GERMANY GETS BEST OF THE DRAW.....
The Samsung Super League with FEI leaders from Germany will be last into the ring for tomorrow's seventh leg of the 2007 series in Dublin following today's draw at the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds.
The order of go will be as follows: 1, Belgium; 2, France; 3, Switzerland; 4, Ireland; 5, USA; 6, The Netherlands; 7, Great Britain; 8, Sweden; 9, Germany.
Belgian Chef d'Equipe Lucien Somers failed to arrive in time for the Draw Press Conference but his team's unfavourable starting position had nothing to do with that despite much joking to the contrary. More new team managers have arrived on the scene with Anne-Catherine Carlsson, who shares responsibility for Swedish team affairs with Maria Gretzer and Peter Eriksson, taking over this time around, and Laurent Elias is conducting French affairs while British show jumping legend David Broome has stepped into Derek Ricketts' shoes.
Only a few of the team managers were prepared to name their line-up - Rob Ehrens listing Ben Schroder, Willem Greve, Leon Thijssen and Henk Van der Pol while America's Melanie Smith-Taylor, again deputising for George Morris, sends out her winning side from Hickstead which included Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, Molly Ashe-Cawley and Christine McCrea. Any disappointment Georgina Bloomberg may have been feeling when not receiving a call-up for the US has probably been compensated to some extent by the extensive press coverage, including front and inside-page pictures, of herself and new boyfriend - Ireland's Cian O'Connor - in Ireland's biggest-selling daily newspaper "The Irish Independent" this morning.....
David Broome has five riders at his disposal but has decided to leave Geoff Billington "looking after operations the training ring", and he added "so we've got a team that includes one young person and three old hags!" - Robert Whitaker filling the former category and Nick Skelton, William Funnell and Robert Smith the latter. Anne-Catherine Carlsson said her side will consist of "old riders with young horses" and the Swedes have a lot to do tomorrow. They are the ones now lingering in that dangerous relegation zone at the bottom of the league table, 3.25 points behind France and 3.50 points behind the USA and time is running out - they desperately need a good result....
Germany's Sonke Sonksen has called up Holger Wulschner, Thomas Voss, Heinrich-Hermann Engemann and Thomas Muhlbauer and Ireland's Robert Splaine suggested that the German and American teams will be the ones to beat tomorrow. He is working hard to ensure Ireland's return to the Samsung Super League with FEI series just as quickly as possible - the Irish don't like being the outsiders at anytime.
The new footing in the main arena has been greeted with general approval - "this show has moved into the 21st century in a big way with the work that has been done with the surface" said David Broome. "And it will only get better as the roots deepen, giving horses more support on the turn" he added. Good reports from the riders suggest the €800,000 spent on completely re-laying the hallowed ground with a mixture of sand, soil and natural grass will pay dividends well into the future. "When you have top horses competing at top level you need the best ground and Dublin now has it" said Dutch Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens. "I'm also delighted that the old ring has been replaced with grass - we like to jump on grass" he pointed out and Switzerland's Rolf Grass agreed - "yes" he said, "grass is good".....
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 6 AT HICKSTEAD:
1. Germany - 37.75
2. Great Britain - 28.50
3. Switzerland - 27.75
4. Belgium - 24.25
5. The Netherlands - 22.00
6. USA - 19.50
7. France - 19.25
8. Sweden - 16.00
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
FOR further information on the Samsung Super League with FEI in Dublin visit website www.rds.ie. Show President is Dr Austin Mescal, Show Director is Pat Hanly and Press Officer is Kayleigh Ckunningham - Email kaleigh.cunningham@rds.ie, Tel - +3531 2407289.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - 2007 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
ROUND 1 - La Baule (FRA) Friday 11 May; ROUND 2 - Rome (ITA) Friday 25 May; ROUND 3 - St Gallen (SUI) Friday 1 June; ROUND 4 - Rotterdam (NED) Friday 22 June; ROUND 5 - Aachen (GER) Thursday 5 July; ROUND 6 - Hickstead (GBR) Friday 27 July; ROUND 7 - Dublin (IRL) Friday 10 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL - Barcelona (ESP) Sunday 16 September.
You can access all the latest Samsung Super League with FEI news and information on website www.samsungsuperleague.com.
Want to know more? You can check the comprehensive MEDIA GUIDE for the series, which is available in print 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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