Equestrian News NI » international eventing

William Fox-Pitt Returns to World Eventing Number One Slot

News Desk — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 06:43:57 +0000

William Fox-Pitt (GBR) & Chilli Morning – Cross Country – Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – CCI4* – Badminton, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom – 09 May 2015

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the multiple Olympic, World and European medallist, is back as world Eventing number one after victory in last month’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™.

He had held on to the world number one slot for a year until last month, when Michael Jung (GER), who became the first Eventing athlete to hold the European, world and Olympic titles simultaneously in 2012, jumped to the top of the FEI World Eventing Rankings for the first time in his career.

Fox-Pitt and Jung have now switched places again, with Fox-Pitt holding a 15-point lead over second-placed Jung. The USA’s Boyd Martin is in third, just one point ahead of Andrew Nicholson (NZL) in fourth on 486 points.

Four of the world’s most successful female Eventing athletes are now in the FEI World Eventing Rankings top 10. Jonelle Price (NZL), fifth, is just 50 points ahead of London 2012 Olympic team gold medallist Ingrid Klimke (GER) in sixth, while Belgium’s Karin Donckers has dropped one place to eighth. Nicola Wilson (GBR), London 2012 Olympic team silver medallist, now completes the top 10 after her meteoric rise from 18^th, and slots in just 21 points behind Jonelle Price’s husband Tim in ninth.

View the full FEI World Eventing Rankings here.

Two Top 20s For Ireland at Four Star Kentucky

News Desk — Fri, 01 May 2015 06:35:07 +0000

IRISH riders achieved two top twenty places at the prestigious Rolex Kentucky four-star event in the US at the weekend.

Written by Colin McClelland

Austin O’Connor and the Irish Sport Horse Balham Houdini finished on a combined penalty score of 75.2 in 16th place, while another Irish Sport Horse, Luckaun Quality, took Tim Bourke to 18th place on 78.5.

Winner of the three-day event was Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST, with a total of 39.3 penalties.

A total of six Irish Sport Horses also finished in the top ten at Kentucky, with Britain’s William Fox-Pitt in fourth place on Bay My Hero, the USA’s William Coleman and Obos O’Reilly claiming sixth, with another US rider, Boyd Martin in seventh on Master Frisky.

Britain’s Nicola Wilson was eighth on Annie Clover, the USA’s Phillip Dutton ninth aboard Fernhill Fugitive, and Australia’s William Levett tenth with Improvise.

At Ireland’s three-day event in Ballindenisk, Co. Cork, Bandon’s Michael Ryan was best of the Irish with a third place in the CCI3* with Dunlough Striker (ISH), while Joseph Murphy claimed fifth on DHL Top Story. The three-star was won by Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti on Oplitas.

In the CCI2* Ciaran Glynn and Gee Que (ISH) placed fourth in a competition won by Britain’s Oliver Townend and Mr Hiho, while Joseph Murphy again featured in the one-star, finishing fourth on Bellscross Starlight (ISH)(TIH), with Conor Maguire in sixth with Derroon Wood (ISH)(TIH). The class was won by Britain’s Piggy French and Morswood.

The Irish Nations’ Cup team of Sarah Ennis on Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH), Joseph Murphy with Westwinds Hercules (ISH), Sam Watson on Horseware Lukeswell (ISH)(TIH) and Aoife Clark partnering Arco BB with a final score of 159.3 narrowly failed to overtake the leading British team, but forced France into third. The British foursome ended on 143.4, while Ireland finished in second place with 152.3. France had 159.3 at the end of play.

Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH) took overall second place individually, with Britain’s Emilie Chandler and Gino Royale just 2.6 penalties ahead in first.

Murphy Best of Irish in Ballindenisk 3 Star, Ireland Second in Nations’ Cup

News Desk — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 08:59:42 +0000

MULLINGAR’S Joseph Murphy was best of the Irish in the CCI3* event at Ballindenisk, Co. Cork on Sunday, taking third place on DHI Top Story on his dressage score of 58.0, incurring zero penalties in the show jumping and cross country phases. Cork’s Michael Ryan placed fifth with Dunlough Striker (ISH) on 60.6. The three-star was won by Britain’s Emily Gilruth with a score of 46.1.

Meanwhile, the Irish Nations’ Cup team of Sarah Ennis on Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH), Joseph Murphy with Westwinds Hercules (ISH), Sam Watson on Horseware Lukeswell (ISH)(TIH) and Aoife Clark partnering Arco BB with a final score of 159.3 narrowly failed to overtake the leading British team today, but forced France into third. The British foursome ended on 143.4, while Ireland finished with 152.3. France had 159.3 at the end of play.

Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH) took overall second place individually, with Britain’s Emilie Chandler and Gino Royale just 2.6 penalties ahead in first.

The CCI2* saw Ciaran Glynn in fourth place with Gee Que (ISH), with Britain’s Oliver Townend claiming first on Mr Hiho, while the CCI1* had Conor Maguire and Derroon Wood (ISH)(TIH) in fourth, and Kerri Lyons on Olympic Cool (ISH) finishing in sixth.

FEI Classics™: Outstanding field heads for Pau as new season kicks off

News Desk — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:46:06 +0000

Andrew Nicholson, HSBC Rankings leader, is pictured here with Avebury at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013 – he heads to the first leg of the 2013/2014 FEI Classics™ at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4* with Viscount George, Quimbo and Mr Cruise Control, a seasoned Pau campaigner. (Photo: Fiona Scott-Maxwell/FEI).

Written by Kate Green

An exceptionally strong field is heading for Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4* in the French Pyrenees this weekend (24-27 October) for the first leg of the 2013/2014 FEI Classics™. Twelve nations are fielding riders, many of them world leaders, and over 80 horses have been entered.

The FEI Classics™ series has captured riders’ imagination ever since it began in 2008 with generous funding from HSBC, whose contract ends in December this year.

“The FEI Classics is one of Eventing’s great success stories and has become more and more exciting as riders plan their seasons carefully so that they can travel to more events,” explains Catrin Norinder, FEI Director Eventing.

“We have had a fantastic six years with HSBC, and while we are actively looking for another title sponsor, the FEI plans to maintain this popular series, with a US $120,000 prize fund. Everyone is very much looking forward to another season which will kick off in great style with a fantastic entry for Pau.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who last month became the first non-British winner of the HSBC FEI Classics™ in spectacular style with four CCI4* wins, is heading to Pau with three horses. The current HSBC Rankings leader rides Viscount George plus two of those CCI4* winners: Kentucky winner Quimbo and Luhmühlen victor Mr Cruise Control, a seasoned Pau campaigner.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), a three-time winner of the HSBC FEI Classics™ and the 2011 Pau winner, also has three experienced horses: world silver medalist Cool Mountain, Seacookie TSF and Neuf Des Coeurs, fourth at Luhmühlen this year.

Other leading riders include Christopher Burton on Tempranillo and Lucinda Fredericks with her Olympic horse Flying Finish for Australia; European team gold medalist Andreas Dibowski (GER) with FRH Butts Leon and FRH Fantasia, and European team silver medalist Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE) with Shamwari 4.

A strong American contingent includes Marilyn Little on RF Demeter and Phillip Dutton with Mr Medicott, and the home side is well represented by European team bronze medalists Arnaud Boiteau (FRA) on Quoriano ENE HN and Donatien Schauly (Pivoine des Touches).

British team member Lucy Wiegersma will be hoping for better luck with Simon Porloe after their unlucky fall at the HSBC FEI European Championships in Malmö (SWE), and Bettina Hoy (GER) will be pleased to get the Dressage phase over with Lanfranco TSF, as the talented but enigmatic gelding played up dramatically at both Luhmühlen and Burghley this year. Hoy also rides the exciting prospect Designer 10.

The following nations are represented: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden and the USA.

The action gets underway with the first horse into the Dressage arena at 8.30am on Thursday. Watch all the Cross Country and Jumping action live on FEI TV over the weekend at www.feitv.org and keep up to date with the scores throughout onwww.event-pau.fr.

FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 calendar

1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 23-27 October 2013

2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 14-17 November 2013

3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) – 23-27 April 2014

4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 8-11 May 2014

5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by DHL Paket (GER) – 12-15 June 2014

6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 4-7 September 2014

Britain’s “Summer of Sport” To Peak at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

News Desk — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 09:12:52 +0000

Wimbledon, the Ashes, the Tour de France… Can Britain’s second “summer of sport” climax with a Land Rover Burghley home win?

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September) has long been a major highlight of the British equestrian season. Set in the stunning grounds of Burghley House, one of Britain’s most historic houses, the Lincolnshire event marks the end of summer, and top riders from around the globe focus on it as their end-of-year aim.

This year, with 2014’s World Equestrian Games looming on the horizon, the entries are strong with 11 countries represented.

Land Rover Burghley will bring together five former winners – including the victorious horse-and-rider partnerships from the past two runnings, New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson and Avebury and British superstar William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk. They will face serious opposition from the 29-year-old Kiwi sensation, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton’s winner Jock Paget, joined by an army of top British event riders such as Pippa Funnell, Tina Cook and Oliver Townend.

As well as the majority of the world’s top event horses, Land Rover Burghley will showcase the equine stars of the future in Friday’s prestigious Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final. And after a very successful debut in 2012, the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class, a qualifier for the Horse of the Year Show, takes place on Sunday following a Parade by National Hunt legends Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges.

But Land Rover Burghley isn’t just all about the horses. The event is world-famous for its shopping. Great care and thought goes into selecting a vast range of retailers offering stylish, original – and delicious – products.

New to the Event in 2013 is Hermès – the Paris-based luxury goods retailer. Many people will leave Land Rover Burghley this September dreaming of an exquisite, hand-made Hermès saddle!

The Food Walk will offer a superb range of mouth-watering treats to eat. A multitude of avenues and a total of seven specialist pavilions offer a wealth of variety; the Green Lifestyle Pavilion showcases the best in innovative, natural, organic and eco-friendly products, the Country Living Magazine Pavilion includes the very best on offer from Britain’s independent designers and artisans and not to be missed are the two Rural Crafts Marquees.

The Burghley LifeStyle Pavilion brings together over 40 companies selling unusual and stylish products for you and your home, many of which are exclusive to Burghley and at last, but not least there are two dedicated equestrian pavilions, World or the Horse and the Horse Village.

And that’s only a mention of the vast choice on offer to tempt the casual – or serious – shopper.