News from 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals by Louise Parkes
Lausanne (SUI), 26 April 2011 – Three-time Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, has decided to compete her great gelding, Shutterfly, at the 2010/2011 final which opens at Leipzig, Germany tomorrow, 27 April. Originally entered with Checkmate and Kismet, Meredith has substituted the latter for the 18 year old veteran who helped her secure the prestigious title at Las Vegas (USA) in 2005 and 2009 and at Gothenburg (SWE) in 2008. This means that not only is the German rider vying for a record-breaking fourth series victory, but Shutterfly may also go into the record books as the first horse to claim the honours on four occasions. The only other horse to win three titles was Rodrigo Pessoa’s legendary stallion Baloubet du Rouet who scored a spectacular back-to-back hat-trick for his Brazilian rider between 1998 and 2000.
Some facts and figures about the 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals at Leipzig:
For the first time in the history of international equestrian sport, four finals will take place under one roof between 27 April and 1 May – Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and FEI World Cup Vaulting.
Leipzig staged its first national event in 1998 and in 2002 held its first international show – the FEI World Cup Jumping final – Germany’s Otto Becker reigned supreme on that occasion with Dobel’s Cento.
Leipzig, the trade and cultural capital of eastern Germany, is closely associated with world-famous literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who studied law at Leipzig University.
A total of 50 competitions will take place at the Leipziger Messe exhibition centre between 27 April and 1 May.
The total prizemoney for the Finals is €1.6 million.
A total of 31 nations will compete in all four FEI World Cup events.
21 nations will be represented in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
There are 11 lady riders amongst the 43 starters in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
Course designer for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final is Frank Rothenberger.
German footing expert, Oliver Hoberg, will ensure excellent ground conditions for horses and riders.
Stable Management has been allocated to Team Australia.
100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event – at the 2010 Leipzig fixture a total of 70,000 spectators turned up over the four-day fixture.
Three halls – each sized 21,000 square metres, will be in use during the final.
Hall 1 – 9,500 seats, arena size 40/80 metres, Hall 2 – 3,000 seats, Hall 3 – stabling for 900 horses, 750 of these are allocated for competition horses.
President of the Organising Committee is Volker Wulff.
FEI Media Contacts:
Grania Willis
Director Media Relations Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42
SAUGERTIES, NY (February 28, 2011) — The HITS winter show season just passed the mid-way point for all three of its circuits in Ocala, Florida, Tucson, Arizona, and Thermal, California. As the leading show management company in the sport, HITS hosts 35 weeks of competition each year, with 58 Grand Prix and some of the biggest prize money purses offered anywhere in the world, including the historic Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. At its peak, HITS hosts six Grand Prix events a week during the winter season: two in Ocala, one in Arizona and, during World Cup weeks, three in Thermal!
This weekend’s Grand Prix competition at HITS proved to be one of the most exciting of the season, and Sunday’s classes produced a deserving and talented group of winners from East to West. The starting fields at all three locations were teeming with Olympians and accomplished U.S. athletes representing nearly every state on the map, as well as star equestrians from Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Germany, Brazil, Colombia, and Denmark, just to name a few.
Ocala, Florida – $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health
On Sunday, daybreak in Ocala saw a dense fog lift to reveal another glorious day with bright sunshine and temperatures in the 80s at HITS Post Time Farm for the $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. A large and enthusiastic crowd lined the perimeter of the Grand Prix arena to watch as 35 riders challenged Course Designer Jose “Pepe” Gamarra’s track, which at first blush appeared to be big and bold; however, it was the technical aspects of his course that proved to be subtly deceptive. Combinations short to long were followed by those that went from long to short, which required changes in stride that took their toll, as nearly two-thirds of the class suffer jumping and time faults throughout the course.
THERMAL, CA (January 10, 2011) — In two weeks time, show jumping action returns to Thermal, California for the 20th Anniversary of the HITS Desert Circuit. As entries continue to flood the corporate office, HITS is looking forward to welcoming international show jumping icon and California native Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum “home” to Thermal for the 2011 show season.
Michaels-Beerbaum is a three-time World Cup Champion and 2010 WEG Team Gold Medalist with a very long resume of show jumping achievements. Her first trip to Thermal was in 2009 when she led a riding clinic for the West Coast Active Riders in Thermal’s beautiful indoor arena. That trip left an impression on the California native and this season will be her first competing at the circuit. She will be traveling to Thermal with her husband Markus Beerbaum and their beautiful daughter Brianne Victoria, who will celebrate her first birthday on February 27 during the circuit.
“I’m very excited to come back to California and see my family, some old friends, and colleagues,” said Michaels-Beerbaum, who hasn’t competed on the West Coast since leaving more than 20 years ago. “Markus and I have a couple of students from California competing in Thermal who asked us to join them. After considering the options, we decided to come for the entire circuit and to bring some of our young horses to help develop them and prepare for the European summer schedule. I love doing something new and different, so I’m looking forward to being based out of Thermal for the winter. It will be a great opportunity for me, my family and our students.”
Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Checkmate won the third leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Lyon, France today. Meredith is pictured being presented with a Rolex watch by Anthony Schaub, Rolex.
MEREDITH AND CHECKMATE STEAL THE LIMELIGHT AT LYON by Louise Parkes
Lyon (FRA), 31 October 2010 – Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum recorded Germany’s third consecutive victory of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping season when topping the line-up at Lyon in France this afternoon following a great performance from Checkmate. And it was a very special victory for the multiple-champion who most recently helped the German team to gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.
“My last World Cup ride was in Las Vegas in 2009 – I have been out of the indoor sport for almost two years now so this was a big day for me today, and a great day for me too!” pointed out the 40 year old rider. And her win wasn’t easily achieved. She had the best of the draw when last to go in the nine-horse jump-off, but she had to chase the super-tight target time set by The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder in a competition that was filled with surprises. Not the least of these was the third-place finish for Colombia’s Rene Lopez who nearly brought the house down with the excitement he created during his race against the clock with his brave mare Noblesse Des Tess.
Riding Hicktead, Lamaze won the third, and final, leg of the Rolex Grand Prix in a four horse jump-off. In 2nd place was Pius Schwizer (SUI) riding Carlina, 3rd place Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) riding Action-Breaker and 4th Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) riding Shutterfly.
Rolex Testimonee Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and husband Markus with their new daughter, Brianne Victoria, who was born on 27 February. Meredith will be the first rider to benefit from the new system that allows Rolex Rankings points to be frozen for Jumping riders while they are on maternity leave.
The FEI is to freeze the Rolex Rankings points for Jumping riders on maternity leave, starting with the April Rankings issued today. Under the new system, female riders will now lose only 50% of their Rolex Rankings points during their absence from competition while on maternity leave.
The new ruling means that former world number one Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum moves up from 31st on the March Rolex Rankings to 20th following the reinstatement of 50% of her points. The German rider, who gave birth to her first child Brianne Victoria Beerbaum on 27 February, has announced that she will not be defending her Rolex FEI World Cup title in Geneva next week.
“This is great news for all female Jumping riders,” Meredith said today. “It means that we can take time out from competition to have a baby and not lose all our Rolex Rankings points while we’re off the circuit. It’s a really proactive move by the FEI and as far as I know they are the first international governing body to do something like this.”
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