Media updates

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - PRESS RELEASE NO. 18

Media updates
19 September 2008 Author: webmaster
SPAIN SHOWS THE WAY 
 
 
The host nation will be first into the ring tomorrow afternoon as the sixth Samsung Super League with FEI final gets underway at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain at 15.30hrs local time.

The draw took place today and it was the Dutch team who clinched the favoured last-to-go position giving them plenty of time to weigh up the opposition and analyse the course as the other eight nations tackle the fences ahead of them.

The drawn order for the sixth Samsung Super League with FEI final is as follows:
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. USA
5. Switzerland
6. Sweden
7. Great Britain
8. Ireland
9. The Netherlands.

As the post-draw press conference got underway, FEI Jumping Director John Roche said "we want to say a big thank you to Samsung for the company's extraordinary contribution to equestrian sport over the last 20 years. The FEI and Samsung have progressed together and the Samsung Super League with FEI series has been a tremendous success. The FEI is extremely grateful and we would like to thank the organisers here in Barcelona for their contribution as well - we are all very happy to be back for this year's series final".

Mr Sergio Martinez, Samsung's Regional Director in Catalonia, responded by saying how proud the Korean company has been to collaborate with the FEI. "For many years we have benefitted from the publicity we have gained through our relationship with the FEI. This is the last year of our involvement in this series but Samsung will always be involved in sports sponsorship and we hope this last final is a very great success".

The team managers named their sides for tomorrow's much-anticipated finale to another thrilling season with Switzerland's Rolf Grass naming Pius Schwizer, Niklaus Schurtenberger, Daniel Etter and Steve Guerdat as his choice while Ireland's Robert Splaine has called up Cian O'Conor, Capt. David O'Brien, Cameron Hanley and newcomer Thomas Ryan.

America's George Morris sends out Georgina Bloomberg, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, Laura Kraut and James Benedetto while Belgium's Lucien Somers has chosen Jos Lansink, Patrick McEntee, Christophe Van der Hasselt and Philippe Lejeune.

Germany holds the lead going into the final competition and Chef d'Equipe Sonke Sonksen has plenty of fire-power with Carsten-Otto Nagel, Marco Kutscher, Otto Becker and World No. 4 Ludger Beerbaum in his arsenal while Holland's Rob Ehrens is also sounding confident with Leon Thijssen, Angelique Hoorn, Marc Houtzager and Gerco Schroder on call-up.

The home side, led by team manager Marco Fuste, is strongly represented by Rutherford Latham, Cayetano Martinez de Irujo, Pilar Cordon and Ricardo Jurado while Derek Ricketts' British line-up should play a strong role with Michael Whitaker, Peter Charles, Charlotte Platt and Tim Stockdale flying the flag.

The lady with the most weight on her shoulders however is Sweden's Maria Gretzer who, with only three riders in her side, is under enormous pressure as relegation from the elite group of nations is looming large if Jens Fredricksson, Jannike West and Helena Lundback cannot pull off something very special indeed.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - LEADERBOARD AFTER SEVENTH LEG IN DUBLIN:
1. Germany - 47.00
2. Great Britain - 39.5
3. Netherlands - 34.5
4. USA - 25.83
5. Ireland - 23.83
6. Belgium - 23.5
7. Switzerland - 20.58
8. Sweden - 12.75.

For further information on the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI final at the Real Club de Polo, Barcelona check out website www.csiobarcelona.com. President is Juan Angel Calzado, CSIO President is Joaquin Calvo, Show Director is Hans Peter Vogelsanger and Press Officer is Isabel Suter - Email isuter@rcpolo.com.

FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST INFORMATION - 2008 SERIES FINAL IN BARCELONA:
Live/Delayed Live

TV3 (Spain) - Check local listings
Equidia (France) - Saturday 27 September 20.45
Dubai Sports Channel - Check local listings
RAI (Italy) - Check local listings
TV4 (Sweden) - Sunday 21 September 23.00

Highlights
CNBC Asia - Saturday 4 October 15.00
CNBC Europe - Saturday 5 October 17.00
ESPN Brazil - Check local listings
ESPN Star (Pan Asia) - Tuesday 7 October 18.00, Wednesday 8 October 09.00, 18.00, Thursday 9 October 02.00, Friday 10 October 23.00, Monday 13 October 05.00.
EUROSPORT - Wednesday 24 September 20.55, Thursday 25 September 08.30.
EUROSPORT ASIA - Thursday 25 September 10.00
FINNISH SPORT TV - Saturday 4 October 18.25
FOX MIDDLE EAST - Friday 3 October 15.30
SETANTA SPORTS (Ireland) - Check local listings
SUPERSPORT (Pan Africa) - Thursday 9 october 19.30, Friday 10 October 01.30, 06.00, Saturday 11 October 09.30, Sunday 12 October 12.00, Monday 13 October 15.00, Tuesday 14 October 17.00, Wednesday 15 October 22.00.
SPORT PLUS (France) - Monday 29 September 22.00
SPORT TV (Portugal) - Check local listings
TG4 (Ireland) - Check local listings
TVE (Spain) - Check local listings
WCSN (USA) - Check local listings
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE 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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