SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2007 - PRESS RELEASE NO. 6

BRITAIN SPRINGS A BIG SURPRISE......

The formbook was turned on its head at the Piazza di Siena in Rome today when the British, who finished last at the opening leg of the 2007 Samsung Super League with FEI series in La Baule, France two weeks ago, scored a superb victory in a competition that went right down to the wire.

Course designer Uliano Vezzani appeared to have been kind with his 12-fence track, but it created a thrilling battle that was only decided by the last horse into the ring.

The real questions began with the line from the oxer at fence three to the following water and on to the double of light verticals at fence five. The latter proved the bogey of the opening round as riders varied their stride distances on the approach but often found themselves far too close for comfort at the first element and then struggling for take-off at the second element due to the tight distance inside. Having negotiated that, the next big test was the line from the vertical with water-tray at seven through the triple combination at eight and another vertical with water at nine. In round two however it was to be the very last fence on the track, an oxer, that would prove to be the heart-breaker.

The Belgians were looking strongest when finishing round one on a zero score but they were being hotly pursued by Germany, USA, the non-Super League Italian side, Great Britain, France and Switzerland all carrying just four faults while Sweden and Holland were each on eight.

The Swedes were further compromised when Niklas Arvidsson (Cagancho) picked up 17 faults and Helena Lundback (Conan) had four fences down in round two however and although Vincent Voorn and Gestion Priamus added nothing to their opening four faults the Dutch were hampered by double-errors from both Leon Thijssen (Olaf) and Marc Houtzager (Opium) despite just a single mistake for Ben Schroder and BMC Rupert and The Netherlands finished with 20 faults on the board.

Germany's Marcus Ehning and Noltes Kuchengirl produced one of six double-clear performances on the day but the defending Samsung Super League with FEI champions and new-season league leaders added eight more faults to complete on a total of 12 alongside the French. New recruit Kevin Staut is proving quite a find for French Chef d'Equipe Gilles Bertran de Balanda. Based in Normandy he worked for dealer Mons. Baldeck for four years and cut his teeth producing young horses on the French, Swiss and Italian circuits and when Balanda took him as part of a developmental squad to Arrezzo this spring he really began to shine. Impressive again today he recorded a double-clear in just his second ever Samsung Super League with FEI outing while team-mate Olivier Guillon did likewise with Ionesco de Brekka. However when Robert Breul and Iasco Mouche collected a total of 16 faults then Hubert Bourdy's 13 with Toulon had to be added to the French account.

Switzerland's Christina Liebherr recorded her second Samsung Super League with FEI double-clear today with a polished performance from LB No Mercy but when Markus Fuchs (Loro Piana La Toya), Hansueli Sprunger (Ilton Daye) and Pius Schwizer (Nobless) all hit just one fence second time out they also completed with a 12-fault score and as America had another bad day it came down to a two-way clash between Belgium and Great Britain in the closing stages.

Belgium's first-round zero score had been achieved despite 16 faults from Ludo Philippaerts and Chatman and the other three riders were put under immediate pressure once again as the second round began when Chatman faulted at the water fence at five before stopping at the first element of the following double and then incurring elimination for another stop at the following oxer.

Patrick McEntee and Every Mury Marais Z hit the front element at five but Francois Mathy Jnr. stood fast to record a double-clear with Ivoire du Rouet leaving it to the final partnership of Kristoff Cleeren and Sea Coast Conan to save the day. By the time Cleeren came into the ring the British knew they could be no worse than second. Michael Whitaker (Suncal Porofino) and Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Corlato) had racked up just four faults over the two rounds and John Whitaker provided the perfect anchorman zero score with Peppermill to negate Robert Smith's colossal collection of 29 faults so they would finish on a total of eight.

Cleeren could afford to make only one mistake if Belgium was to win through but the crowd gasped when Sea Coast Conan hit the vertical at seven and when the 10 year old stallion also hit the middle element of the following combination it was all over. The Belgians would have to settle for joint-second along with Germany, France and Switzerland all on 12 faults while the home team from Italy secured sixth place with a finishing score of 16, The Netherlands was next with 20, the USA slotted into eighth with 25 and Sweden brought up the rear with 32 faults.

It was quite a turnaround for the victorious British who were horrified when finishing last in La Baule. "We needed the win today" said Chef d'Equipe Derek Ricketts, "the boys really came through for us". The entire British side were keen to confirm their approval of the new sand ring which replaced the old grass arena at the Italian fixture this year. John Whitaker said "on behalf of the International Jumping Riders Club I want to express our gratitude to the organisers for the new arena. It is a vast improvement, and the new cooling system has been a great help to the horses here too because it has been very, very hot" he added. A constant flow of cold water over the roofs of the stables helped keep temperatures down - "we really appreciate all the effort that has been made" Whitaker added. He was particularly pleased with the performance of his horse Peppermill - "it is his first big show this year after a break and he was very good". Peppermill takes a bit of riding but this master in the saddle really seems to like the horse "because he wants to get over them, but he's very powerful and sometimes he actually hurts my back because he fires me out of the saddle so much. He is a real jumper" he explained. Amazingly this veteran of the sport was only having his second-ever visit to Rome show. "Over the years it usually came too close to the World Cup final and my horses would be tired so I couldn't come - but this is a great show and its definitely worthy of the Super League" he pointed out. And not even Smith, who did not have one of his better days, could be disgruntled. "My horse was disappointing today but he'll be back and it is great to be part of a great team like this today" he said.

So there is now just one week to the third leg of the 2007 Samsung Super League with FEI series in St Gallen, Switzerland next Friday. Germany remain at the top of the table with a three-point lead over the Swiss while the British have rocketed up to third but the Americans are floundering about at the bottom of the order with just two points after the first two legs of the series. They are the ones under real pressure now.....

RESULT:
1. GREAT BRITAIN 8 faults: Suncal Portofino (Michael Whitaker) 4/0, Fresh Direct Corlato (Tim Stockdale) 0/4, Ronaldo (Robert Smith) 12/17, Peppermill (John Whitaker) 0/0.
Equal 2. SWITZERLAND 12 faults: LB No Mercy (Christina Liebherr) 0/0, Loro Piana La Toya (Markus Fuchs) 0/4, Ilton Daye (Hansueli Sprunger) 4/4, Nobless M (Pius Schwizer) 4/4.
Equal 2. GERMANY 12 faults: Noltes Kuchengirl (Marcus Ehning) 0/0, Team Harmony Coupe de Coeur (Rene Tebbel) 4/4, Aboyeur W (Heinrich-Hermann Engemann) 0/8, Legurio (Franke Sloothaak) 8/4.
Equal 2. FRANCE 12 faults: Kraque Boom Bois Mrgot (Kevin Staut) 0/0, Iasco Mouche (Robert Breul) 4/12, Ionesco de Brekka (Olivier Guillon) 0/0, Toulon (Hubert Bourdy) 5/8.
Equal 2. BELGIUM 12 faults: Chatman (Ludo Philippaerts) 16/Elim, Every Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) 0/4, Ivoire du Rouet (Francois Mathy Jr.) 0/0, Sea Coast Conan (Kristof Cleeren) 0/8.
6. ITALY 16 faults: Portorico Da Zara (Piergiorgio Bucci) 0/4, Loro Piana Nadir di San Patrignano (Jerry Smit) 11/4, Harpon du Borda (Chiara Arrighetti) 0/4, Da Zara Albin (Juan Carlos Garcia) 4/Ret.
7. THE NETHERLANDS 20 faults: Gestion Priamus Z (Vincent Voorn) 4/0, Olaf (Leon Thijssen) 4/8, SMC Rupert R (Ben Schroder) 0/4, Opium VS (Marc Houtzager) 4/8.
8. USA 25 faults: Pavarotti (Todd Minikus) 4/12, Integrity (Beezie Madden) 8/8, Miss Independent (Laura Kraut) 0/5, Cristallo (Richard Spooner) 0/8.
9. SWEDEN 32 faults: Irco Mac (Erika Lickhammer) 4/4, Cagancho (Niklas Arvidsson) 4/17, Conan (Helena Lundback) 11/16, Calbra (Lotta Schultz) 0/4.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 2 IN ROME:
1. Germany - 14.75
2. Switzerland - 11.75
3. Great Britain - 10.50
4. Belgium - 9.75
5. France - 7.75
6. Sweden - 4.50
7. The Netherlands - 4.00
8. USA - 2.00

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!

For further information about the Samsung Super League with FEI at La Baule check out website www.fise.it. Show President is Cesare Croce, Show Director is Marco Danese and Press Officers are Maria Calabretta, Cristina d Dionigi and Alessndra Leoni. Tel: +39 06 42010589 or +39 06 42740425.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - 2007 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

ROUND 1 - La Baule (FRA) Friday 11 May; ROUND 2 - Rome (ITA) Friday 25 May; ROUND 3 - St Gallen (SUI) Friday 1 June; ROUND 4 - Rotterdam (NED) Friday 22 June; ROUND 5 - Aachen (GER) Thursday 5 July; ROUND 6 - Hickstead (GBR) Friday 27 July; ROUND 7 - Dublin (IRL) Friday 10 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL - Barcelona (ESP) Sunday 16 September.


You can access all the latest Samsung Super League with FEI news and information on website www.samsungsuperleague.com.

Want to know more? You can check the comprehensive MEDIA GUIDE for the series, which is available in print and for download at www.samsungsuperleague.com under "Media Guide" heading.

PHOTOGRAPHS - a Photo Gallery of pictures is available on the Samsung Super League with FEI website for use by professional media only. The gallery will be regularly updated with low and high-resolution photographs and is password protected. To obtain a password follow the simple instructions when clicking on the link.

The Samsung Super League with FEI consists of the eight most prestigious horse shows at which the world's eight best national teams compare their merit. The Samsung Super League with FEI is connected to the FEI 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.


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