FEI World Cup™ Jumping: Oslo (NOR)

The 2006/2007 FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League series begins this weekend at Oslo in Norway with a particularly strong line-up of riders from The Netherlands and Germany, while World No. 2 Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden will also be in action.

The new season brings some new rules including those relating to the starting order in the qualifying rounds. Apart from next Sunday's first leg for which the starting order will be decided by the results in this afternoon's 1.50m Jump-Off class, riders will otherwise compete in the order of merit of the series leaderboard standings, with a draw only taking place to separate those carrying equal points. So a good finishing place in Oslo will guarantee a good position on the starting block at the second leg at Helsinki in Finland the following weekend. Under another new rule there will no longer be a Preliminary class ahead of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping competition, although the eight riders who attend the show by invitation may have to qualify if entries exceed a total of 40 horses and riders.

The 2006/2007 series runs over 13 qualifying rounds before the final takes place in Las Vegas, USA next April. The dates are as follows:
1. Oslo - 13-15 October
2. Helsinki - 19-22 October
3. Verona - 10-12 November
4. Stuttgart - 15-19 November
5. Geneva - 7-10 December
6. London-Olympia- 12-18 December
7. Mechelen - 26-30 December
8. Leipzig - 18-21 January
9. Amsterdam - 25-28 January
10. Bordeaux - 1-3 February
11. Vigo - 8-11 February
12. Gothenburg - 22-25 February
13. 's-Hertogenbosch- 22-25 March.

Once again the Oslo leg takes place at the Spektrum Arena in the heart of Norway's capital city. Amongst the star-studded line-up are two of Holland's 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games team show jumping gold medallists Gerco Schroder and Piet Raymakers who will be striving to make an early impression on the new series and Schroder will also be hoping to make it a back-to-back double of Oslo victories after his success there last year. Australia's Edwina Alexander, who missed out on an individual medal by the smallest of margins during the thrilling WEG finale, is also listed while WEG team bronze medallist Christian Ahlmann seems very likely to scoop up some of these valuable early points.

The big test of course is how well horses adapt to indoor restrictions after the freedom of the outdoor jumping season, and one who always seems to sparkle indoors is Rolf-Goran Bengtsson's 12 year old MacKinley who finished seventh at the end of the 2005/2006 series so this partnership will be one to watch once again this Sunday.

The Scandinavian riders will be wanting to show their strength on home territory and Maria Gretzer and Lotta Schultz should be in positive mood in the wake of Sweden's excellent performance at the final round of the 2006 Samsung Super League with FEI series in Barcelona last month. In grave danger of relegation, the Swedish team produced a truly spirited performance and Schultz's Irish-bred Calibra was highly impressive on that final afternoon.

Amongst the home side representatives are Kirsti Svaboe, Christian Anfinnsen Oien, Tony Andre Hansen and the veteran Geir Gulliksen who, riding Cattani, gave an excellent account of himself at the WEG in Aachen while the British contingent is headed up by Robert Smith and also includes rising star Ellen Whitaker who won the first international competition at the Spektrum Arena this afternoon.

The first leg of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2006/2007 series begins at 14.30 local time on Sunday 15th October.

For further information about the FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying leg at Oslo in Norway this weekend check out WEBSITE www.oslohorseshow.com. Show President is Kjell Christian Ulrichsen, Show Director is Morten Aasen, Show Secretary is Annhild Furfjord, email annhild@horseshow.no and PRESS OFFICER is Margunn Overaas, email margunn@nobo.no, Tel (mobile) +47 91576030.

The 2006/2007 FEI World Cup™ Jumping Media Guide, full of relevant and pertinent information relating to the World Cup since its inception is now available to download on the FEI Website by clicking on World Cup - Jumping - Media or at http://www.feiworldcup.org/wc_s/media.lasso

2006/2007 FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING SERIES - CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR WESTERN EUROPEAN LEAGUE
1, Oslo (Norway) 13-15 October ; 2, Helsinki (Finland) 19-22 October; 3, Verona (Italy) 10-12 November; 4, Stuttgart (Germany) 15-19 November; 5, Geneva (Switzerland) 7-10 December; 6, London-Olympia (Great Britain) 12-18 December; 7, Mechelen (Belgium) 26-30 December; 8, Leipzig (Germany) 18-21 January; 9, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) 25-28 January; 10, Bordeaux (France) 1-3 February; 11, Vigo (Spain) 8-11 February; 12, Gothenburg (Sweden) 22-25 February; 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) 22-25 March. Final - Las Vegas (USA).

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE RULES for FEI World Cup™ Jumping riders from FEI website www.feiworldcup.org.

FEI World Cup™ Jumping has entered its 29th season. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all continents. The best riders from 132 preliminary competitions will qualify for the Final in Las Vegas, USA which takes place from 19 to 22 April 2007. The title-holder is Germany's Marcus Ehning.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), founded in 1921, is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 133 National Federations.

Equestrian sport has been on the Olympic programme since 1912 with three disciplines - Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. It is one of the very few sports in which men and women compete on equal terms. It is also the only sport which involves two athletes - horse and rider. The FEI has relentlessly concerned itself with the welfare of the horse, which is paramount and must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences.

For more information contact:
FEI Communications - Malina Gueorguiev - m.gueorguiev@horsesport.org or consult FEI website www.horsesport.org