Alexander Zetterman, was competing at Junior level
last season - 2009 is his first season in senior Nations Cup compettion and he
was the youngest rider in today's competition.
The oldest rider competing today was
The youngest horse in today's competition was the 8 year old mare Carlina,
ridden by
The oldest horses were
All of the horses on the French team were stallions.
The bogey fences were the double at fence five and the penultimate triple
combination.
MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™ - Standings after final leg at
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5.
7.
8.
8.
10.
MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™
A Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ event is organised as a five-star Nations Cup, i.e. a
competition in which official teams representing nations compare their merit.
At each event the teams gain points according to their placing. At the end of
the season the team with the highest points wins the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™
and the two teams with the lowest points are relegated to the FEI Nations Cup
series (Promotional League). The two best placed teams of that series following
the Promotional League Final join the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ for the following
year.
The World’s Best Ten Teams: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the
Netherlands, , Ireland, USA, Switzerland, Sweden, and Italy
The World’s Best Eight Venues
La Baule (FRA); Friday 15 May; http://www.labaule-cheval.com/2009/pages/accueil.html
Rome (ITA); Friday 29 May; http://www.piazzadisiena.com/
St. Gallen (SUI); Friday 5 June; http://www.csio.ch/
Rotterdam (NED); Friday 19 June; http://www.chio.nl/
Aachen (GER); Thursday 2 July; http://www.chioaachen.de/
Falsterbo (SWE); Friday 17 July; http://falsterbohorseshow.se/se/valkommen/hem/
Hickstead (GBR); Friday 24 July; http://www.hickstead.co.uk/
Dublin (IRL); Friday 7 August; http://www.dublinhorseshow.com/
The complete rules, latest news, results, standings and photos are on www.meydanfeinationscup.org
About the FEI: To learn more about the FEI , here
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Nations Cup, please click here
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