World Cup scheduled at VeronaFiere 9-10-11 November 2007
FIIERACAVALLII VERONA HOSTS THE ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP F ERACAVALL VERONA HOSTS THE ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP
The Italian stage of the ROLEX FEI World Cup, as ever, is a major event and one of the eagerly expected events at the 109th edition of FieraCavalli. Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November: Hall 5 of the Exhibition Centre, for the seventh consecutive year, is home to the one of the most prestigious and exciting indoor appointments in the equestrian world calendar. Verona welcomes the third stage in the enthralling Western Europe circuit of the ROLEX FEI World Cup - one of 12 events opened in Oslo (Norway) last 14 October leading up to the final in Goteborg (Sweden) on 27 April 2008. In keeping with traditions, the impressive prize fund totals 232,000 euro - with 128,000 euro for the Rolex FEI World Cup Grand Prix alone. The top names in international and Italian equitation have always taken part in previous editions of the Verona event and this year once again sees important confirmations - so much so that the first rider to register was Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa, one of the all-time favourites for spectators in Verona. The Brazilian rider - Olympic Champion at Athens 2004, World Champion at the World Equestrian Games in Rome 1998, three times consecutive winner of the FEI World Cup Finals riding Baloubet de Rouet in the previous World Cup events in Verona - is always very determined. The programme of the International ROLEX FEI World Cup in Verona envisages 8 categories over three days of events culminating in the Grand Prix scheduled on Sunday 11 November at 14.00. Top riders and horses will compete for places in the prestigious finals during the preliminary competition on Friday 9 - that will also define the starting order for the Grand Prix itself. Saturday, on the other hand, will be dedicated to the "Piccolo" Grand Prix yet another major appointment and a splendid anticipation of the conclusive final event.
THE WORLD CUP IIN ITALY THE WORLD CUP N ITALY
The history of the World Cup in Italy took off five years after the launch of the event in Milan in 1983, when Palasport hosted the first stage. The following year, in the wake of heavy snowfalls that severely damaged the facilities of this site, the event was transferred to the Brianteo di Birago horse riding centre just outside Milan itself. The break caused by the lack of suitable facilities was finally closed in 1995, when the top international show jumping riders and horses returned to Italy - and its Italian home for the next six editions: Palasport in Casalecchio di Reno (Bologna). In Spring 2000, Fieracavalli staff met to candidate Verona as the new home to this prestigious event. The first "World Cup" held in Verona in November 2001 was hugely successful. The 2002 edition was quite simply superlative and involved the top 10 world riders in the FEI/GANDINI Rankings. The 2003 edition was also very successful: organisation and facilities were unanimously applauded by riders, audiences ands experts in confirming Italy as one of the best hosts for planning such top-level equestrian events. In the wake of organisational success for the FEI World Cup at FieraCavalli, the International
Press Office FEI WORLD CUP - EQUI-EQUIPE by Caterina Vagnozzi Tel. +39 063218857 Fax +39 063610419 c.vagnozzi@iol.it www.fieracavalli.com
Equestrian Federation nominated Italy as host country for the World Cup Final 2004 at the Forum Assago in Milan. ROLL OF HONOUR -- IITALIIIAN STAGES OF THE WORLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR TAL AN STAGES OF THE WORLD CUP OLL OF ONOUR TAL AN STAGES OF THE ORLD UP
YEAR SITE 1983 1984 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Milan Birago (MI) Bologna Bologna Bologna Bologna Bologna Bologna Verona Verona Verona Verona Verona Verona
RIDER Herve Godignon Eddie Macken Jan Tops Patrice Delaveau John Whitaker Rene' Tebbel Lesley McNaught Maendli John Whitaker Stanny Van Paesschen Rodrigo Pessoa Lars Nieberg Toni Hassmann Albert Zoer Gerco Schröder
HORSE Je T'adore El Paso Top Gun Roxanne de Gruchy Grannusch Radiator Dulf Welham O de Pomme Lianos Coreana Lolita H Oki Doki Eurocommerce Milano
NAZ. FRA IRL HOL FRA GBR GER SUI GBR BEL BRA GER GER HOL HOL
VERONA VIICTORIIES VERONA V CTOR ES
Top riders in international equitation in split-second challenges. Crowded grandstands: these are the ingredients of the Italian stage of the FEI World Cup since its debut at FieraCavalli 2001. The pilot edition of the FEI World Cup in 2001 saw Belgian domination. The top three places went to Stanny Van Paesschen (O De Pomme), Jos Lansink (Cordijana Z), winner of the 1994 Final and Gilbert De Rook (Neron De La Tourelle). After an excitng five-rider jumpoff, there were only two clear rounds - and Van Paesschen turned in the fastest result. The 2002 edition was won by Rodrigo Pessoa and Lianos, who he also rode to victory at WEG in Rome in 1998. Rodrigo, three-times winner of the World Cup, turned in two very fast clear rounds. The podium in 2002 was truly exceptional: just one-tenth of a second behind the Brazilian ace came two riders winning the FEI World Cup 2000/01 and 2002/03, respectively Swiss expert Markus Fuchs on Tinka’s Boy, second on this occasion, and German champion Marcus Ehning, third on For Pleasure. In 2003, victory went to Germany with the all-German duo Lars Nieberg/Loreana. The hardfought jump-off saw only three clear rounds: the German rider was joined by Frenchman Reynald Angot (Dollar de la Pierre) and Belgian Jos Lansink (AK Caridor Z) , both clear over the fences but slower than Nieberg who, taking part for the third time in Verona, finally won the Italian stage of the FEI World Cup. In 2004 - over a course that riders defined as very demanding and technical but free of traps German rider Toni Hassmann on Lolita H took the honours. For the young rider born in 1975, this victory was the perfect culmination of a career launched in 2002 precisely in Verona, when he won the qualification heat, that he repeated once again in Verona in 2003 by winning the "Piccolo" Grand Prix.
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The 2005 final was very tight. Forty riders qualified but only ten came through over the course prepared by designer Giovanni Bussu. The jump-off saw only five riders achieve clear rounds, including Juan Carlos Garcia on Albin III. Albin was in truly superb form and, stirred on by his supporters, Juan Carlos gave his all and only a hairsbreadth - a single stride saw the Grand Prix go by mere hundredths of a second to Dutch rider Albert Zoer on Oki Doki. 2006 saw another triumph for Holland with a one-two result by Gerco Scheöder (Eurocommerce Milano) and Leopold Van Asten (Vdl Groep Fleche Rouge). Forty horses and riders at the start set ten clear rounds - including three Italian "pairs". Jonella Ligresti came out fourth behind German ace Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (Shutterfly), in turn ahead of Pergiorgio Bucci on Da Zara Tabluetin (ninth) and veteran Giorgio Nuti on Jeff du Boele (tenth).
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FEI WORLD CUP BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FEI WORLD CUP
Founded in the late-1970s as part of a project by Max Amman and significantly supported by the International Riders Club, the World Cup has grown year by year to become the most important appointment of the World indoor Show Jumping season. It was originally arranged in just two qualification "leagues" - one in Europe and one in North America. The first year - 1979 - saw 16 qualification stage with a total of 171 riders representing 19 countries. Data for the current 2007/2008 season highlight the exponential international growth of the World Cup. The calendar envisages 123 qualification stages in 14 leagues in all continents. The roll of Honour currently includes 22 great names. Following victory by Austrian Hugo Simon in the edition, the next 10 years saw the highly-prized trophy go to international riders. It came back to Europe only in 1990 thanks to what many experts consider to be the all-time best-ever "team" English rider John Whitaker and his phenomenal, pure-white Milton. Since then, European domination has only been interrupted by Brazilian ace Rodrigo Pessoa and his stallion Baloubet du Rouet, winners of the prestigious final for 3 consecutive years (19982000). In 2006, the final for the first time in the history of the World Cup travelled to Asia and the splendid stage-setting of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The prestigious trophy is currently in the hands of Swiss rider Beat Mandli who won the finals in Las Vegas 2007 to become the second Swiss winner inscribed in the Roll of Honour. This feat had only been achieved beforehand by Markus Fuchs in 2003.
WORLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR WORLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR
YEAR 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 RIDER Hugo Simon (AUT) Conrad Homfeld (USA) Michael Matz (USA) Melanie Smith (USA) Norman Dello Joio (USA) Mario Deslauriers (CAN) Conrad Homfeld (USA) Leslie Burr Lenehan (USA) HORSE Gladstone Balbuco Jet Run Calypso I Love You Aramis Abdullah Mclain YEAR 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 RIDER Jos Lansink (HOL) Nick Skelton (GBR) Hugo Simon (AUT) Hugo Simon (AUT) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) Markus Fuchs (SUI) HORSE Libero H Dollar Girl E.T. E.T. Baloubet du Rouet Baloubet du Rouet Baloubet du Rouet Tinka's Boy
Press Office FEI WORLD CUP - EQUI-EQUIPE by Caterina Vagnozzi Tel. +39 063218857 Fax +39 063610419 c.vagnozzi@iol.it www.fieracavalli.com
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
Katharine Burdsall (USA) Ian Millar (CAN) Ian Millar (CAN) John Whitaker (GBR) John Whitaker (GBR) Thomas Fruhmann (AUT) Ludger Beerbaum (GER)
The Natural Big Ben Big Ben Milton Milton Genius Ratina Z
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Otto Becker (GER) Marcus Ehning (GER) Bruno Broucqsault (FRA)
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
Markus Ehning (GER) Beat Mandli (SUI)
Cento Anka Dileme de Cephe Shutterfly Sandro Boy Ideo du Thot
WESTERN EUROPE CIRCUIT CALENDAR ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP 2007//2008 ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP 2007 2008 – – – – – – – – – – – – 2007 October October November November December December December 2008 January January February February March FINAL 2007/2008 24 – 27 April Göteborg (SWE)
12 18 08 14 06 17 26 17 24 01 08 27
14 21 11 18 09 22 30 20 27 03 11 30
Oslo (NOR) Helsinki (FIN) Verona (ITA) Stuttgart (GER) Geneva (SUI) London-Olympia (GBR) Mechelen (BEL) Liepzig (GER) Amsterdam (NED) Bordeaux (FRA) Vigo (ESP) 's-Hertogenbosch (NED)
Press Office FEI WORLD CUP - EQUI-EQUIPE by Caterina Vagnozzi Tel. +39 063218857 Fax +39 063610419 c.vagnozzi@iol.it www.fieracavalli.com