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SSL: Round 4 - Rotterdam preview
Friday, June 20th, 2008
At a lively press conference in Rotterdam, The Netherlands the
German team was drawn first to go in the fourth leg of the Samsung Super League
with FEI series which will get underway at 2pm local time tomorrow.
The
order-of-go is as follows:
1, Germany; 2, The Netherlands; 3, USA; 4,
Belgium; 5, Switzerland; 6, Great Britain; 7, Ireland; 8, Sweden.
Press
Conference director, well known Dutch TV and radio commentator Eduard Van Den
Bent, first announced some shocking news which was confirmed by Dutch team
manager Rob Ehrens. Albert Zoer's great horse Okidoki, not competing on the team
at this fixture but present on the showgrounds, had a horrible freak accident
while being tacked up just after lunchtime today. Messing about while his bridle
was being put on he grabbed the stable door with his teeth, but they became
embedded in the doorway and when he panicked and tried to pull away he suffered
a severe injury to his mouth. "Four of his teeth were completely twisted and
came out right out to the bone, but I'm glad to say that his condition is not as
bad as we first thought - I believe he will be OK" Mr Ehrens
explained.
Meanwhile Mr Van den Bent grilled the Chefs d'Equipe about
their teams prospects and other matters. When he asked Kurt Gravemeier whether
it is an advantage or disadvantage to start first in a team competition the
German Chef replied "you have to take it as it is - we have experienced riders
in our side and and sometimes the team that is first in the starting order is
the winner in the end". He named his selection for tomorrow's competition as
Ludger Beerbaum (Coupe de Coeur), Marco Kutscher (Cornet Obolensky), Meredith
Michaels-Beerbaum (Checkmate) and Marcus Ehning (Noltes
Kuchengirl).
Swedish Chef d'Equipe Maria Gretzer was bluntly asked if
there is any chance her side, who have finished last at each of the first three
legs, can do better this time? "I hope we can improve. We have had good starting
places before and we cannot blame our results on that but we have been lucky
here in Rotterdam before - hopefully now our luck will change!" she said before
naming her selection of Peter Ericsson (Jaguar Mail), Peder Fredricson (Arctic
Aurora Borealis), Linda Heed (Columbus) and Lotta Schultz
(Calibra).
America's George Morris talked about the importance of the
Samsung Super League with FEI series. "It is great for both the riders and the
sport around the globe" he pointed out. "Nations Cups are old, traditional
classes that must be preserved - I'm old myself!" he said, adding to the delight
of everyone in the room - "Rotterdam show is celebrating its 60th anniversary
this year and for me this is my 50th anniversary at this show so I'm celebrating
too!" Mr Morris's selection for tomorrow includes Geoffrey Welles (Armani), Anne
Kursinski (Champ), Laura Kraut (Cedric) and McLain Ward (Sapphire). Beezie
Madden sits on the sidelines this time out as George is armed with a whole new
squad with the exception of Kursinkski.
Irish team manager Robert Splaine
was asked what can be expected from his team this season. "Well we began well in
La Baule" he replied, "we were in second position after the first leg, but in
Rome we slipped although we had some good performances there and now we are
lying seventh. I don't under-estimate the opposition, we are competing against
the best eight teams in the world but I expect we will climb a few places this
week. And" he added, "I would like to compliment Rotterdam on the great
improvements here - the new warm-up arena in fantastic" he said. He was not yet
in a position to name his side but his five to choose from include the two army
men Capt Shane Carey (River Foyle) and Capt David O'Brien (Mo Chroi) along with
Cian O'Connor (Complete), Edward Doyle (Sequoyah Farms Utopia) and Niall Talbot
(Tequi D'I).
Great Britain's Derek Ricketts was asked how difficult it is
to create a team for the Samsung Super League with FEI final in September so
soon after the Olympic Games in August. "At the end of the season it is always
difficult - the calendar is busy and Calgary and Barcelona are two very big
events but the Samsung Super League title is always worth fighting for" he said.
He had not finally made his team choice either, but agreed there would be "a lot
of Whitakers" as brothers John and Michael and their niece Ellen Whitaker have
all arrived at the Dutch fixture along with Robert Smith and Ben
Maher.
Belgium's Lucien Somers said he hoped his team would produce the
same result as they did in the first leg at La Baule where they came out on top.
He was disappointed how things turned out at the third leg in St Gallen three
weeks ago where his team finished sixth - "we had a good first round but in the
second round two riders had a bad result, so we will try here in Rotterdam with
a team that combines some of the La Baule riders and some from St Gallen" he
explained. His line-up therefore includes Niels Bruynseels (Item de Quintin),
Dirk Demeersman (Tymoon Caloo Meerchen), Jos Lansink (Vanentina van 't Heike)
and Patrick McEntee (Ever Mury Marais Z).
Switzerland's Rolf Grass was
asked if this leg of the series will act as a pre-Olympic selection for his side
and he replied in the affirmative. "Yes, I would like to see good results here -
I have some different choices and I cannot say yet who will go to Hong Kong. I
hope we have a strong team here and that I can make a shorter short-list after
tomorrow" he pointed out. Christina Liebherr (No Mercy), Pius Schwizer
(Noblesse), Daniel Etter (Peu a Peu) and Steve Guerdat (Kador du Valon) will
therefore be staying on their toes....
Last but not least Dutch Chef
d'Equipe Rob Ehrens was put under the spotlight and he said he will be taking
his time to make his final decision about Olympic selection, but he was clearly
worried about Okidoki. "Hopefully he will be alright in a few weeks - we will
have to wait and see" he said. Winners in St Gallen, the Dutch team look very
strong once again season and they go into tomorrow's competition at the head of
the Samsung Super League with FEI leaderboard but closely followed by the USA in
second place, Great Britain in third, Belgium in fourth and Switzerland in fifth
and sixth places. The two teams under most pressure at this stage are the Irish
in seventh and Sweden in last place, the latter more than eight points further
in arrears and in need of something very special very soon.
Representing
The Netherlands tomorrow will be Angelique Hoorn (Blauwendraad's O'Brien), Marc
Houtzager (Opium), Piet Raymakers (Van Schijndel's Curtis) and Harrie Smolders
(Exquis Oliver).
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - LEADERBOARD AFTER
THIRD LEG IN ST. GALLEN:
1. The Netherlands - 16.50 2. USA -
16.33 3. Great Britain - 15.00 4. Belgium - 14.00 5. Switzerland -
12.08 6. Germany - 12.00 7. Ireland - 9.83 8. Sweden - 1.75
For
information on the Samsung Super League with FEI at Rotterdam, The Netherlands
on Friday 20 June check out WEBSITE www.chio.nl. Show President is Frans Lavooy,
Show Director is Emile Hendrix, Show Secretary is Joyce Lebon and Press Officer
is Anita Lussenburg - Email anita.lussenburg@ingram.nl.
The fifth leg of
the series takes place in Aachen, Germany on Thursday 3 July. Show President is
Klaus Peter Pavel, Show Director is Frank Kemperman and Press Officer is Niels
Knippertz - Email niels.knippertz@chioaachen.de. WEBSITE
www.chioaachen.de
FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST INFORMATION - ROUND 4 IN
ROTTERDAM:
Live NOS (The Netherlands) - Friday 20 June
16.50 Equidia (France) - Sunday 22 June 21.45 RAI (Italy) - Check local
listings TV4 (Sweden) - Saturday 21 June 10.00
Highlights CNBC Asia
- Saturday 5 July 15.00 CNBC Europe - Sunday 6 July 17.00 ESPN Brazil -
Check local listings ESPN Star (Pan Asia) - Tuesday 8 July 18.00, Wednesday 9
July 07.00, 08.00, Thursday 10 July 15.00, 21.00, Friday 11 July 04.00,
14.00, Saturday 12 July 01.30, 08.00 Eurosport - Wednesday 25 June 20.10,
Thursday 26 June 09.00 Eurosport Asia - Thursday 26 June 10.00 Finnish
Sport TV - Saturday 5 July 17.20 Fox Middle East - Friday 4 July 16.30,
Saturday 5 July 21.00, Monday 7 July 18.00 Setanta Sports (Ireland) - Check
local listings SuperSport (Pan Africa) - Thursday 10 July 19.00, Friday 11
July 01.00, 06.00, Saturday 12 July 09.00, Sunday 13 July 12.30, Monday 14 July
16.00, Tuesday 15 July 17.00, Thursday 17 July 00.30 Sport Plus (France) -
Monday 30 June 22.00 Sport TV (Portugal) - Check local listings TG4
(Ireland) - Check local listings TVE (Spain) - Check local listings WCSN
(USA) - Check local listings
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 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.
