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La Baule, France. With 100 years of tradition, the Nations Cup Show Jumping series continues to showcase the best show jumping riders and competition worldwide.
Provided by: http://www.fei.org/
ABOUT THE 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 2010 season the team with the highest points wins the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ and the four teams with the lowest points are relegated to the FEI Nations Cup series (Promotional League). Following the Promotional League Final, the two best placed teams from that series join the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ for 2011.
The World’s Top 10 Teams: France, the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Spain and Poland.
The World’s Best Eight Venues:
La Baule (FRA), Friday 14 May; Rome (ITA), Friday 28 May; St. Gallen (SUI), Friday 4 June; Rotterdam (Ned), Friday 18 June; Falsterbo (SWE), Friday 9 July; Aachen (GER), Thursday 15 July; Hickstead (GBR), Friday 30 July; Dublin (IRL), Friday 6 August.
The complete rules, latest news, results, standings and photos are on www.meydanfeinationscup.org
To learn more about the FEI go to www.fei.org
To learn more about Meydan, the title sponsor of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup, go to www.meydan.ae
Below provided from: http://www.labaule-cheval.com/2010/pages/accueil-gb.html
The Nations Cup (200 000 €uros in prize money), Friday, May 14: The first stage of the 8 prestigious FEI Nations Cup competitions for 2010 will begin in La Baule.
La Baule (FRA), Rome (ITA), St-Gallen (SWI), Rotterdam (PB), Falsterbö (SWE), Aachen (GER), Hickstead (GB) and Dublin (IRL): eight opportunities to write equestrian history !
Once again, the Meydan FEI Nations Cup (former Super League), will begin its season in La Baule with the ten best nations competing for the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup title.
This first stage of the Meydan FEI Nations Cups is the first important rendez-vous of the Nations Cup Series, as well as the first key event of the International Jumping of France-La Baule. It is also, just four months away from the World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
The Nation Cups circuit can now be referred to as the «Club of 10»: France (2009 winner), Germany , Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the United States and Great Britain (the Court of Arbitration for Sport has just rendered its decision to allow the team of Great Britain compete in the Top League of the Nations Cup).
Once again, the ten top nations will have to prove themselves at the highest level.
Every coach struggles to find a winning strategy while providing balance to his/her team (riders and horses) in the pursuit of victory and the reward of seeing their flag flying to the music of their national anthem.
The Meydan FEI Nations Cup is a unique show jumping competition that transforms individual goals into a collective team effort.
La Baule is Act I! Let the show begin!
Below PRESS RELEASE from Website International Jumping of France: www.labaule-cheval.com
MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP: France wins with Class
Victors of the 2009 Meydan FEI Nations Cup season, France could not have better started this
season! This French victory is beautiful present for La Baule’s 50 years of Official Jumping.
Like every year in La Baule, the Nations Cup competition started with an inspiring Parade of
Nations. The Polish team was moved by the heart warming standing ovation for their first Meydan
FEI Nations Cup participation.
The French and American couples were considered favorites from the start. The Olympic team
champion couple, Mclain Ward and Sapphire were among the American team along with Richard
Spooner riding Cristallo. The French four were represented by Pénélope Leprévost with
Topinambour, Michel Robert and his Kellemoi de Pepita, Olivier Guillon coupled with Lord de
Theize and Kevin Staut riding his Kraque Boom (European Champion title holders).
Great Britain was also well represented with experienced riders such as Michael Whitaker riding
Gig Amai and Peter Charles coupled with Murka’s Pom d’Ami. This year’s Dutch team included
the World Champion team title holder Gerco Schröder associated with Eurocommerce New
Orleans and the reputed German team is never meant to be underestimated.
At first, the jump course designed by Frederic Cottier did not seem to pose major problems. “From
looking at the Start List, I thought that the competition would most likely be a battle between the
Americans and the French. However, in planning the jump course, I did not want to make it too
difficult for the other nations and not tire the horses for Sunday’s Grand Prix. My objective was to
present a technically challenging course for the riders and require the horses to gallop at a rapid
pace. Some thought the course to be too easy however the 87 second allowed time sufficiently
challenged all levels.”
The course’s hidden difficulties were quickly discovered in the First Round. The triple jump (n°4)
followed by the vertical (n°5) and also the vertical (n°9) and the double jump (n°12) resulted in
faults by many couples. Poland and the Netherlands respectively totalled 20 and 12 penalities not
allowing them to return to the second round.
Spain held its own by scoring a total of only 5 points during the First Round ranking next to the top
performing nations with a total of four points each: the USA, France and Great Britain. It should be
noted that Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon Muro and Hérald 3 performed a magnificent clear round.
Only 8 of the 10 teams qualified to compete in the Second Round. Spain lived hopeful ups and
downs for a place on the podium during the exciting second round of the Nations Cup. Pilar
Lucrecia Cordon Muro and Herald 3 tallied four faults followed by a beautiful clear round by Julio
Arias Cueva and Jarnac. Jesus Garmendia Echevarria and Lord du Mont Milon left the arena with
a total of 5 faults. Unfortunately, Sergio Alvarez Moya was unable to compete in the Second
Round because Madame Pompadour was injured during the warm-up.
With a Second Round performance worthy of their reputation, the Germans totalled 12 points (two
clear rounds and one fault) and repositioned themselves back in the game. The Brits continued to
put up a good fight as well with Michael Whitaker and Gig Amai with two bars down and Scott
Brash and Intertoy Z riding clear. Mark Armstrong and Thesaura’s performance was less
encouraging when he literary went right through the second jump of the triple and had one bar
down in the double. Peter Charles and Murka’s Pom d’Ami saved the day for the British team with
a clear round. Their team score of 12 points tied with German’s.
The USA and French battled for first place throughout the entire second round. Richard Spooner
and Cristallo completed his second impressive clear round for the day followed by Pénélope
Leprévost and Topinambour’s result with one bar down (similar to their First Round performance.
” My horse is a little bit too green but I am very proud of him. I did not ride my best but I am
honoured to belong to this wonderful team who performed magnificently.”
Hillary Dobbs and Quincy B (USA) totalled 9 points followed by Michel Robert and Kellemoi de
Pepita’s (FRA) second glorious clear round. The American, Mario Deslauriers and Urico put thier
team back on track with his impressive clear round. France came back with another superb second
clear round signed by Olivier Guillon and Lord de Theize. Finally, Mclain Ward and Sapphire left
the ring with four faults (dito from the First Round) and the pressure was on France’s Kevin Staut
and Kraque Boom for his ride of the day. Unlike the First Round, the European Champion title
holder performed a brilliant performance which clinched France’s victory for the first stage of the
Meydan FEI Nations Cup!
”The public in La Baule is fantastic! You can feel their support which motivates us to perform even
better” says Laurent Elias obviously still moved by this La Baule victory which has not been won
since 2003. Laurent Elias first expressed thanks to his team, “I thank each and every one of you for
mobilizing here today! You really proved what you can do as a team! It was a remarkable
performance and an extraordinary example of team spirit!
Olivier Guillon also added his supporting comments regarding the team, “We have worked hard to
be where we are today. We have principally worked on the flat..where your horse learns exactly
when to respond to you. That’s how you get results. It takes hours of work, in the rain, in the cold
and as Laurent said, “dedicated work eventually pays off.”
Michel Robert did not hide his emotions especially during the awards ceremony. « I am so happy
to win with this fantastic team! When Laurent asked me to participate on the team, I said yes right
away. Winning a five star event is really great but winning as a team is even better!
Kevin Staut concluded, « I agree with Olivier and my other teammates. To be here today requires
an exceptional organization behind us. You only see the four of us competing, yet there is such a
collective and professional support network behind us. I am so thankful and so proud to be a part
of this team!
