FEI Eventing World Cup Update

The month of April was a busy one for the FEI Eventing World Cup with no less than five qualifiers taking place in Temecula, CA (USA) from 1 to 3 April; Kihikihi (NZL), Chatsworth, Atlanta (USA) and Burnham Market (GBR) from 8 to 10 April; and finally Ballindenisk (IRL) from 22 to 25 April.


TEMECULA, CA (USA), 1 – 3 April 2005
Fifteen riders representing the USA and Canada had gathered for the second FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier to be held in the United States. Much exciting action took place at Galway Downs in the Temecula Valley, California during three days at the end of which Jessica Heidemann, 24, of Bellingham, WA, captured the final victory on her 14 year-old Thoroughbred gelding, French Twist, with a score of 58.4. She had been in 6th position after the Dressage phase (56.4 penalties) in which Kristin Bachman, who had driven all the way down from Washington State, took the lead on a score of 51.2 despite the windy conditions. Bachman was riding her 11 year-old Thoroughbred gelding Gryffindor, a former racehorse who was having his first run of the season.

Mile Etherington-Smith’s 25-fence Cross Country course rode very well and the warm weather and easy breeze offered perfect conditions. Jessica Heidemann performed the qualifier’s best Cross Country and was one of only two starters to finish within the optimum time of 6 min 50 sec (6:35) and, as a result, was promoted to 2nd place. The leader of the day was 20-year old Lauren Whitlock, a psychology major at Sonoma State, who had finished 5th in the 2004 FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier.

After Whitlock’s 12-year old Thoroughbred gelding Kipling lowered the oxer at fence 7 and scored one time penalty, the pair dropped to runner-up position with a final score of 60.1 penalties. Heidemman completed the qualifier’s only clear Jumping round to take over the victory. “I’m a little overwhelmed to be honest,” she said. “The horse deserves it so much, he’s an amazing horse. He gives me so much confidence.” Heidemann collected a check for USD 4,300 and a surprise travel package to stay in Germany on her way to the FEI World Cup Final in August.

Nineteen-year old Sara Mittleider from Kuna, ID riding the 10 year-old Thoroughbred gelding El Pimero finished third on 76.7 penalties.

The full results are available on www.galwaydowns.com


KIHIKIHI (NZL), 8 – 10 April 2005
The first 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier to be held outside the northern hemisphere took place at the Kihikihi Domain, 20 km south of Hamilton City on the North Island of New Zealand.

The event featured a unique Cross Country Course designed by John Nicholson in conjunction with consultant Mark Todd themed around the classic children’s stories of Winnie the Pooh, wonderful tales of friendship and fantasy. John Nicholson, who is fast developing a reputation for providing original obstacles, came up with this idea after a chance encounter with a hive of wild bees. Just like the round endearing Bear of Very Little Brain, whose adventures began almost 80 years ago when using a balloon to get honey, he came across “some bees”. The Kihikihi Domain was transformed into Christopher Robin’s Hundred Acre Wood with sculptured Roo, Piglet and Tiger figures, each with their own stump houses. Other obstacles of interest included a 100-year old original restored wagon as well as a carved traditional Maori canoe. The track finally proved a very challenging one as not a single clear within the optimum time was recorded.

Some 20 leading New Zealand competitors entered the competition, a number of whom had recently returned from the northern hemisphere after lengthy months of Olympic preparations. The most noteworthy one was Matthew Grayling, winner of New Zealand’s inaugural FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier and member of the country’s Athens Olympic Team, who aboard the nine-year old gelding Gordon became the final winner. He had convincingly taken the lead from the very beginning completing his Dressage test almost 10 points ahead of Megan Finlayson on Lion Heart (46.9 penalties for Grayling as opposed to 56.3 for Finlayson).

Despite 17.20 time penalties on the cross country course, he had three rails in hand at entering the Jumping arena after runner-up Chelsey Hawthorn on Look At That had dropped a rail and added 1 time penalty. Matthew Graying performed the qualifier’s one of only two clear Jumping rounds to finish on a score of 64.1 points.

Chelsey Hawthorn finishes on a score of 80.0 and is followed by Andrew Scott on Clifton Mitavite X Factor third on 84.5.

Grayling said he was thrilled with the result. “Gordon is only 9 years old and is already showing great potential, and success at a World Cup level is very encouraging.”

The full results are available on www.teawamutu.net/eventing


CHATSWORTH, ATLANTA (USA), 8 – 10 April 2005
Twenty-nine riders participated in the third FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier to be held in the United States. The event took part from 8 to 10 April at Bouckaert Farm in Northern Georgia.

Australian Phillip Dutton cruised to victory with The Foreman on 46.2 penalties and also took 2nd place with Hannigan (46.9). Home rider Kimberly Severson, Olympic silver medallist, placed 3rd aboard Winsome Adante finishing on her Dressage score of 50.50. She also took 5th place on the 15 year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Royal Venture (54.4). Darren Chiacchia (USA) came in 4th on Windfall 2 only 0.1 penalties ahead of Severson (54.3).

Dutton, for whom this was a second win in 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup season after his remarkable performance in the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida in March, has secured his ticket to the FEI Eventing World Cup Final in Malmö (SWE). He collected USD 16,000 in prize-money from a total purse of USD 30,000, which represents the largest purse for a qualifier in the USA.

“Hannigan was brilliant as I would have expected with him,” a much pleased Dutton remarked of his 14-year old gelding that he is particularly fond of. “He’s one of my all-time favourite horses; a real character, I’ve got a soft spot for him.” The pair was one of only two combinations to make the optimum time of 4 minutes and 43 seconds over Mark Phillips course, which had been reduced to omit some soft footing after the heavy rain of the previous week. “I had to work harder on The Foreman,” added Dutton who collected 1.2 time penalties on the nine year-old thoroughbred gelding The Foreman. “Hannigan made the time easy but The Foreman is not so experienced so I went easy on him.”

Severson, who collected a check for USD 3,500 as well as qualification for the FEI World Cup Final as the highest placed US rider, was clearly relieved that the weather had cooperated to dry up the footing and that the course had been shortened.

Although Chiacchia returned with a slower time collecting 4 time penalties, he was pleased with his 13-year old stallion, Windfall 2. “I was thrilled with my horse; he went beautifully and was right on form. I didn’t press him in between the fences. The course made a lot of progress after the rain and the footing was darn good.”

Many riders were using this outing as warm-up for the major spring events, such as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event and were satisfied that the course tested them fairly in their preparation.

US riders have one more opportunity to qualify for the FEI World Cup Final at the last American qualifier which will take place in July at Kalispell, MT.

The full results are available on www.bouckaertfarm.com


BURNHAM MARKET (GBR), 8 – 10 April 2005
The first British qualifier part of the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup series ran from 8 - 10 April at the Burnham Market International Horse Trials. It was presented by the new title sponsor Easco Ltd who is major operator in the metal recycling industry in the UK and around the world.

Thirty-eight rider-horse combinations representing Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and for the first time Croatia took part in the competition. Among them were some of the world’s strongest Eventers, such as the 2004 Individual Olympic champion Leslie Law on Shear L'eau or Pippa Funnell, the only rider to ever win the Grand Slam of Eventing. Several other Olympic combinations were also competing including Mark Kyle from Ireland and Susanna Bordone from Italy.

However, none of these stars could measure up to home rider Ruth Edge on Two Thyme, who after a brilliant Dressage display (34.9 penalties), 8.4 time penalties collected on the Cross Country and the competition’s only clear Jumping round, never left her leading position to finish on a score of 43.3. Her performance is all the more remarkable in that she placed 5th on Muschamp Impala (65.5) and 9th on her third mount Marsh Mayfly (69.1). Ruth Edge has been very active in the national and international Eventing scene having participated in more than 25 events in 2004.

She is followed by Germany’s Bettina Hoy, 2nd, on her Olympic partner Ringwood Cockatoo with a final result of 57.3 points and British star William Fox-Pitt, 3rd, on Moon Man (59.1). Fox-Pitt was the fastest across country with only 4.8 time penalties, but no one could make up for Ruth Edge’s outstanding Dressage.

Most unfortunately, Word For Word, the 15-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred gelding ridden by Polly Stockton suffered an fall over the 18th Cross Country fence and died at the scene. The rider was not seriously injured. The pair had placed 2nd at Burghley in 2002.

Over 775 horses were entered in the various classes of the event which makes it one of the largest horse trials in the world.

The full results are available on http://www.musketeer.co.uk/


BALLINDENISK (IRL), 22 – 25 April 2005
No less than 33 riders from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain, Sweden and Switzerland gathered at Ballindenisk in the south of Ireland for the first ever FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier to be held in this country.

The winner was home rider Neilus O’Donoghue on the nine-year old gelding Balladeer Alfred with a final result of 57.4 penalties. His average Dressage performance (50.6 – 66.25%) was balanced by a faultless Cross Country (6.8 time penalties) and a perfect Jumping round. This is the pair’s best performance in an international competition.

O’Donoghue is followed by triple Olympic medalist Matt Ryan of Australia who took both 2nd (60.8) and 3rd position (70.0) with Bonza Katoomba and Royal Dragoon respectively.

The full results are available on www.eventingireland.com


The month of May was no less exciting. Report on the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifiers held at Lagoa Santa (BRA), Rome (ITA), Warwick, QLD (AUS) and Chatsworth (GBR) hwill follow.

The standings of the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup after 12 events are as follows:

1. Phillip Dutton (AUS ) - 260 points
1. Bettina Hoy (GER) – 260
3. Matt Ryan (AUS) – 200
4. Ruth Edge (GBR) - 139
5. Lourenco Vieira da Silva (BRA) – 114
6. Olivia Bunn (AUS) – 100
6. Neilus O'Donoehue (IRL) – 100
6. Susanna Bordone (ITA) – 100
6. Matthew Grayling (NZL) – 100
6. Jessica Heidemann (USA) – 100
11. Darren Chiacchia (USA) – 97

The complelete standings are available on the FEI website www.horsesport.org, section Eventing, Results, Standings.