NAF Young Rider squad announced for European Championships As the 2018 FEI Young Rider European Championships is drawing closer British Eventing has announced the NAF Young Rider squad who will represent Great Britain in Fontainebleau, France, on 9th – 15th July.
In alphabetical order, the squad are: Lizzie Baugh on her own 10 year old gelding Quarry Man Sam Ecroyd on Adam Gillespie’s 14 year old gelding Kasseedorf Yasmin Ingham on Edwin and Sue Davies and Janette Chinn's eight year old gelding Rehy DJ Alex Kennedy with John and Andrea Kennedy’s 13 year old gelding Lissangle Cavaletto B (pictured) Mollie Summerland and her own nine year old gelding Charly van Ter Heiden Bubby Upton on Rachel Upton’s eight year old gelding Cola III First reserve: Richard Coney and his own 10 year old gelding Kananaskis Second reserve: Phoebe Locke on her own 10 year old gelding Union Fortunus Three riders who represented GB last year on the European Young Rider squad return this year; Lizzie Baugh, Sam Ecroyd and Alex Kennedy, as Bubby Upton this year moves up to Young Riders following her individual gold medal at the Junior European Championships in 2017. Yasmin Ingham last made a team appearance in 2013 at the European Championships for Ponies where she secured a team and individual gold medal, whilst 2018 for Mollie Summerland will mark her championship debut. Rehy DJ is a horse that was sourced by Uptown Eventing two years ago and is realising the potential we saw in him. The British Young Rider squad are kindly sponsored by NAF; NAF is one of the UK’s largest and most established manufacturers of equine supplements, their products are used and highly respected by many event riders which is reflected in them also being the trusted Official Suppliers to the British Equestrian Teams promoting Clean Sport as one of their key company values. Through their sponsorship NAF are supporting the next generation of British team riders via the Young Rider Programme, which helps recognise combinations for the NAF Young Rider team heading for the European Championships, and those aiming for the NAF National Under 21 Championships – which took place at Houghton International on 24th – 27th May. Experience the Luhmuehlen 2018 CCI4 cross country course with this drone footage. Some of the sport of eventing’s most famous names will be in action at Nunney International Horse Trials, which take place on June 15 – 17. Entries are at capacity for the competition with nearly 900 horse and rider combinations in action over the three days. Add in the glorious setting of Southfield House near Frome and it looks set to be three un-missable days of top sporting action. There is also the lure of an eclectic range of tradestands, located around the main showjumping arena, ranging from fine art to jewellery, and equestrian clothing to dog beds; and a popular eating corner, serving local food and beverages, that will satisfy every taste. But with horses and riders central to the three days, spectators will have the chance to watch top riders in action. The event has attracted some notable names including William Fox-Pitt, New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson and Tim Price, Alex Bragg, Tim Price, Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Tom McEwen. They are just a handful of the big names who will be in action. Also competing is Nunney Horse Trials committee member Sam Griffiths, the 2014 Badminton Horse Trials winner and Australian Olympian, who said: “It’s a beautifully run event in a stunning setting with well designed courses that flow really well. It’s a super day out for anyone with a love of horses.” Cross country courses have been designed by Helen West who said: “They’ve been designed to encourage positive riding at all levels. I want the questions to be obvious to the horses, with nothing to trick them. Balance and correct training will be key elements across the board, as will the ability to react quickly. I am very much looking forward to seeing horse and rider combinations attack my tracks this year.” The Duo-sponsored international CIC2* takes place on Sunday along with the intermediate, open intermediate and intermediate novice sections, and the novice regional final. On Friday BE100 and novice classes take place and on Saturday novice classes take centre stage. Organiser Bridget Parker said: “We’ve had a super number of entries and we’re really looking forward to three fantastic days at this, the seventh running of Nunney International Horse Trials. The course is looking fantastic with a lush covering of grass and a good bit of rain in recent days. It really is a great opportunity to get out into the countryside, enjoy the fresh air and the horses.” Entry to the event is free on Friday and £12 per car on Saturday and Sunday. The cross country for the CIC2* and intermediate classes is scheduled for Sunday starting at 10am, but there is action over the fixed fences on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with showjumping in the main arena in front of the house over all three days too. Visit www.nunneyhorsetrials.co.uk for more details. ollowing a successful partnership in 2017, SsangYong Motors UK is delighted to announce that it has extended its sponsorship of Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for a further five years.
Blenheim Palace Horse Trials takes place in Oxfordshire from 13-16 September 2018 and is one of the highlights of the equestrian year. With the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, it has one of the most beautiful settings of any sporting event in the country. Nick Laird, managing director of SsangYong Motors UK, said: “We are delighted to become title sponsor of SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the second year running and, moreover, to extend our contract until 2023. This agreement underlines our commitment to trials and our growing relationship with the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials team - which we are very much looking forward to developing for many years to come.” Blenheim Palace Horse Trials has become an integral part of SsangYong’s marketing activities and the brand’s biggest single sponsorship investment. Complimenting the firm’s focus on 4x4 vehicles and SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), the horse trials presents a perfect platform for the all-new SsangYong Musso pick-up truck, which goes on sale in the UK in July. Mandy Hervieu, Event Director of the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials, said: “For us as organisers having the support of a company like SsangYong allows us to make investments and improvements to the event for the benefit of all of those involved, which we hugely appreciate, while working with brands who are committed to our sport and have inspirational targets is just a bonus!” As well as the sporting action, the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials features excellent, carefully selected, shopping opportunities. There is a full and varied programme in the Attractions Arena every day, superb children’s entertainment and great food, ranging from locally produced outlets to a range of dining packages. Visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk to book tickets and for further information. Considerable changes have been made to the timetable of this year’s SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials (13th-16th September) in order to improve the experience of riders, owners and spectators during the event and to allow more competitors to take part. While spectators will still be able to enjoy watching some of the world’s best riders in the cross-country and showjumping phases of their classes on both Saturday, 15th September and Sunday, 16thSeptember, the showjumping for the prestigious young horse championship for eight- and nine-year-olds will now take place first thing in the morning on Saturday, 15th September. The cross-country for the feature class, Europe’s strongest CCI3* competition, will now start later than in recent years, at approximately 11am. On Sunday (16th September), the young horses will go across country first, from approximately 9.30am, and all the CCI3* competitors will showjump after lunch in the main Marlborough Arena. These changes will allow more horses to take part in both three-star classes, but will also enable the event to host a new Young Rider combined training class in the Marlborough Arena on Saturday and to host a SHB (GB) stallion parade and Horse Trials Support Group scholar demonstration of training on Sunday. For amateur riders, as well as the incredibly popular team and individual Eventer Challenge classes at 90cm and 100cm (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday), and the Sunday fun ride round the beautiful grounds of the estate surrounding Blenheim Palace, there will be a new RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) dressage championships in the Attractions Arena on Thursday. This will further enhance the fantastic range of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at one of the world’s major equestrian events. Event Director Mandy Hervieu said: “Blenheim is a popular location for amateur and professional riders alike and we want to try to give as many people as possible the chance to take part. The changes in the schedule will make life easier for the competitors and will allow us to have more combinations, which I know will be particularly welcomed by the overseas federations.” As well as the sporting action, the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials features excellent, carefully selected, shopping opportunities. There is a full and varied programme in the Attractions Arena every day, superb children’s entertainment and great food, from locally produced outlets to a range of dining packages. Visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk to book tickets and for further information. Britain’s Oliver Townend riding Cooley Master Class were crowned the winners of the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event after a nail-biting finale to the competition. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerRocana FST finished second, with USA’s Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous ending their Land Rover Kentucky campaign not only in third place, but also as the Land Rover USEF CCI4* National Champions. The final day of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event started in dramatic fashion with both Michael Jung and Christopher Burton’s horses instructed to go to the holding area during the final horse inspection. Tensions were high as the packed crowds waited eagerly for the leading riders to re-present, with both horses eventually passed by the judges. Over 25,000 spectators flooded the stadium in anticipation of one of the closest competitions in history at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event with only 1.2 penalties separating the top three riders, Michael Jung, Christopher Burton and Oliver Townend respectively. Fifth-to-go, Marilyn Little aboard RF Scandalous, displayed a text-book clear round finishing to an eruption of applause from the patriotic home crowd, hoping to see a US rider victorious for the first time since 2008. This dream was short-lived as next in to the arena was Great Britain’s Oliver Townend who produced the ride of his life to go clear, celebrating in style with his fist punching the air in recognition of his incredible round. This heaped further pressure on the final two riders. Australia’s Christopher Burton followed but had an unfortunate eight faults pushing Townend closer to the coveted prize. Only one rider could have prevented Townend’s success; all eyes fell on the three-time defending champions, Michael Jung and FischerRocana FST as they entered the arena, hoping to make history once more. On this rare occasion Jung was unable to clinch the title with four faults dropping him into second place to give Townend a well-deserved victory and keys to a 12-month lease of a Land Rover Discovery vehicle.
❝ It's a different world, it's something I have dreamt of for a long time. We have come a long way to be here and the owners have funded it so I am so grateful to them for this opportunity. The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of, if not, the best events in the world, the atmosphere is amazing and the fans are fantasic, it's been the best week!" Oliver Townend, Great Britain Townend continued to pay tribute to Cooley Master Class, “I have had him since he was four-year’s-old, he has won at nearly every level and never lets us down. He has suffered with injuries in the past and at some points we weren’t sure if he would even come through but the last two seasons he has been amazing, he has always been cheeky and extremely talented so it’s great to be here with him.” Michael Jung commented on his performance, “I am sad for FischerRocana as that was absolutely my mistake, but I am happy with our performance and I love this event, it is so beautiful. FischerRocana has been amazing and is incredible to ride, so I am pleased with her.” Courtesy of Revolution Sports Images Nielson Barnard (LEXINGTON, KY, USA) – April 28, 2018 – Germany's Michael Jung moves one step closer to re-writing history as he takes back the lead following a spectacular cross-country ride on FischerRocana FST. Australia's Christopher Burton was one of eleven riders to finish clear under the optimum time of 11.03 mins aboard Nobilis 18, keeping his score of 27.9 and putting the pressure on Michael Jung who has just a 0.4 advantage. Great Britain's Oliver Townend sits in third and fourth place with his eyes on a 'Land Rover double' to follow up his win at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials last September. Michael Jung spoke of his cross-country round, "I had a really fantastic ride today, FischerRocana was in very good condition and really enjoyed herself. At the Land Rover Head of the Lake I wanted to do four strides, but missed this. ❝ FischerRocana was really fighting for me and it makes me so proud she never gives up – she had an opportunity to run out but she didn’t and that’s what our partnership is all about. She jumped well and galloped fast and it was so nice to feel that she had great fun on a tough course like this.❞ Michael Jung, Germany Christopher Burton is looking forward to tomorrow's show jumping, "We are all used to sitting behind Michael Jung! To be honest, we are just so excited to be here, my horse went fantastically today and I am so grateful to my owners for funding this trip. We have a lot of work to do ahead of tomorrow and a long way to go yet, so for now I am just going to enjoy the run we had." There will be no room for error in tomorrow's show jumping test as only 1.2 penalties separate the top three, making the competition fiercer than ever. With 25,000 spectators expected to attend tomorrow's event, the home crowd will be eager to see Lynn Symansky (USA) claim a victory for the US for the first time in 10 years. Partnered with her thoroughbred gelding, Donner, Symansky currently lies in joint-fourth place just 3.8 penalties from the top of the leaderboard. Courtesy of Revolution Sports In his second year as course designer Eric Winter has taken the traditional line and reversed the direction of the Badminton Course. Starting as ever in the main arena over the familiar flower bed, the ASX Starter (1) riders head left to a choice of inviting Rolex Feeder roll top spreads (2), one of very few portable fences on this track.
Earthworks have created a mound on the way through the car park where there is an impressive fallen tree on the top, the HorseQuest Hump (3). This is designed to break up the natural flatness of the park on the way to the HorseQuest Quarry (4 AB), which Eric describes as back to being how God intended it, with a dry stone wall drop in and its counterpart coming left on the top of the incline. To avoid a flat out gallop there is a deviation through the trees to a very skinny brush with ditch to the fore on quite a sharp angle, the Rolex Grand Slam Skinny (5). It is then a right turn heading to Huntsman’s Close which this time consists of three very chunky logs on a tight turn (6 AB). The new Traders Table (7) then keeps the rhythm going before last year’s log into the Lake (8), the Wadworths Water, this time transported to the House end of the water hazard. The entry to The Lake proper is the same route as last year over another massive log, with a brush in the water with a sharp right turn to a narrow brush up the slope (9 ABC). For the first time in many years the Mitsubishi L200s pickups (10) now come after the Lake as the riders go in front of the tented village and jump left over the imposing World Horse Welfare Gates (11). Next comes a choice of maximum size parallels, the Formulate! White Oxers (12) and onto a natural Stick Pile (13). Turning right out of the Deer Park are a choice of corners (14), up a steep mound with a post and rails on the top (15) then down to another choice of corners away (16) at the Outlander PHEV Mound. Heading towards the Luckington Lane is a massive triple bar with a drop, the Devoucoux Quad Bar (17). The following obstacle is perhaps simpler this time with a rail in and a parallel out (18 AB) at the Eclipse Cross Pond, then up the small hill over a let up brush, the Vicarage Rolltop (19) to the Hildon Water Pond, which consists of a log, slope into the pond, a running water trough and a hedge up the incline (20 ABC). The yawning National Star Trakehner (21) is next before the classic KBIS Vicarage Vee (22, 23) and then back into the Park over a rail, down to a ditch and up and out over a narrow house (24 ABCD), the Shogun Hollow. The Countryside Haywain (25) comes next in front of the House, then it is the portable wooden box followed by the boxed in corners, the Joules Corners, formerly used in Huntsman’s Close (26 ABC). First seen last year is a very square BHS Table (27) then up past the steps to the Crooked S Bullfinch on the mound (28). Coming down the hill is a box brush followed by two skinny moustache jumps at an angle (29 ABC), Savills Escalator. Three from home is the old standard Fischer Brush (30), a beautifully carved single log (31), the Rolex Treetrunk and into the arena to the prize winning Shogun Sport Saddles (32). The general feeling of the course is rustically impressive. PRESS RELEASE Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials For Immediate Release 11/4/2018 BADMINTON PRESS RELEASE Entries have just closed for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2018 and we are in for another thrilling event in May. Last year’s winner Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) with the evergreen Nereo will again take on double Olympic Champion Michael Jung (Germany) and La Biosthetique – Sam FBW, 2nd twice and winners themselves in 2016. Great Britain’s leading challenger is probably Oliver Townend, another previous Mitsubishi Motors Trophy winner, with his Burghley champion, Ballaghmor Class – he has three other horses to choose from as well. Burghley runner up Piggy French is back for another crack while three of the four members of the team that won the European gold medal in 2017, Ros Canter, Gemma Tattersall and Tina Cook will all be among the starters. There are eight previous winners in the field – surprisingly both Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt are on the Wait List, but with a slightly smaller total entry than in recent years they are very likely to get a run. Paul Tapner and Sam Griffiths are back for Australia and who can ignore Mark Todd, the great New Zealander, another double Olympic Champion, 4th here last year and a four time Badminton champion. Olympic bronze medallist Philip Dutton comes across the Atlantic to represent the USA while there are representatives of 13 overseas nations to take on the host country’s finest. Attention will undoubtedly focus once more on Yoshi Oiwa from Japan, with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games on the horizon, while a change of nationality has come for Lissa Green, daughter of 6 time champion Lucinda and now riding for her father David’s native Australia. Gates open at Badminton on Wednesday 3rd May, when the 500 plus shops will all be open for business and the amateurs’ Mitsubishi Motors Cup takes place. The international event then runs Thursday to Sunday. Advance tickets have been selling in record numbers but there is still some availability via www.badminton-horse.co.uk. The full list of horses and riders entered may be found on the Badminton website here. Its now just under a week to go, until the 2017 Monart Sale.
With the Irish Sport Horse stud book leading the world in Eventing again this year (for the 22nd time in the last 24 years) don't miss this great opportunity to buy your very own superstar. With the largest selection of young Irish horses on offer can you afford to miss out? Can't make it on the day? No problem, simply register for phone bidding by emailing admin@monartsale.com with a contact telephone number by noon on Tuesday 7th November and we will contact you to arrange to do the bidding for you. After the horse inspection, where the Danish Peter Flarup did not present Fascination and where Cooley Cosmopolitan Diamond, the Irish Sarah Ennis’ horse, was refused by the jury, 39 pairs were on the start list for the show jumping of the 6 year old horses.
In this decisive phase, the British Izzy Taylor did not tremble with Monkeying Around. The pair, in the lead from the dressage test, came out of the ring without any penalty and holding on to the title of Word champion of the eventing 6 year old young horses. "I came here hoping to do well in this championship, but with a 6 year old horse, you never know ", Izzy Taylor said at the end of the championship. "Obviously I am very happy about this victory, because I have great hopes with this horse. The target is to come back next year and I hope to keep him under my saddle. But I have a family and stables to run, so maybe I will have a difficult choice to make in the future : keep him or sell him" The Australian Paul Tapner kept his second position with his grey horse Bob Chaplin after clearing the show jumping phase. "I am more than pleased with Bob who has been perfect during the whole competition. If I had not done this mistake in the dressage test, we would have been in the lead… Congrats to Izzy on her win : I will come back with Bob next year and we will win, because it is impossible for Bob not to win ! " Third after the cross-country, the Irish Elizabeth Power and DSL The Entertainer had a rail down on the jumping course, a fault that benefited the French Thomas Carlile, based in Le Lion d’Angers, and Birmane, French champion of the 6 year old category, who cleared the jumping course. "My mare was a bit tense during the dressage, because she was surprised to see so many people and excitement in an environment she is familiar with, but is much more quiet ususally. It was not necessarily an advantage to compete on home ground. But on the cross-country, she was as good as she can be, and behaved well, like in the jumping phase. She is a promising mare for the future, and the Mondial des 7 ans is already planned in her program for 2018, but the real target with her is Paris 2024". Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’or crowned in the 7 year old In the 7 year old World championship, 45 pairs were on the start list after the horse inspection were three horses were not presented : Santa Fee (Luca Bartolamei, ITA), Moonshine (Michal Hycki, POL) and A Best Friend (Jörg Kurbel, GER). With less than four points between the first eight horses and the leading trio in the same second, for sure the show jumping would be exciting to follow, and it was the case ! Third after the cross-country, the Australian Christopher Burton moved backwards to the 11th position with two rails down and three time penalty points with Lawtown Boy. The British Mary King was 2nd on the provisional ranking with King Robert and finally places 21st with 16 points ont the fences and 3 time penalty points. The leading pair from the dressage, the New Zealander James Avery and Vitali finished 6th after two rails down and one time penalty point. The New Zealander champion Andrew Nicholson, winner of the CCI 4* of Badminton last May, and Yacabo BK finished the competition in a fantastic way : 14th after the dressage, then 10th after the cross-country, they dominated the jumping phase and came out of the ring without any penalty with the 3rd position. « I was hoping to be in the Top ten with Yacabo, but with the young horses, you never know… This 3rd place is a great reward for him. He is good in the three phases, and I think he has the level to compete in four star competitions in the future. » The Bristish Izzy Taylor cleared the course as well, and finally places 2nd of the Mondial du Lion of the 7 year old with Direct Cassino, while she was 9th from the dressage test. In ambush from the dressage (6th), and in the cross-country (4th), the Olympic champion Astier Nicolas (FRA) rode a perfect course and beautifully won the 7 year old eventing World Championship with Alertamalib’or. « I was a little frustrated after the dressage because I think he deserved a beter score. On the cross-counry, he showed serenity. He was even a bit cold at the beginning. On the show jumping course, he did his job perfectly, and deserves this title, I adore this horse ! » LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF KENTUCKY THREE-DAY EVENT Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the iconic Kentucky Three-Day Event, and the United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) join with Land Rover North America to announce Land Rover is assuming title sponsorship of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, signing a four-year agreement. Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington April 26-29, 2018, the event will be rebranded as the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Land Rover has also announced its continued support of the United States Equestrian Federation, extending its deal with the federation through 2020.
Following eight years as Official Vehicle and five years as Presenting Sponsor, Land Rover has increased its support of one of America’s biggest and most prestigious equestrian events. One of only six Four Star Three-Day Events in the world and the only one in the Western Hemisphere, the Kentucky Three-Day Event annually welcomes over 80,000 spectators. Televised on NBC, the competition reaches over 115 million households across the country. Each year the Kentucky Three-Day Event attracts the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations vying for their share of $400,000 prize money. Previous equestrian stars in attendance include World No.1 and Rio Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung of Germany, who defended his Kentucky title this year to complete a record-breaking hat-trick of competition victories, as well as Land Rover Ambassador and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Zara Tindall MBE, who secured third place in the 2017 event. “Land Rover has a long-established connection with equestrian sport and we have partnered with the Kentucky Three-Day Event for eight years now,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “Expanding our partnership with this title sponsorship will further strengthen our relationship with the equestrian community, an important audience for the Land Rover brand.” Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) Executive Director, Lee Carter, said, “Land Rover is the perfect brand to step into the Title Sponsor role of the Kentucky Three-Day Event. The committed support of a sponsor like Land Rover and the loyalty of our fans and the broader eventing community are what make this event the best weekend all year.” EEI President Stewart Perry expressed his thanks to Land Rover, saying, “Land Rover has been a cherished partner of our event for eight years and we are thrilled to take our relationship with them to the next level.” Vicki Lowell, Chief Marketing and Content Officer of US Equestrian spoke of the news, “Land Rover represents premium performance and success, making them the ideal partner for the US Equestrian and our National Championship at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. We are so grateful for their loyalty towards Eventing and all equestrian sports in America and look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with them.” Following this year’s success, Land Rover is pleased to confirm the return of the ‘Ultimate Stable Experience’ in the sponsor village for all attendees. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to explore the ‘Ultimate Stable Experience,’ which will include a range of top equestrian apparel and equipment with live farrier displays. The seventh annual ‘Land Rover Tailgate Challenge’ will be back in action where Land Rover owners are invited to take part in the hotly contested event, which awards the most creative and best-catered Land Rover tailgate party with an exclusive prize. A selection of the latest vehicles will be on display on a specially designed off-road demonstration course. Ticket holders are invited to test-drive the newest Land Rover models which will include the latest Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, the all-new Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport and the all-new Discovery. 30-second royalty free license film A 30-second royalty free license film of the new Land Rover event title sponsorship announcement, at the Kentucky Horse Park, with Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team riders Will Coleman, Lauren Kieffer and Lynn Symansky, can be viewed and shared here. To learn more about the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event please visit: kentuckythreedayevent.com. About Land Rover Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For almost 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at www.landroverusa.com. About Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car marques. The company employs over 40,000 people globally, with 330 in the U.S. and supports around 275,000 more through our dealerships, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centered in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, India and Slovakia. At Jaguar Land Rover we are driven by a desire to create class-leading products that deliver great customer experiences. The largest investor in R&D in the UK manufacturing sector, we have invested £12 billion (USD$15.7 billion) in the last five years and in the current year alone will spend over £3.5 billion (USD$4.5 billion) on new product creation and capital expenditure. Last year Jaguar Land Rover sold over 583,000 vehicles in 136 countries, with nearly 80 percent of our vehicles produced in the UK being sold abroad. About The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is the nation’s premier Three-Day Event and one of the most prestigious equestrian competitions in the world. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation – FEI), the world's governing body of equestrian sports, has designated the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event as a ‘Four Star’ eventing competition, the highest designation, which is given only to the Olympic Games, World Championships, and six annual events around the world. “Land Rover Kentucky” is the only Four Star event in the Western Hemisphere. Known as the “Best Weekend All Year,” the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, April 26-29, 2018. The final list of competitors for the Eventing World Championship of Young Horses, held from 19th to 22nd October, is already complete. 23 nations will be there, among which are Russia, Estonia and Chile. The Isle-Briand Park is one more time about to live at the pace of this World Championship. During four days, the best riders on the planet will ride their future champions. The four days of competition will crown the two world champions in their respective generation. The rivalry promises to be serious with 62 horses on the start list in the 6 year old category and 47 in the 7 year old class. 23 nations on the list… …And Australia too ! Six year old World champion in 2016, the Australian Christopher Burton (team bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics and 17th on the world ranking list) will be there, on the start list of the 7 year old World Championship with his horse Lawtown Boy. International champions on the track ! The World team reserve champion and Olympic multiple medal holder, William Fox-Pitt, makes his comeback to Le Mondial du Lion, associated to the well-named Yes I Can, for the greatest delight of eventing lovers. He will be among a delegation of 12 riders coming from UK. The World n°3, the New Zelander Andrew Nicholson, will ride the 6 and 7 year old classes with Andre BTK and As Is. The 2008 German team Olympic champions, Andreas Dibowski and Frank Ostholt, will respectively take part into the 7 year old competition with Belfast 35 and Jum Jum. On the French side ? The French double Olympic medallist Astier Nicolas will ride Alertamalib'Or in the 7 year old championship. Team gold medallist, Mathieu Lemoine will also be there with Better Win, a 6 year old horse. Jean-Lou Bigot (7 y), Clotilde Bellas (6 y), Thibault Champel (7 y), Arthur Duffort (7 y), Gireg Le Coz (7 y), Cyrielle Lefevre (7 y), Cédric Lyard (7 y), Brice Luda (7 y), Fabrice Saintemarie (7 y) and the rider bases in l’Isle-Briand, Thomas Carlile (6 et 7 y), will be there as well. Provisional 6 year old entries Provisional 7 year old entries The USA’s Kim Severson won the main CCI3* class at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, 16 years after her first victory at the Oxfordshire event. The 44-year-old takes home a cheque for £16,000, and title sponsor SsangYong added a Tivoli 4x4 to the prize-fund this year, which was presented to Kim by SsangYong Motors UK CEO Paul Williams. Riding the Cross Syndicate’s Irish-bred Cooley Cross Border, Kimberley produced a perfect clear show jumping round to pile pressure on leading contenders and, when Germany’s Julia Krajewski on Chipmunk FRH and Pippa Funnell riding MGH Grafton Street hit two fences apiece, the US Olympian found herself the stunned and delighted winner. Laura Collett jumped a superb clear on her exciting prospect Mr Bass to rise two places to second. Julia Krajewski, who was sporting in defeat, finished third ahead of three British riders, Gemma Tattersall (Pamero 4), Pippa Funnell and young rider Will Furlong (Collien P 2) in only his second three-star contest. “I am thrilled,” said Kim. “It’s been a long partnership – I’ve had the horse since he was four. He’s had a few little issues but he’s always been competitive and a super horse. I knew he had a big win in him.” It’s Kim’s first visit to Blenheim since 2001 and the omens are good: her winning horse that year was Winsome Adante, with whom she went on to win Kentucky CCI4* three times, plus world and Olympic medals. Germany’s latest rising star, Julia Krajewski, rode a perfectly judged cross-country round on the nine-year-old Chipmunk FRH to retain her lead going into tomorrow’s final show jumping phase in the CCI***, SsangYong Blenheim’s showpiece class. However, she does not have a fence in hand over four-time Blenheim winner Pippa Funnell, whose luck turned with a foot-perfect performance on MGH Grafton Street. US rider Kimberly Severson, who won here back in 2001 on Winsome Adante, remains in third on Cooley Cross Border, and Britain’s Laura Collett has risen from ninth place after dressage to fourth on the impressive Mr Bass. “Chipmunk was a pleasure to ride,” said Julia, who scored her first four-star victory, at Luhmuhlen, this year. “I chose to bring this horse to Blenheim because he likes to go on and the course provided the space I needed. One or two of our landings were not perfect, but he kept galloping and jumping and I am very proud of him.” Course designer David Evans’s new track rode well with 46 clear rounds from the 84 starters, eight of which were inside the optimum time. SsangYong Motor UK will be the title sponsor of Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials for the next three years. Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, an event owned by the sport’s governing body, British Eventing, takes place in Oxfordshire from 13th-17th September 2017. With the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, home of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, it has the most beautiful setting of any sporting event in the UK. “Blenheim is one of the top international horse trials held in the UK, and perfectly complements the SsangYong brand focus on four-wheel drive and SUVs, vehicles particularly suited to those living in the country or who tow a horse box, caravan or trailer,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK Ltd. “As we prepare to launch our all-new Rexton 4x4 later this year, the timing couldn’t be better; Blenheim will feature prominently in our launch plans,” added Paul. Mandy Hervieu, Blenheim’s Event Director, said: “SsangYong joining us as title sponsor is brilliant news. We will be increasing the prize-money and enhancing our facilities for competitors, owners and visitors.” There are three international classes this year at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials: the CCI3*, the prestigious CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses, and the final of the exciting Event Rider Masters series, also held at CIC3* level. Blenheim also offers grassroots riders the chance to compete alongside their heroes with a wide range of amateur classes and a popular fun ride. There are excellent shopping opportunities, a full time-table in the Attractions Arena of displays and demonstrations and children’s entertainment. New course-designer David Evans is making exciting changes to the cross-country courses, utilising new areas of the park including the south lawn of Blenheim Palace, with new fences and fresh challenges built in to the course. Visit www.ssangyonggb.co.uk for more information about SsangYong UK. Full information about the event and tickets are available at www.blenheimhorse.co.uk Amazing performances from all of the British combinations in the final show jumping phase at the 2017 FEI European Championships, Poland, sees Great Britain taking home the team gold and individual bronze medals. Nicola Wilson was the final British rider to enter the arena this afternoon on James and Jo Lambert’s Bulana and, despite having two fences in hand to secure team gold for GB, Nicola pulled off a skilfully ridden clear round on the black mare to confirm GB as the 2017 European Champions. Nicola went into the show jumping phase in individual fourth place but 12 faults from third placed Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) moved Nicola up the leader board to eventually take the individual bronze medal on a score of 35.5. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and Michael Jung both produced clear rounds to take the gold and silver medal respectively. An ecstatic Nicola commented after her show jumping round; “I think I’m still pinching myself. I’m delighted with how Bulana has been this season and she’s been a superstar all week. She’s such a special horse and has just been fantastic this championships. I just can’t thank everyone enough, and I’m so pleased for her owners James and Jo Lambert. I feel very fortunate and lucky to have her, she’s a great friend. “It’s just been amazing. I feel so incredibly lucky – we’ve had fantastic support from the grooms and owners this week from start to finish.” All three of the British team riders put in fantastic clear rounds in the show jumping to ensure Britain’s place at the top of the team results. GB stalwart Tina Cook finished in individual fourth place on the young gelding Billy The Red (38.2 penalties), owned by Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson, and Championship debutant Ros Canter gave a masterful display on her own and Caroline Moore’s Allstar B to finish fifth in the individual rankings (40.2 penalties). Tina added; “We were really wanting that gold, it’s been a few years and it’s fantastic to be back in this position. It’s been such a strong team performance all week and has just been fantastic. I’m so pleased with Billy The Red, he is such an exciting horse for the future. There have been some amazing riders and horses here, and our support team have just been so brilliant this week.” Senior Championships first timer Ros said; “To be surrounded by this team and the whole of the GB team has just been fantastic. I don’t think it’s still really sunk in yet. It’s so exciting to be part of this team, with all their experience around me and it’s so special for us all. The excitement of it all is just amazing.” Gemma Tattersall and The Pebbles Syndicate’s charismatic grey mare Quicklook V, collected eight jumping faults to complete inside the top 10 in eighth place on 44.7 and Piggy French just tipped one fence on Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo to finish in 28th place with a score of 87.4. Following her round Piggy said; “It’s been a nearly but not quite week. Today he just rolled a pole in the jumping but was super everywhere else. He’s really stepped up this week – he’s definitely had his biggest year yet and he’s a very exciting horse; there’s lots to look forward to.” Gemma commented; “It’s obviously not what I was hoping for. I was really pleased with how she jumped in there, I don’t know what happened at those fences but I’m very happy with her and for the British team.” Team pathfinder Oliver Townend withdrew Angela Hislop’s Cooley SRS ahead of this morning’s Final Horse Inspection. With Great Britain taking the team gold on 113.9 penalties, Germany were left in the silver medal position on 123.00 and Sweden bronze with 148.4 penalties. Full results can be found HERE. Can anyone break Germany’s firm grip on the FEI European Eventing Championships? That is the question as riders, horses, owners, grooms and trainers from 19 countries, plus a host of volunteers, have been welcomed to the first senior eventing championships to be held at the Stragona Equestrian Center in Strzegom (POL) from August 17-20 and the first one in Eastern Europe since Bialy Bor (POL) in 1986. The German team is bidding for a fourth successive European team gold medal and world number one Michael Jung, whose extraordinary winning run began in Luhmühlen (GER) in 2011 with the great La Biosthetique Sam, will again be one of the favourites to take the title and, in the process, make eventing history. The Jung story continued to Malmö (SWE) in 2013, where he triumphed on Halunke, and then in 2015 he produced an unforgettable display of horsemanship on fischerTakinou, galloping through torrential rain at Blair Castle (GBR) in the Scottish Highlands to equal Ginny Eliot’s (GBR) record of three successive titles on three different horses and receive team and individual gold medals from HRH Queen Elizabeth ll. Now he will be trying to make history on Polish soil, and few would bet against him making it four in a row with fischerRocana FST, known as ‘Roxy’. The brilliant little mare is a dual winner of Kentucky CCI4* and won world team gold and individual silver medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA) in 2014. A mighty German squad includes three-time Olympic gold medallist Ingrid Klimke (Horseware Hale Bob), and recent Luhmühlen winners Julia Krajewski (Samourai Du Thot). However, nothing is ever predictable in eventing – that is the joy of the sport – and the name that has been on everyone’s lips this summer is Frenchman Thomas Carlile on the beautiful grey stallion Upsilon, a horse that is hugely talented in all three phases. Last year at the Rio Olympic Games, the French beat the Germans to team gold and they come to Strzegom on a wave of confidence. They may be missing the Olympic silver medallist Astier Nicolas, who is injured, but France fields riders of the calibre of Maxime Livio, currently ranked fifth in the world, and 2015 individual bronze medallist Thibaut Vallette. Remarkably France, so often the silver medallists, have never won the European team title, but they must surely feel the tide is about to turn. Great Britain have dominated the European Championships for many years with an unbroken winning run of eight titles from 1995 to 2009, and will be equally determined to regain their place at the top of the leaderboard, as will their new team trainer Christopher Bartle who helped Germany to three Olympic golds and multiple championship medals. The British squad is headed by Kristina Cook (Billy the Red), for whom it is an eighth European appearance. She is the only mother to have taken the European title, which she did convincingly in 2009 on Miners Frolic in Fontainebleau (FRA). The strong British line-up includes Luhmühlen runner-up Nicola Wilson on the exciting black mare Bulana - Wilson is the highest ranked rider here at world number four after Jung - plus newly crowned national champion Gemma Tattersall (Quicklook V) and Oliver Townend (Cooley SRS), who is ranked eighth in the world. Look out also for Belgium’s leading lady Karin Donckers, the world number 10, for whom it is a seventh European Championship, Belarusian Olympic rider Alena Tseliapushkina on Passat, Swiss brothers Ben and Felix Vogg, Swedish sisters Sara and Linda Algotsson and leading Irish couple Michael and Patricia Ryan. There will be teams from Spain, Italy, Russia and, for the first time in decades, Norway, coached by the great Finnish rider Piia Pantsu-Jonsson, world bronze medallist in 2002. The action begins tomorrow morning (17 August) when the dressage test starts at 10:00 CEST in front of ground jury Ernst Topp (GER, president), Sue Baxter (GBR) and Slawomir Pietrzak (POL). The Technical Delegate is Gillian Kyle from Ireland and great anticipation surrounds Saturday’s action on the cross country track designed by the German maestro Rűdiger Schwarz, who produced such brilliant sport for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Aachen (GER). History is waiting to be made – but who will be making it? See how you can watch all the action HERE. : Australia’s Paul Tapner secured his first win in the International Arena at Hickstead today when claiming the honours in the MS Amlin Eventers’ Challenge.
The popular Wiltshire-based event rider produced a perfectly timed round to win on board Bonza King of Rouges. His time of 127.75sec was enough to take the title ahead of Britain’s Abi Walters and Perfick Miss Amber (128.37sec). In third was Irish Olympic rider Joseph Murphy and his London 2012 horse Electric Cruise, finishing just behind Walters with a time of 128.64sec. Speaking at the press conference afterwards, Paul said that the MS Amlin Eventers’ Challenge is always a class he enjoys doing. “When you’re sat on a horse like that who is very careful, brave and fast, you’d expect him to excel in a class like this,” he said. Tapner, the winner of Badminton in 2010, announced a change in career direction last year, much to the surprise of the eventing community. “Everybody is confused that I’m not a professional event rider any more – I’m now an amateur elite event rider,” he explained. “My full-time job is being the digital and technology manager for the Event Rider Masters series. That’s my day job now and I do my riding around that.” Paul didn’t have the best of preparations for this class. He was on track to win an Advanced class at Aston-Le-Walls horse trials last week when he had a tack malfunction. “Bonza looked like he was going to win until his bit broke in two and I was careering flat out to a fence. Thankfully he pulled up to a halt without any further incident.” Aside from the top three, only two other riders from the field of 21 managed to produce clear rounds – Britain’s Georgie Strang (Cooley Earl) in fifth and Jeanette Brakewell (Forever Red) in sixth. Last to go was Britain’s Alexander Bragg, who had an unlucky 8sec to add to his time after knocking two fences down, which cost him the win but was good enough to put him in fourth place. Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was eliminated after taking a tumble at the Irish Bank, while Britain’s Pippa Funnell was desperately unlucky to fall at the final fence just yards from the finish line, having posted one of the fastest rounds of the day. Fortunately, both Pippa and her Rio 2016 ride Billy The Biz were back on their feet following the fall. “It was a thrilling competition to watch and we were delighted to see a number of our clients’ horses go so well," said David Ashby, Managing Director of MS Amlin. "Congratulations to the winning combination. Paul rode a superb round, and we hope to see him competing here again next year.” Earlier this afternoon, the USA’s Lauren Hough took the honours in the Bunn Leisure Trophy, riding the 12-year-old mare Adare. Lauren is based in the UK for eight months of the year at her partner Captain Mark Phillips’ yard in Gatcombe. “I kept up a comfortable pace without going too hard to keep the horse fresh for [the Longines King George V Gold Cup on] Sunday; I didn’t take every risk,” said Lauren, who was pleased to get a win under her belt on the first day of international competition. “It’s good preparation for Sunday and I’m feeling fairly confident – you obviously need a bit of luck, too,” she said. The first international class of the week was this morning’s Bunn Leisure Vase, which was won by Brazilian rider Yuri Mansur, who is based in the Netherlands. Riding the 10-year-old Inferno, Yuri saw off opposition from France’s Benoit Cernin in second. “He’s amazing – he’s only been in my stable since last week, I’ve only had him for 10 days. This is actually our first class together!" said Yuri. In the showing classes, the reigning British Horse Society Supreme Champion Jayne Ross secured her third consecutive Les and Nadia Edgar Supreme Hunter Championship with the mare Time 2 Reflect. Tomorrow’s feature class is the FEI Nations Cup, a two-round team competition. Ireland have been drawn first to go, followed by Switzerland, Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain, Brazil and the Netherlands. Tickets are available online or on the gate, while viewers can also watch the action live on Sky Sports or FEI TV. |
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