Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ 2009 Aachen - Draw Report

FEI DRAW REPORT

TOUGH DRAW FOR IRELAND, GREAT DRAW FOR GERMANY

Aachen (Ger), 1 July 2009

Ireland, the country lying second-last on the leaderboard, will be first into the arena tomorrow for the Mercedes-Benz Prize, part of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series.  It's a tough draw in this fifth leg of the summer-long league, but Irish manager, Robert Splaine, said this evening "we have a good team with a lot of experience - it's not what we would have wanted, but our riders are accomplished and they will go out and give it their best shot".

In stark contrast, German Chef d'Equipe, Otto Becker, had a big smile on his face.  His side will be last into the ring and so will have the advantage of the feedback from the performances of those going ahead of them.  "Thanks!' he said when the number 10 slot was allocated to the host country who are defending the title they have won for the last three years and 26 times during the 80-year history of the Aachen Nations Cup competition.

The order-of-go for tomorrow is as follows: 1, Ireland: 2, Sweden; 3, The Netherlands; 4, France; 5, USA; 6, Italy; 7, Great Britain; 8, Belgium; 9, Switzerland; 10, Germany.

FEELING THE PINCH

If the Irish are feeling under pressure however, the Swiss, lying second on the leaderboard, are also feeling the pinch.  That is because Christina Liebherr's great horse, No Mercy, suffered a severe tendon injury yesterday, and then today her second ride, Robin Hood, had an unhappy time in the ring.  "Yesterday there was a terrible accident with No Mercy, and today Christina's second horse didn't jump well. Yesterday I thought we had a really strong team for tomorrow, but we have now lost one of the best horses in the world - yesterday was a very bad day" Mr Grass said.

The FEI's Director of Jumping, John Roche, pointed out that Aachen has a special place in the hearts of equestrian sports supporters worldwide. "Aachen is the Mecca of our sport, the world's dream is to reach the standards established here and we would like to thank Aachen for all it has done in setting those standards - it is an inspiration to organisers all around the world" he pointed out.  Mr Mohammed Al Kawit, Meydan's Director of Communications, added that the company is delighted to be associated with the series.

PROSPECTS

The team managers spoke about their prospects for tomorrow.  Sweden's Maria Gretzer said that she was very happy with her team because "they have a lot of experience, and we usually do well in Aachen".  However her country has only ever taken the title here once, and that was at the very first Nations Cup in 1929.  Rob Ehrens from The Netherlands said he had a good team with horses in good shape and America's George Morris said there was always something special about winning in Aachen - a feat achieved by the USA on just five occasions however, the last victory recorded in 2005.

Italy's Emilio Puricelli knows his side has a big hill to climb.  Lying last on the leaderboard going into this fifth leg he said they are in "a very difficult situation - but we are happy to be here and we will try our best to stay in this top league".  Great Britain's Derek Ricketts said he has mixed two very experienced riders with two very new names.  "I hope the younger riders can cope with Aachen, it's a big ask but we want to give them a chance before we pick our team for the European Championships" he explained. 

NOT EASY

Otto Becker has also mixed two experienced and two relatively new recruits.  "It's not going to be easy for the less experienced ones - they will be jumping in front of 40,000 spectators on their home ground but I hope they can take the pressure and that we will have a good day" he said.  French Chef d'Equipe, Laurent Elias, knows his side can't rest on their laurels after their fantastic victory in Rotterdam two weeks ago.  "We too are looking forward to the European Championships next month so we've mixed two riders from our team at St Gallen with two from the winning team in Rotterdam - I hope it works out!" he said.

And Belgium's Lucien Somers, when asked if he was sending out his best team, admitted that he is missing Judy-Ann Melchior.  "Her good horse has been lame since La Baule but is back doing flatwork and we are hoping he will recuperate before the Europeans" he said.

QUOTES

Rob Ehrens, Chef d'Equipe The Netherlands, about his team lying fifth on the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the series - "We've had some chances we didn't take - I'd like to see us move up a place and stay well out of the relegation zone".

Emilio Puricelli, Italian Chef d'Equipe - "I think if we can manage to stay in the series this year we will be more competitive next season".

Derek Ricketts, British Chef d'Equipe, talking about his two relative newcomers Philip Spivey and Gemma Plumley - "Actually Philip is 38 so he isn't really a young rider!  He's quite experienced, he's done a lot in England and has competed very well in Italy.  He has brought along his horse from a novice winner at the Horse of the Year Show and gradually brought it to the top.  Gemma is only 22, she has done a lot in Juniors and Young Riders and she's a very tough young lady!".


MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™ - STANDINGS AFTER FOURTH LEG AT ROTTERDAM:
1.    USA                            -    29
2.    France and Switzerland          -    21
4.    Germany                         -    18.5
5.    The Netherlands                 -    17.5
6.    Belgium                         -    13.5
7.    Great Britain and Sweden        -    10
9.    Ireland                            -    7.5
10.   Italy                            -    4

MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™

A Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ event is organised as a five-star Nations Cup, i.e. a competition in which official teams representing nations compare their merit. At each event the teams gain points according to their placing. At the end of the season the team with the highest points wins the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ and the two teams with the lowest points are relegated to the FEI Nations Cup series (Promotional League). The two best placed teams of that series following the Promotional League Final join the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ for the following year.

The World’s Best Ten Teams: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Ireland, USA, Switzerland, Sweden, and Italy

The World’s Best Eight Venues
La Baule (FRA); Friday 15 May; http://www.labaule-cheval.com/2009/pages/accueil.html
Rome (ITA); Friday 29 May; http://www.piazzadisiena.com/
St. Gallen (SUI); Friday 5 June; http://www.csio.ch/
Rotterdam (NED); Friday 19 June; http://www.chio.nl/
Aachen (GER); Thursday 2 July; http://www.chioaachen.de/
Falsterbo (SWE); Friday 17 July; http://falsterbohorseshow.se/se/valkommen/hem/
Hickstead (GBR); Friday 24 July; http://www.hickstead.co.uk/
Dublin (IRL); Friday 7 August; http://www.dublinhorseshow.com/

The complete rules, latest news, results, standings and photos are on www.meydanfeinationscup.org

About the FEI: To learn more about the FEI, www.fei.org

About Meydan: To learn more about Meydan, the title sponsor of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup, www.meydan.ae


Media Contact:
Malina Gueorguiev
FEI Communications
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org