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Dutch draw 1st at La Baule
Friday, May 9th, 2008
The Dutch team will be first into the ring as the 2008 Samsung Super League with
FEI series gets underway in La Baule, France tomorrow afternoon.
At the
draw held this morning, the order of go was decided as follows:
1. The
Netherlands 2. USA 3. Switzerland 4. Sweden 5. France 6.
Germany 7. Belgium 8. Ireland 9. Great Britain.
A number of
nations have nominated five riders but Switzerland and Germany have sent just
four so Steve Guerdat, Christina Liebherr, Jane Richard and Pius Schwizer will
be lining out for the former while Thomas Vos, Thomas Muhlbauer, Otto Becker and
Max Kuhner will represent the latter.
The Netherlands selection looks
strong with Angelique Hoorn, Marc Houtzager, Piet Raijmakers, Gerco Schroder and
Vincent Voorn to choose from while Belgium sends Niels Bruynseels, Philipe Le
Jeune, Patrick McEntee, Judy-Ann Melchior and Ludo Phillipaerts.
The
ones to beat however may be the British whose combination of proven and rising
talent includes Nick Skelton, Robert Smith, Tim Gredley, Ben Maher and William
Whitaker. British fortunes fluctuated between brilliant and disastrous
throughout the 2007 season so they will, no doubt, want to begin on a good note
this time around and then maintain their equilibrium as the eight-leg series
progresses.
American team manager, George Morris, is spoiled for choice
with a squad of six including Charlie Jayne, Anne Kursinski, Kate Levy, Nicole
Shahinian-Simpson, Will Simpson and Alice Debany Clero while the
recently-returned Irish, who clawed their way back last year after relegation in
2006, have the services of Denis Lynch, Cian O'Connor, Capt Shane Carey, Marie
Burke and Edward Doyle.
Like the Belgians, the Irish did not qualify for
this summer's equestrian Olympic Games in Hong Kong so they can concentrate
their energy on keeping their Samsung Super League with FEI hopes alive and
Irish team manager Robert Splaine said today that they have every intention of
doing just that.
Sweden has had to fight long and hard to stay in the
series over the past few years and team manager Maria Gretzer will be determined
to get a good early result from her squad that includes Peter Eriksson, Helena
Lundback, Frederik Gustafsson, Rigmore Arvidsson-Maggi and Lotta Schultz while
the French, relegated last season, will want their flag to fly high tomorrow
afternoon. French Chef d'Equipe, Gilles Bertran de Balanda, said today "it
wasn't bad luck when we were relegated last year - we had a bad season with bad
results but we will be back" so they will be filled with fire when they ride
into the ring before their home crowd.
France dominated this series
during the first two seasons in 2003 and 2004 before the USA registered victory
in 2005 but the Germans are the defending champions having taken the Samsung
Super League with FEI trophy in both 2006 and again last year.
The Dutch
however are in strident form in recent times and, second-placed finishers in
2007, they are likely to be a force to be reckoned with throughout 2008.
The annual battle of the elite show jumping nations in the world begins
tomorrow in La Baule at 14.30 local time.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE -
NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI -
2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
You can access all the latest Samsung
Super League with FEI news and information on website
www.samsungsuperleague.com
Want to know more? Check out the comprehensive
MEDIA GUIDE for the series, available in print (contact:
olivia.robinson@fei.org)and for download at www.samsungsuperleague.com under
"Media Guide" heading.
The Samsung Super League with FEI
consists of the eight most prestigious horse shows at which the world's eight
best national teams compare their merit. The Samsung Super League with FEI is
connected to the FEI Nations Cup series through a promotion/relegation system at
the end of each season.
Samsung Electronics, one of the world's largest
electronics companies, is committed to supporting international sporting events,
thereby returning corporate profits to the public and working towards a more
harmonious and equitable society.
