Samsung Super League conclusion

As the Swiss and Swedes continue to battle it out for promotion to the 2005 Samsung Super League series, the French can take time to rest on their laurels after their second successive victory and the Italians must settle for demotion following their gallant battle for survival over the last two seasons. Here are some of the statistics for the 2004 Samsung Super League season which may be of interest to you: DOUBLE CLEAR ROUNDS PER EVENT: ROUND 1, LA BAULE: 3 double clears, Montender, Quilano de Kalvarie and Arko. ROUND 2, ROME: 4 double clears Audi’s Jikke, Arko, Waterford Crystal, O de Pomme. ROUND 3, LUCERNE: 5 double clears Eurocommerce Montreal, O de Pomme,Crocus Graverie, Shutterfly, Clinton. ROUND 4, ROTTERDAM: 4 double clears Flipper d’Elle, JPC Modesto Equifoam, Parco, Portofino. ROUND 5, AACHEN: 2 double clears Dollar du Murier, Waterford Crystal. ROUND 6, HICKSTEAD: 1 double clear Mr Springfield. ROUND 7, DUBLIN: 3 double clears Luidam, Arko, Caya. ROUND 8, FINAL BARCELONA: No double clears. So taking double-clear rounds into account, the leading horse and rider combination in the 2004 Samsung Super League series is Arko ridden by Britain's Nick Skelton (3 double clears) followed by O de Pomme and Stanny van Paesschen from Belgium and Ireland's Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal who both jumped two double-clear rounds. DOUBLE CLEAR PERFORMANCES PER COUNTRY THROUGHOUT THE 2004 SERIES – France - 5 - Crocus Graverie (Lucerne), Quilano de Kalvarie (La Baule), Flipper d’Elle (Rotterdam), JPC Modesto Equifoam (Rotterdam), Dollar du Murier (Aachen). Belgium - 4 - Clinton (Lucerne), O de Pomme (Rome and Lucerne), Parco (Rotterdam). Great Britain - 5 - Arko (La Baule, Rome and Dublin), Portofino (Rotterdam), Mr Springfield (Hickstead). Ireland - 3 - Waterford Crystal (La Baule and Rome), Luidam (Dublin). Holland - 2 - Audi’s Jikke (Rome), Eurocommerce Montreal (Lucerne). USA - 1 - Caya (Dublin). Germany - 2 - Montender (La Baule), Shutterfly (Lucerne). Italy - 0 - None. NUMBER OF RIDERS COMPETING PER COUNTRY Italy - 16 Germany - 16 USA - 14 France - 14 Holland - 13 Belgium - 11 Ireland - 9 Great Britain - 7. MOST FREQUENT COMPETITORS PER COUNTRY: Great Britain - Robert Smith and Nick Skelton competed in ALL EIGHT LEGS of the 2004 Samsung Super League series. Smith rode Mr Springfield (joint-fifth Athens Olympic Games) at La Baule, Rome, Lucerne, Rotterdam and Hickstead. He rode Marius Claudius at Aachen, Dublin and Barcelona. Skelton rode Arko at La Baule, Rome, Lucerne and Dublin. At Rotterdam, Aachen, Hickstead and Barcelona he partnered Russel. USA - Judy Garofalo competed in SIX LEGS of the series - each time with the same horse, Oliver. Belgium - Ludo Philippaerts also competed in SIX LEGS of the 2004 Super League series - 3 riding Kira and three riding Parco. Ireland - Marion Hughes competed a total of SIX TIMES – five with Heritage Fortunus and once (Barcelona) with Heritage Transmission. France - 2 riders rode in FIVE LEGS of the series – Christian Hermon (Ephebe Forever) and Laurent Goffinet (Flipper d’Elle). lHolland - Gert Bruggink and Joel lined out on FOUR occasions. Italy - Three Italian riders competed on FOUR occasions – Emanuele Fiorelli, Bruno Chimirri, Roberto Arioldi (two different horses). Germany - 6 riders rode in THREE LEGS of the series - Marco Kutscher, Pia Luise Aufrecht, Eva Marie Bitter, Heinrich Hermann Engemann, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Rene Tebbel. Michaels-Beerbaum rode two different horses (Shutterfly twice, Check Mate once). However arguably the most outstanding performer of both the 2003 and 2004 Samsung Super League series has been French Chef d’Equipe Jean Maurice Bonneau whose unique leadership skills combine discipline, determination and respect in equal measure. Anyone who witnessed his sympathy and understanding when comforting the shattered Bruno Broucqsault after Dileme de Cephe was injured while competing in Athens could hardly be untouched and with Monsieur Bonneau at the helm the French are likely to remain a force to be reckoned with for quite some time to come.