THE DUTCH DELIVER IN ST GALLEN....
The Netherlands won through in style at the third leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI in St Gallen, Switzerland this afternoon with a superior show of strength and a lot of class. They took control in the first round with three clear performances and proved unshakeable, while the Swiss and German teams rallied brilliantly to finish joint-second ahead of the USA in fourth. The British slotted into fifth ahead of Belgium in sixth but it was a disappointing day for the Irish who had to settle for second-last place while, for the third consecutive time, Sweden finished bottom of the order. It is not looking at all good for the Scandinavian side who are trailing the leaderboard a full eight points behind the Irish, and almost 15 points behind the leading Dutch going into the half-way stage at Rotterdam in three weeks' time.
"All four horses went well in the first round, but it could have been a three-way jump-off with Switzerland and Germany after the second round except that I asked Gerco to do something about that for me and, as usual, he obliged!" said the very pleased Dutch Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens afterwards. Schroder's two rounds with Eurocommerce Berlin oozed quality and energy and The Netherlands are looking really strong as they progress through this Olympic summer....
THE COURSE....
The time proved influential over Rolf Ludi's course but, as Ehrens pointed out, "if riders kept their rhythm and jumped it as it should be jumped then it was fine". In order to stay within the time limit it was essential to make a short right-hand turn to the open water at fence four, but the following vertical of narrow planks, jumped off a dog-leg line, claimed quite a number of victims as did the triple combination two fences later. Riders had plenty of space to prepare for this but it was a short single stride from the opening vertical to the middle vertical and short again to the final oxer - "if you had a big horse it was tight but if you came in slowly then it was nice" explained Dutch team-member Vincent Voorn who, with Audi's Alpapillon-Armanie, produced one of just two double-clear performances on the day.
Those who struggled with the combination often found themselves having to ride strongly to the following oxer five strides away, while the final line - a massive vertical to a strong double - also proved influential.
ROUND ONE.....
When Voorn's clear was mirrored by both Piet Raymakers (Van Schijndel's Rascin) and Schroder (Eurocommerce Berlin) the Dutch could drop Angelique Hoorn's single error with Blauwendraad's O'Brien to hold a zero score at the halfway point but it was a close-run thing at this stage. The Belgians were hot on their heels carrying just the single time faults picked up by both Patrick McEntee (Every Mury Marais Z) and Judy-Ann Melchior (Aktion Pur Z) when Jos Lansink was clear with Valentina van 't Heike allowing them to discard the single error from competition pathfinder Philippe Le Jeune riding Vigo d'Arsouilles. The American team was carrying just the four faults picked up by anchorman Will Simpson (El Campeon's Carlsson Vom Dach) after clears from Charlie Jayne (Urbanus) and Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (Dragonfly). Anne Kursinski's Holsteiner stallion Champ hit the planks after the water, the first element of the triple combination and the following oxer and also added a time fault for the drop-score here.
The British finished the opening round with five on the board - Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Corlato) and Ben Maher (Rolette) both unlucky to lower the second element of the final double in otherwise copybook rounds and Peter Charles picking up just a single time penalty with Murkas Rubert R. This was the former Irish rider's first major team outing since returning to ride under the British flag and he looked very much at home in the arena where, back in 1995, he clinched the individual European title for Ireland with La Ina. John Whitaker produced a lovely clear round from Peppermill to complete the British first-round effort.
The Irish meanwhile were still well in the picture at this stage, lying just a single fault behind the British after pathfinder Edward Doyle, a real asset to his side this season, collected just two time faults, Marie Burke (Chippison) lowered only those tricky planks, and Denis Lynch went clear with Lantinus allowing them to drop Cian O'Connor's eight faults with Complete. Germany and Switzerland however could not manage a fault-free round between them, both teams having to count three four-fault results to share second-last position going into round two. Swedish hearts were already heavy as they clocked up 19, and it was always going to be an uphill battle for them from there....
ROUND TWO....
When Peter Eriksson (Jaguar Mail) added 12 more to the 13 he had earned in the first round the writing was on the wall for the Swedes, and after Linda Heed (Columbus H) matched her first-round tally of eight and then Lotta Schultz (Calibra) put 12 more on the board, team manager Maria Gretzer could see no point in sending Helena Lundback into the ring again with Bukowskis Conan so they called it a day with 51 faults.
The Swiss and Germans however suddenly got their acts together - Christina Liebherr (No Mercy), Niklaus Schurtenberger (Cantus) and Pius Schwizer (Nobless M) all keeping a clean sheet this time out while Steve Guerdat (Jalisca Solier) collected only a single time fault, anchorman Schwizer's pressure round greeted with roars of approval from the home supporters. Not to be outdone however Christian Ahlmann (Lorenzo), Marco Kutscher (Montender) and Carsten-Otto Nagel (Corradina) followed suit and so Ludger Beerbaum did not need to go back into the ring with All Inclusive NRW as the two sides stayed tied with 12 faults each.
Doyle kicked off the Irish second-round effort with just a pole off the front element of the triple combination but when Burke collected a whopping 21 faults they began to look very shaky. O'Connor made it all the way to final fence only to lower the second element there and when Lynch's Lantinus hit the planks and then, running too strong down the last line, lowered both parts of the double the Irish total soared to 26 faults to send them plummeting down the order.
A clear from Stockdale steadied British resolve and despite eight from Maher, again a victim of the final double, and five from Charles they completed on a total of 14 after Whitaker lowered only the oxer at six. Jayne hit that same fence while Kursinski this time hit only the planks and when Simpson stayed clear they could drop the nine picked up by Shahinian-Simpson. But Will Simpson first had to overcome a terrifying moment when a fence steward stepped right into his path at the second fence just as his gelding was mid-air - the 12 year old horse however just about as cool as his rider as he simply went a little higher to ensure he wouldn't hit the unsuspecting official.
Belgian fortunes deteriorated rapidly when McEntee picked up 16 faults after a pole down at the end of the triple combination was followed by a stop at the very last fence and when Melchior picked up twelve then Le Jeune's single mistake had to be taken into account despite a second fabulous clear from Lansink and they plunged down the leaderboard with a total of 18.
As Schroder returned to the ring for the second time the Dutch score-sheet showed four for Hoorn, a second clear from Voorn and eight from Raymakers. A fence down now would see them into a three-way decider with the Swiss and Germans but Eurocommerce Berlin seemed to have wings as he soared home so very easily to collect just a single time penalty to leave them on a final tally of five faults. There would be no jump-off as they secured maximum points.
AND THEY SAID..
"I didn't think too much about the time" Gerco said afterwards. "I gave Berlin a big break over the winter and we've been out just a few times now but today I could feel we were really getting back into our rhythm" he pointed out.
Raymakers and Rascin were experiencing only their fifth show together and the rider said "he's getting better and better" although he admitted he did get worried when he double-faulted in the second round. "I was too slow to the combination and had one down there and then got worried about the time and had another one but I knew that I could rely on Gerco to do the rest!" he said.
Hoorn was very happy with her performance while Voorn said "I had a good feeling coming here - in the first round I felt really safe and the second round was even better!". Rob Ehrens will now choose his Olympic side after the Samsung Super League with FEI visits Aachen next month.
The Games are in everyone's thoughts these days and for Swiss Chef d'Equipe, Rolf Grass, today's performance when his side rose from the lower echelons to share second with Germany was very satisfying indeed. "I like to judge our performances against those of the Germans and this season until now were finished ahead of or alongside them three times - if it stays like that until the end of the season then we will be in a very good position" he pointed out. He came to St Gallen looking for a good result but also, as he said earlier in the week, to evaluate the kind of team spirit his riders were prepared to show and he was pleased with what he found. "We went out together last night and today we came together to discuss things at the half-way point and I was happy with how things went" he explained - whatever words that were passed between them obviously inspiring them all to raise their game in the second half.
"On June 24th we will be selecting our team for the Olympic Games" Mr Grass explained, "but it won't be easy. We have six great riders and their horses including these riders here and Daniel Etter and Beat Mandli and someone will be disappointed. The riders and horses have to stay healthy but I believe that if we choose well we have a good chance at the Games" he pointed out.
The 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series goes to Rotterdam with the Dutch in the driving seat, the Americans hot on their heels and the British holding off the Belgians but, as American Chef d'Equipe George Morris said yesterday, the series has never been closer-fought and only 2.5 points separate the top four teams - its a red-hot season of great team jumping, and everything is still to play for.....
RESULT:
1. The Netherlands 5 flts - Blauwendraad's O'Brien (Angelique Hoorn) 4/4, Audi's Alpapillon-Armanie (Vincent Voorn) 0/0, Van Schijndel's Rascin (Piet Raymakers) 0/8, Eurocommerce Berlin (Gerco Schroder) 0/1.
Equal 2. Switzerland 12 flts - LB No Mercy (Christina Liebherr) 4/0, Cantus (Niklaus Schurtenberger) 4/0, Jalisca Solier (Steve Guerdat) 5/1, Nobless M (Pius Schqizer) 4/0.
Equal 2. Germany 12 flts - Lorenzo (Christian Ahlmann) 4/0, Montender (Marco Kutscher) 4/0, Corradina (Carsten-Otto Nagel) 4/0, All Inclusive NRW (Ludger Beerbaum) 5/NS.
4. USA 13 flts - Urbanus (Charlie Jayne) 0/4, Champ (Anne Kursinski) 13/5, SRF Dragonfly (Nicole Shahinian-Simpson) 0/9, El Campeon's Carlsson Vom Dach (Will Simpson) 4/0.
5. Great Britain 14 flts - Fresh Direct Corlato (Tim Stockdale) 4/0, Rolette (Ben Maher) 4/8, Murka's Rupert R (P Charles) 1/5, Peppermill (John Shitaker) 0/4.
6. Belgium 18 flts - 1, Vigo D'Arsouilles (Philippe Le Jeune) 4/4, Sherry Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) 1/16, Aktion Pur Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) 1/12, Valentina van 't Heike (Jos Lansink) 0/0.
7. Ireland 26 flts - Sequoyah Farms Utopia (Edward Doyle) 2/4, Chippison (Marie Burke) 4/21, Complete (Cian O'Connor) 8/4, Lantinus (Denis Lynch) 0/12.
8. Sweden 51 flts - Jaguar Mail (Peter Eriksson) 13/12, Columbus H (Linda Heed) 8/8, Calibra (Lotta Schultz) 5/12, Bukowskis Conan (Helena Lundback0 6/NS.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - LEADERBOARD AFTER THIRD LEG IN ST. GALLEN:
1. The Netherlands - 16.50
2. USA - 16.33
3. Great Britain - 15.00
4. Belgium - 14.00
5. Switzerland - 12.08
6. Germany - 12.00
7. Ireland - 9.83
8. Sweden - 1.75
For information on the Samsung Super League with FEI at St Gallen, Switzerland on Friday 30 May check out WEBSITE www.csio.ch. Show President is Peter Stoessel, Show Director is Urs Schiendorfer, Show Secretary is Silvia Gonzalez and Press Officer is Peter Wyrsch - Email peter.wyrsch@sportinformation.ch.
The fourth leg of the series takes place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Friday 20 June. Show President is Frans Lavooy, Show Director is Emile Hendrix, Show Secretary is Joyce Lebon and Press Officer is Anita Lussenburg - Email anita.lussenburg@ingram.nl. WEBSITE www.chio.nl
FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST INFORMATION - ROUND TWO IN ROME :
Live/Delayed Live
SF (Switzerland) - Friday 30 May 14.00
RAI (Italy) - Friday 30 May - check local listings
Equidia (France) - Friday 30 May 18.00
TV4 (Sweden) - Friday 30 May 15.20
Highlights
CNBC Asia - Saturday 14 June 15.00
CNBC Europe - Saturday 14 June 17.00
ESPN Brazil - Check local listings
ESPN Star - Check local listings
Eurosport (Europe) - Wednesday 4 June 21.55, Thursday 5 June 10.00
Eurosport (Asia) - Thursday 12 June 11.00
Finnish Sport TV - Check local listings
Fox Middle East - Friday 13 June 16.00, Sunday 15 June 16.00, Thursday 19 June 10.00
Setanta Sports (Ireland) - Saturday 7 June 20.00
SuperSport (Africa) - Thursday 19 June 19.00, Friday 20 June 06.00, Saturday 21 June 09.00, Sunday 22 June 12.00,
Monday 23 June 15.00, Tuesday 24 June 13.30, Thursday 26 June 02.00
Sport Plus (France) - Monday 9 June 21.00
Sport TV (Portugal) - Check local listings
TG4 (Ireland) - Check local listings
TVE (Spain) - Check local listings
WCSN (USA) - Check local listings
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
ROUND 1 - La Baule (FRA) 5-11 May; ROUND 2 - Rome (ITA) 22-25 May; ROUND 3 - St Gallen (SUI) 29 May - 1 June: ROUND 4 - Rotterdam (NED) 18-22 June; ROUND 5 - Aachen (GER) 1-6 July; ROUND 6 - Hickstead (GBR) 24-27 July; ROUND 7 - Dublin (IRL) 8-10 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL - Barcelona (ESP) 18-21 September.
You can access all the latest Samsung Super League with FEI news and information on website www.samsungsuperleague.com
Want to know more? Check out the comprehensive MEDIA GUIDE for the series, available in print (contact: olivia.robinson@fei.org)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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