FEI European Jumping Championship update

Two additional prominent riders are gracing the starting lists at San Patrignano, where the European Show Jumping Championship 2005 will begin on Thursday, July 21. The Italian organizing comittee invited German Ludger BEERBAUM and Italian Gianni GOVONI to compete in the “Challenge Vincenzo Muccioli”on Saturday, July 23.

BEERBAUM was a member of the German team winning at the previous championship at Donaueschingen 2003 and starred in the ad for San Patrignano that has been shown around the world to spread the message against drugs. Riding his young horse COULEUR RUBIN, he will not be a member of the team this time.

GOVONI is a long time friend of the community of San Patrignano. He lives in Modena, making him a “close neighbour” to San Patrignano. The invitation to San Patrignano is a small consolation for his misfortune in 2003 when missed out due to injury of his horse only days before the competition started. He will saddle LORO PIANA LASITA for the test on Saturday.

The Show Jumping Championship began on Tuesday with the official inspection of the horses. 67 horses were presented to the officials with two of them to be reinspected on Wednesday. FAVORITAS for Nina BRAATEN JOHNSEN (Norway) and CARTIER PSG for Rob RASKIN (Austria) will be show again at 10 o’clock in the morning. GOVONI’S mare will arrive on Wednesday.

Altogether there are now 70 horses from 21 countries competing at San Patrignano. 68 will vie for the individual title. 14 countries have nominated for the team competition. All teams have four riders with the exception of Denmark, starting only three competitors. After the training session on Wednesday, beginning at 16:30, the team chiefs will decide which riders will be reserves within equipes with five riders at San Patrignano.