SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - Germany First To Go in Rotterdam

At a lively press conference in Rotterdam, The Netherlands this afternoon the German team was drawn first to go in the fourth leg of the Samsung Super League with FEI series which will get underway at 2pm local time tomorrow.

 The order-of-go is as follows:
1, Germany; 2, The Netherlands; 3, USA; 4, Belgium; 5, Switzerland; 6, Great Britain; 7, Ireland; 8, Sweden. 

BUT POOR OKIDOKI..... 

Press Conference director, well known Dutch TV and radio commentator Eduard Van Den Bent, first announced some shocking news which was confirmed by Dutch team manager Rob Ehrens.  Albert Zoer's great horse Okidoki, not competing on the team at this fixture but present on the showgrounds, had an accident while being tacked up just after lunchtime today. Messing about while his bridle was being put on he grabbed the stable door with his teeth, but they became embedded in the doorway and when he panicked and tried to pull away he suffered a severe injury to his mouth. "Four of his teeth were completely twisted and came out right out to the bone, but I'm glad to say that his condition is not as bad as we first thought - I believe he will be OK" Mr Ehrens explained. 

THE TEAM MANAGERS SAID.... 

Meanwhile Mr Van den Bent grilled the Chefs d'Equipe about their teams prospects and other matters.  When he asked Kurt Gravemeier whether it is an advantage or disadvantage to start first in a team competition the German Chef replied "you have to take it as it is - we have experienced riders in our side and and sometimes the team that is first in the starting order is the winner in the end".  He named his selection for tomorrow's competition as Ludger Beerbaum (Coupe de Coeur), Marco Kutscher (Cornet Obolensky), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Checkmate) and Marcus Ehning (Noltes Kuchengirl). 

Swedish Chef d'Equipe Maria Gretzer was bluntly asked if there is any chance her side, who have finished last at each of the first three legs, can do better this time?  "I hope we can improve.  We have had good starting places before and we cannot blame our results on that but we have been lucky here in Rotterdam before - hopefully now our luck will change!" she said before naming her selection of Peter Ericsson (Jaguar Mail), Peder Fredricson (Arctic Aurora Borealis), Linda Heed (Columbus) and Lotta Schultz (Calibra). 

America's George Morris talked about the importance of the Samsung Super League with FEI series.  "It is great for both the riders and the sport around the globe" he pointed out.  "Nations Cups are old, traditional classes that must be preserved - I'm old myself!" he said, adding to the delight of everyone in the room - "Rotterdam show is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and for me this is my 50th anniversary at this show so I'm celebrating too!" Mr Morris's selection for tomorrow includes Geoffrey Welles (Armani), Anne Kursinski (Champ), Laura Kraut (Cedric) and McLain Ward (Sapphire).  Beezie Madden sits on the sidelines this time out as George is armed with a whole new squad with the exception of Kursinkski. 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS..... 

Irish team manager Robert Splaine was asked what can be expected from his team this season.  "Well we began well in La Baule" he replied, "we were in second position after the first leg, but in Rome we slipped although we had some good performances there and now we are lying seventh.  I don't under-estimate the opposition, we are competing against the best eight teams in the world but I expect we will climb a few places this week. And" he added, "I would like to compliment Rotterdam on the great improvements here - the new warm-up arena in fantastic" he said.  He was not yet in a position to name his side but his five to choose from include the two army men Capt Shane Carey (River Foyle) and Capt David O'Brien (Mo Chroi) along with Cian O'Connor (Complete), Edward Doyle (Sequoyah Farms Utopia) and Niall Talbot (Tequi D'I). 

Great Britain's Derek Ricketts was asked how difficult it is to create a team for the Samsung Super League with FEI final in September so soon after the Olympic Games in August.  "At the end of the season it is always difficult - the calendar is busy and Calgary and Barcelona are two very big events but the Samsung Super League title is always worth fighting for" he said. He had not finally made his team choice either, but agreed there would be "a lot of Whitakers" as brothers John and Michael and their niece Ellen Whitaker have all arrived at the Dutch fixture along with Robert Smith and Ben Maher. 

Belgium's Lucien Somers said he hoped his team would produce the same result as they did in the first leg at La Baule where they came out on top.   He was disappointed how things turned out at the third leg in St Gallen three weeks ago where his team finished sixth - "we had a good first round but in the second round two riders had a bad result, so we will try here in Rotterdam with a team that combines some of the La Baule riders and some from St Gallen" he explained.  His line-up therefore includes Niels Bruynseels (Item de Quintin), Dirk Demeersman (Tymoon Caloo Meerchen), Jos Lansink (Vanentina van 't Heike) and Patrick McEntee (Ever Mury Marais Z). 

PRE-OLYMPIC SELECTION..... 

Switzerland's Rolf Grass was asked if this leg of the series will act as a pre-Olympic selection for his side and he replied in the affirmative.  "Yes, I would like to see good results here - I have some different choices and I cannot say yet who will go to Hong Kong.  I hope we have a strong team here and that I can make a shorter short-list after tomorrow" he pointed out.  Christina Liebherr (No Mercy), Pius Schwizer (Noblesse), Daniel Etter (Peu a Peu) and Steve Guerdat (Kador du Valon) will therefore be staying on their toes.... 

Last but not least Dutch Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens was put under the spotlight and he said he will be taking his time to make his final decision about Olympic selection, but he was clearly worried about Okidoki.  "Hopefully he will be alright in a few weeks - we will have to wait and see" he said.  Winners in St Gallen, the Dutch team look very strong once again season and they go into tomorrow's competition at the head of the Samsung Super League with FEI leaderboard but closely followed by the USA in second place, Great Britain in third, Belgium in fourth and Switzerland in fifth and sixth places.  The two teams under most pressure at this stage are the Irish in seventh and Sweden in last place, the latter more than eight points further in arrears and in need of something very special very soon. 

AND THE DUTCH TEAM WILL BE..... 

Representing The Netherlands tomorrow will be Angelique Hoorn (Blauwendraad's O'Brien), Marc Houtzager (Opium), Piet Raymakers (Van Schijndel's Curtis) and Harrie Smolders (Exquis Oliver). 

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 Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Friday 20 June check out WEBSITE www.chio.nl.   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. 

The fifth leg of the series takes place in Aachen, Germany on Thursday 3 July.  Show President is Klaus Peter Pavel, Show Director is Frank Kemperman and Press Officer is Niels Knippertz - Email niels.knippertz@chioaachen.de.  WEBSITE www.chioaachen.de

FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST INFORMATION - ROUND 4 IN ROTTERDAM: 

Live
NOS (The Netherlands) - Friday 20 June 16.50
Equidia (France) - Sunday 22 June 21.45
RAI (Italy) - Check local listings
TV4 (Sweden) - Saturday 21 June 10.00 

Highlights
CNBC Asia - Saturday 5 July 15.00
CNBC Europe - Sunday 6 July 17.00
ESPN Brazil - Check local listings
ESPN Star (Pan Asia) - Tuesday 8 July 18.00, Wednesday 9 July 07.00, 08.00, Thursday 10 July 15.00, 21.00, - Friday 11 July 04.00, 14.00, Saturday 12 July 01.30, 08.00
Eurosport - Wednesday 25 June 20.10, Thursday 26 June 09.00
Eurosport Asia - Thursday 26 June 10.00
Finnish Sport TV - Saturday 5 July 17.20
Fox Middle East - Friday 4 July 16.30, Saturday 5 July 21.00, Monday 7 July 18.00
Setanta Sports (Ireland) - Check local listings
SuperSport (Pan Africa) - Thursday 10 July 19.00, Friday 11 July 01.00, 06.00, Saturday 12 July 09.00, Sunday 13 July 12.30, Monday 14 July 16.00, Tuesday 15 July 17.00, Thursday 17 July 00.30
Sport Plus (France) - Monday 30 June 22.00
Sport TV (Portugal) - Check local listings
TG4 (Ireland) - Check local listings
TVE (Spain) - Check local listings
WCSN (USA) - Check local listings