The American team will be first into the ring as the fifth leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series gets underway in Aachen, Germany tomorrow evening.
The elite nations' cup competition, which will begin at 7pm local time, will take place under floodlights and if you are not lucky enough to be there then you can watch the action unfold on live-stream video by clicking on the Aachen website www.chioaachen.de.
The order of go is as follows : 1, USA; 2, Belgium; 3, Great Britain; 4, Ireland; 5, Sweden; 6, The Netherlands; 7, Switzerland; 8, Germany.
WHATEVER....
USA Chef d'Equipe George Morris was unperturbed when his team was drawn in the No. 1 slot this afternoon - "there's first, second, third - whatever - we've done it all" he said nonchalantly.
Despite their perilous position at the bottom of the league table the Swedish are not fielding any of their Olympic horses for tomorrow's event - "we are keeping them fresh for Hong Kong" explained Chef d'Equipe Maria Gretzer. With just 2.75 points to their credit after the first four legs of the series it seems the Swedes are in a lot of trouble and there will be enormous pressure on Helena Lundback riding Bukowskis Erbblume, Royne Zetterman with Isaac, Henrik von Eckerman with Enorm and Rolf Goran Bengtsson with Quintero la Silla as they take their turn.
FEI Jumping Director, Capt John Roche, pointed out that tomorrow's leg of the Samsung Super League with FEI series "will be decisive Olympic-wise" and so it will because many of the team managers will be making their final choice of Olympic team members in the aftermath.
The Irish, lying seventh of the eight nations at this stage of the series, have only one Olympic spot to fill and while Denis Lynch, who has cemented an extraordinarily successful partnership with the former Gregory Wathelet ride Lantinus, looks the front-runner it is clear that team manager Robert Splaine is leaving his options open until after the German fixture. Lynch is joined in the Irish side by Edward Doyle who partners Sequoyah Farms Utopia for the fifth consecutive leg of the series, Capt David O'Brien who made a superb Super League debut with the Irish army horse Mo Chroi in Rotterdam and Cian O'Connor with the seasoned Irish Independent Echo Beach.
STRONG SIDE....
In sixth spot after the first four rounds are the Swiss, and Rolf Grass is sending out a strong side including Pius Schwizer (Nobless M), Niklaus Schurtenberger (Cantus), Steve Guerdat (Jalisca Solier) and Beat Mandli (Ideo du Thot).
George Morris is armed with two former Aachen Grand Prix winners in Anne Kursinski (Champ) and Beezie Madden (Authentic) and they will fly the American flag along with McLain Ward riding the brilliant Sapphire and Laura Kraut riding Cedric whose jumping was particularly impressive during the previous leg in Rotterdam.
Nick Skelton returns to the British team with the much-loved stallion Arko and he will be joined by Peter Charles riding Rupert R, Tim Stockdale with Corlato and John Whitaker riding Peppermill. Lying fourth on the league table they are carrying exactly the same number of points - 19 - as the third-placed Belgians who started the season with a superb victory in La Baule in May. Philippe le Jeune (Vigo), Ludo Philippaerts (Cavalor's Winningmood), Dirk Demeersman (Tymoon Caloo Meerchen) and Jos Lansink (Valentina van't Heike) will be hoping to maintain their country's elevated position.
Drawn last, the host team from Germany have all the advantage going into tomorrow's competition and Christian Ahlmann (Coster), Marco Kutscher (Montender), Ludger Beerbaum (All Inclusive) and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Shutterfly) will be a formidable force. However Germany had a faltering start in this Samsung Super League with FEI series and it has taken them some time to climb up to second spot on the leaderboard. A great win in Rotterdam has secured that position but they will, no doubt, be keen to oust the Dutch from the head of the leaderboard if things go their way tomorrow.
OKI BACK IN ACTION....
Dutch team manager Rob Ehrens is mighty relieved that the potentially disastrous accident suffered by Albert Zoer's Olympic ride, Oki Doki, did less damage to the great horse than first expected. Two weeks ago on the eve of the Super League event in Rotterdam Oki wrenched almost all of his lower teeth out of his jaw when they became impaled after he clenched them on a bar in the stable and there were great fears for his recovery in the immediate aftermath. But by the following afternoon, when the high-stepping hero was already tucked away in his own stable at home, his teeth had been pushed back in and the jaw re-set and Albert was able to watch the nations cup class unfold with a smile on his face.
"He is going to be fine" the Dutch rider said, "I am told I can ride him again next week". Amazingly he has recovered brilliantly and the partnership will line out tomorrow, hopefully looking as if nothing ever happenend. Angelique Hoorn (Blauwendraad's O'Brien), Vincent Voorn (Audi's Alpapillon Armanie) and Gerco Schroder (Eurcommerce Berlin) will complete The Netherlands line-up.
So the stage is all set for another classic leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series - and there is Olympic fever in the air.....
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - LEADERBOARD AFTER FOURTH LEG IN ROTTERDAM:
1. The Netherlands - 23.5
2. Germany - 22.0
3. Belgium - 19.0
4. Great Britain - 19.0
5. USA - 16.83
6. Switzerland - 15.08
7. Ireland - 11.83
8. Sweden - 2.75
For further information on the Samsung Super League with FEI in Aachen check out WEBSITE www.chioaachen.de. Show President at the German fixture is Klaus Peter Pavel, Show Director is Frank Kemperman and Press Officer is Niels Knippertz - Email niels.knippertz@chioaachen.de.
The sixth leg of the series takes place in Hickstead, Great Britain on Friday 25 July. Show President is Douglas Bunn, Show Director is Edward Bunn, Show Secretary is Elizabeth Bunn and Press Officer is Peter Jeffery - contact email jeffery.communications@btopenworld.com
FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST INFORMATION - ROUND 5 IN AACHEN:
Live/Delayed Live
ZDF (Germany) - Thursday 3 July 21.00
Equidia (France) - Friday 4 July 18.00, Sunday 6 July 22.15
RAI (Italy) - Check local listings
TV4 (Sweden) - Friday 4 July 20.00
Highlights
CNBC Asia - Saturday 19 July 15.00
CNBC Europe - Saturday 20 july 17.00
ESPN Brazil - Check local listings
ESPN Star (Pan Asia) - Wednesday 23 July 18.00, 20.30, Friday 26 July 14.00, Sunday 27 July 06.00, Tuesday 29 July 18.00, Wednesday 30 July 12.00, 18.00, Saturday 2 August 05.00, Sunday 3 August 04.00
EUROSPORT - Wednesday 9 July 18.25, Thursday 10 July 10.00
EUROSPORT ASIA - Thursday 10 July 10.00
FINNISH SPORT TV - Saturday 19 JULY 17.20
FOX MIDDLE EAST - Monday 28 July 15.00
SETANTA SPORTS (Ireland) - Check local listings
SUPERSPORT (Pan Africa) - Thursday 24 July 19.30, Friday 25 July 01.30, 06.00, Saturday 26 July 09.00, Sunday 27 July 12.30, Monday 28 July 15.00, Tuesday 29 July 17.00, Wednesday 6 August 00.30
SPORT PLUS (France) - Monday 14 JULY 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 - 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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