FEI WORLD CUP™ EVENTING: VAKIN ROARS TO VICTORY AT MINSK

Russian rider Maksim Vakin, 32, riding the 11-year-old Harley Davidson, led from the start to win at Minsk (BLR), the second leg of the FEI World Cup™ Eventing 2012. Vakin now moves into second place in the series standings behind Germany’s Sandra Auffarth, winner of the inaugural competition at Strzegom (POL).

Last year’s winner Alena Tseliapushkina (BLR), a regular participant in this FEI World Cup™ Eventing series, finished second and third on Goliaf and Elga, but as her results did not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, the Belarusian did not earn any World Cup points.

Boris Vasilev (RUS) was lying third after Cross Country on Naftenat, but had a less than happy time in the final Jumping phase, picking up 33 faults to drop to fifth. He was also sixth on Osoka, but he too does not earn any FEI World Cup™ Eventing points for his efforts.

The Jumping phases proved influential: there were five clear Cross Country rounds but none in the Jumping. Six riders were eliminated for three Cross Country refusals, including Tseliapushkina on her most experienced horse, Passat, her ride at the 2008 Olympic Games, and Aliaksandr Faminou (BLR), who finished third on last year’s FEI World Cup™ Eventing leaderboard.

“It was a good Cross Country course built by Mikhail Rybak,” reported Technical Delegate Andy Griffiths (GBR). “It rode well on excellent footing, but caused some silly errors from experienced riders. What was good was that there was such a large and appreciative crowd at the competition.”

Results
1. Maksim Vakin/Harley Davidson (RUS) 51.1 + 27.2 + 11 = 89.3
2. Alena Tseliapushkina/Goliaf (BLR) 58.9 + 21.6 + 24 = 104.5
3. Alena Tseliapushkina/Elga (BLR) 62.6 + 19.6 + 24 = 106.2
4. Valeriy Martyshev/Gapar (RUS) 63.3 + 25.6 + 20 = 108.9
5. Boris Vasilev/Naftenat (RUS) 53.7 + 27.6 + 33 = 114.30
6. Boris Vasilev/Osoka (RUS) 64.2 + 20/25.6 + 8 = 119.0

The complete results are available at this link.

FEI World Cup™ Eventing leaderboard (after 2 out of 4 events)
1. Sandra Auffarth (GER) 67 points
2. Maksim Vakin (RUS) 41
3. Felix Vogg (SUI) 38
4. Andreas Dibowski (GER) 36
5. Ilonka Klutymans (NED) 34
6. Elmar Lesch (GER) 32
7. Eveline Bodenmüller (SUI) 30
8. Sanna Siltakorpi (FIN) 28
9. Patrizia Attinger (SUI) 24
10.Jonna Friman (SWE) 4

Notes to Editors:
The FEI World Cup™ Eventing is a series for individual riders organised at CIC 3* level where points gained at each event count towards a final classification. Additional information is available here.

FEI World Cup™ Eventing 2012 calendar
1. Strzegom (POL) 1 - 3 June 2012
2. Minsk (BLR) 13 - 17 June 2012
3. Malmö (SWE) 10 - 12 August 2012
4. Le Pin au Haras (FRA) 22 - 26 August 2012

Photo caption: Maksim Vakin (RUS) and Harley Davidson, winners of the second leg of the FEI World Cup™ Eventing in Minsk (BLR), are pictured with (from left to right) Aleh Kachan, Minister of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus; Vladimir Tishkin, Foreign Judge; Carlheinz Boess, President of the Ground Jury; and Viktar Mikhadziuk, Event Director and Director of the Olympic Equestrian and Breeding Centre of Belarus.