SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE 2005 - PRESS RELEASE NO. 5
Germany may have sent a super-strong team for tomorrow's second leg of the Samsung Super League series which takes place at the Piazza di Siena in Rome, but luck was not on their side today when Kurt Gravemeier's team was drawn first to go.
The starting order for Round Two of the series is as follows: 1, Germany; 2, Switzerland; 3, Great Britain; 4, Belgium; 5, USA; 6, Ireland; 7, France; 8, The Netherlands; 9, Italy.
As hosts, the Italians who lost their Super League status at the end of last season compete in this leg along with the eight top nations of the world and as Silvia Cazzaniga, Head of Marketing at Samsung Italy, pointed out today "the Piazza di Siena has become a traditional venue for Samsung in recent years - we are very happy to be here once again".
Cesare Croce, President of the Italian Equestrian Federation (FISE), said that the home team may face some difficulty in tackling the tough opposition but Chef d'Equipe Franco Gallo sends out those well-seasoned cousins Bruno and Vincenzo Chimirri along with Emanuele Fiorelli and Natale Chiaudani with every intention of flying the Italian flag with
pride.
Each team manager was presented with a specially-commissioned bottle of champagne labelled with the flag-colours of their country but there is a lot of work to be done before the corks will be popped to either celebrate, or commiserate, in the aftermath of tomorrow's big clash.
America's team-leader George Morris is the one under real pressure here as great expectations follow the superb result of his all-girl side who swept to victory in the opening leg at La Baule three weeks ago.
George was feeling emotional but buoyant following the long-awaited official confirmation of his appointment as US Chef d'Equipe when speaking during yesterday's draw. The Piazza di Siena holds some great memories for him - "it was here back in 1959 that the US went into a jump-off against Italy" he recalled, "there is so much history here" but he was passing the pressure on to his team-members when adding "I am hoping my girls will all have a good night's sleep tonight!".
They will probably need all the sleep they can get to see off the challenge of the powerful German foursome of Ludger Beerbaum, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Christian Ahlmann and Marco Kutscher who were the hot-favourites nominated by most of the other team managers today.
French Chef d'Equipe Jean-Maurice Bonneau forecast a "very fierce battle" and that's what is likely to take place when the action gets underway tomorrow afternoon.
The complete teams are listed here and riders will compete in the following order:
Germany - Coster (C Ahlmann), Cash (M Kutscher), Checkmate (M Michaels-Beerbaum), Goldfever (L Beerbaum)
Switzerland - Unique X Ch (P Schwizer), Hermine d'Auzay (D Etter), Darondo V. Schl'Hof CH (T Muff), Indigo (B Mandli)
Great Britain - Arko (N Skelton), AK Locarno (E Whitaker), Cortaflex Mondriaan (W Funnell), Portofino (M Whitaker)
Belgium - Meautry (L Philippaerts), L Coup C (M Van Roosbroeck), Verelst Goliath (M Van Djick), Osta Rugs Tresor (JC Van Geenberghe)
USA - De Silvio (B Madden-Patton), Roxana (A Kursinski), Ilian (S
Riley), Miss Independent (L Kraut)
Ireland - Bornacoola (Capt G Flynn), Ado Annie (H Marshall), Domingo (D Lynch), Killossery (Capt S Carey)
France - VDL Groep Eve des Etisses (H Bourdy), Ionesco de Brekka (O Guillon), Ideal de la Loge (R Bost), JPC Modesto Equifoam (JM Nicolas)
Holland - Audi's Jikke (E Van der Vleuten), Lowina (A Zoer), VDL Groep Fleche Rouge (L Van Asten), Nairobi (L Thijssen)
Italy - Landknecht (B Chimirri), WU Equinoxe de Morin (E Fiorelli), Askoll Rosa (V Chimirri), Harianne d'Hautieux (N Chiaudani).
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE LEADERBOARD (after Round 1 at La Baule) :
1. USA - 10 points
2. Great Britain - 7
3. France - 5
4. Germany - 4
Eq 5. Switzerland - 2.5
Eq 5. Belgium - 2.5
7. The Netherlands- 1
8. Ireland - 0.5
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
For further information on CSIO*****SSL in Rome, Italy contact Press Officer Caterina Vagnozzi, Tel: +39 06 3218857 , Fax: +39 06 3610419, Mobile: +39 335 6107070 . Visit the website at www.piazzadisiena.com.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE 2005 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
ROUND 1 - La Baule (Fra) 5-8 May; ROUND 2 - Rome (Ita) 26-29 May; ROUND 3 - St Gallen (Sui) 02-05 June; ROUND 4 - Rotterdam (Ned) 16-19 June; ROUND 5 - Hickstead (GBR) 28-31 July; ROUND 6 - Dublin (Irl) 03-07 August; ROUND 7 - Aachen (Ger) 23-28 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL - Barcelona (Esp) 15-18 September.
Campus
