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FEI World Cup Dressage Update: Düsseldorf (GER)

Media updates
30 March 2005 Author: webmaster
Duesseldorf's Phillipshalle is last chance saloon - next stop Las Vegas 
 
Dressage riders anxious to claim those final qualifying points in the
hope of getting to the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas have arrived in
Germany this weekend for the final round of the Western European League.

Reigning champion Anky van Grunsven heads the line up with Keltec
Salinero, but the Dutch six-time World Cup victor just has to complete
the required two starts in qualifying events before packing her bags for
the USA.

With Switzerland's Silvia Ikle a declared non-starter for the Final, Las
Vegas has become tantalisingly closer for the riders aiming to make the
top eight in the League standings. Although allowed normally to ride a
maximum of five qualifiers with points from only four to count towards
the final standings, this show is open with all riders eligible to
compete here.

Both Germany's Hubertus Schmidt, who will ride Aramis, and Sweden's Jan
Brink with Bjorsells Briar have only done three competitions, so are in
strong positions. Brink is in tenth place but considered a risk by his
competitors. Schmidt currently lies in equal eighth place with Denmark's
Lone Joergensen, but Joergensen has already filled her points' quota and
can only go up the list if she improves on a previous performance.
Holland's Sven Rothenberger is in the same position, but higher up the
standings in sixth place. One threat they won't have to cope with is
Spain's Beatriz Ferrer-Salat. The Olympia winner and Stockholm runner up
was expected here if Beauvalais was 100 match-fit after the cold that
forced his withdrawal from Mechelen, but it was not to be.

In addition this weekend, the US League Final takes place at the Los
Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, California. Olympic team Bronze
medallist Debbie McDonald heads the cast of five stars vying for the
home team's two slots in Las Vegas. McDonald sadly had to miss out on
last year's final (where she was defending champion) as Brentina was not
match fit after a minor injury. She will be up against Athens
team-mates Guenter Seidel, who has entered both Aragon and Nikolaus, and
Leslie Morse who also has two chances with Olympic mount Kingston and
Tip Top. Team reserve Steffen Peters competes Floriano while fellow
Californian Carol Plough will ride Komo. Leader of the US standings with
Kennedy, Florida-based Robert Dover has applied for a wildcard.

That result will be known on Sunday, but on Saturday the centre of
attention will be Germany as the nine-show FEI World Cup Dressage
Western European League comes to a climax.

CDI-W Duesseldorf Timetable:

FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix
Ssang Yong Trophy
Friday April 1st 09.00

FEI World Cup Qualifier Freestyle to Music
Saturday April 2nd 11.15

German TV station WDR will be featuring the freestyle on Saturday
14.00-15.00

Media contact:
Helga Raue
Tel:             +49 (0) 211 73 7765 32      
Fax: +49 (0) 211 73 7765 34

For further information visit
www.duesseldorf-masters.de

For further information on the US standings
Media contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager
Tel:             1 (859) 225-6974      
E-mail: slane@usef.org
www.usef.org

For further information on the FEI World Cup
www.horsesport.org

For further information on the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented
by Offield Farms
www.lasvegasevents.com

FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League Standings (after 8 of 9
qualifiers and 3 Central League)
1, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff GER 65
2, Andreas Helgstrand DEN 64
3, Isabell Werth GER 61
4= Carl Hester GBR and Edward Gal NED 60
6, Sven Rothenberger NED 49
7, Marie-Line Wettstein SUI 47
8= Hubertus Schmidt GER and Lone Joergensen DEN 46
10, Jan Brink SWE 44

The riders for the FEI World Cup Dressage Final to be held in Las Vegas
(USA) from 20 to 24 April will be selected as follows:

8 riders from the Western European League
1 rider from the Central European League
1 rider from the Canadian League (Leslie Reid)
2 riders from the USA League
1 rider from the South America or Asia
Defending Champion Anky van Grunsven (on completion of two qualifiers) 4 wild cards will be allocated by the FEI Dressage Committee. These will
be decided after April 4th.
Australia will not be represented this year

 

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