SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2007 - PRESS RELEASE NO. 9

BELGIANS FIRST TO GO IN ROTTERDAM.......

It will be Belgium's turn to be first into the ring tomorrow afternoon as the fourth leg of the 2007 Samsung Super League with FEI series kicks off in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Today the teams were drawn in the following order:
1. Belgium
2. Germany
3. Sweden
4. USA
5. The Netherlands
6. Switzerland
7. France
8. Great Britain.

When asked whether it was an advantage or a disadvantage for his side to be under the pathfinding pressure Belgian Chef d'Equipe, Lucien Somers, replied "It's OK to be No. 1 in the first round as long as we go last in the second round! " - because, of course, that would mean that his team would be in the lead at the halfway stage.

For all his hopes however there are plenty of others out to dash them, particularly the team managers for France, the USA and Sweden who hold the last three places on the leaderboard going into this half-way leg of the series.

The precise line-up of the teams will be decided later this evening, and Mr Somers has a new name in his squad - 23 year old Niels Bruynseels who has just seven Nations Cup starts but three Nations Cup victories already under his belt. Bruynseels is joined in the Belgian selection by Dirk Demeersman, Marc van Dijck, World Champion Jos Lansink and Philippe Le Jeune.

Germany looks very strong with Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deusser, Marcus Ehning and Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst on call. At today's press conference draw German Chef d'Equipe Kurt Gravemeier was asked if the money available for the Samsung Super League series enough and his answer was that, "for the riders the money is never enough!" He continued "however I think the Samsung Super League is a great series and I hope it will continue for many years to come - and thank you to Samsung for its continuous support" he added.

Stefan Ganders, Competition Director of the Samsung Super League commented, "Samsung is very proud to be part of this top series and we always want to improve things - we are constantly working toward the future".

Third to go tomorrow, the Swedish team need to stay on their toes because they are trailing everyone else at present. They are not holding back with their choice of line-up however and team manager Maria Gretzer has a great deal of solid experience to rely on in the shape of Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Helena Lundback, Royne Zettermann and Erika Lickhammer. They look set to do some real business this time out.

A great second-round rally by the Americans at the last leg in St Gallen, Switzerland should have given them some real encouragement, but they are only 1.5 points ahead of the Swedes on the leaderboard as tomorrow's action begins. So even though manager George Morris has so many of his top names available to him he is unlikely to leave Margie Engle, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, Richard Spooner and McLain Ward in any doubt about what this mission must accomplish. A clean break from the bottom of the table is essential if there is to be any breathing space in the second half of the series.,,,

The home side should be the ones to beat. They trounced the opposition in St Gallen and Rob Ehrens knows that he has some leeway since the Dutch now lie third in the series with 14 points to their credit. The Swiss lie one place ahead of them with 14.75 and manager Rolf Grass will expect to keep it that way when Daniel Etter, Werner Muff, Niklaus Schurtenberger and Pius Schwizer take the field.

Last into the ring will be the British and, after the hammering they took when failing to finish in St Gallen, Chef d'Equipe Derek Ricketts will be expecting much better things. He has a squad filled with members of the Whitaker family - niece Ellen joining her uncles Michael and John along with William Funnell and David McPherson. But British fortunes have been very varied this season and, despite their great victory in Rome, they certainly won't be the bookies' favourites when the bell rings for the first rider into the arena.....

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 3 AT ST GALLEN:

1. Germany - 21.75
2. Switzerland - 14.75
3. Netherlands - 14.0
4. Belgium - 13.75
5. Great Britain - 11.0
6. France - 9.75
7. USA - 7.0
8. Sweden - 5.5

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!

The fourth leg of the series takes place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Friday 22 June. For further information on the Dutch fixture check out website www.chio.nl. Show President in Rotterdam is Frans Lavoy, Show Director is Emile Hendrix and Press Officer is Anita Lussenburg, Email: anita.lussenburg@ingram.nl.

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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