Federation Equestre Internationale

FEI Press News - August 4, 1999

- Pan American Games, Winnipeg (CAN), Eventing competition First Gold Medal for Bermuda in the History of the Games
- Executive Board Meeting
- Jumping Open Forum to be organised in Hickstead
- European Jumping Championship Press accreditation
- Samsung Nations Cup Series Preview
- CSIO Dublin (IRL) August 4-8
- 1999 FEI HUSKY PERA World Event Rider Rankings: The Kiwis dominate the rankings, yet again
- In Memoriam
- Eventing Euro on the Web

Pan American Games, Winnipeg (CAN), Eventing competition First Gold Medal for Bermuda in the History of the Games
Pan American Games, Winnipeg (CAN), Eventing competition First Gold Medal for Bermuda in the History of the Games Mary Jane Tumbridge on her aptly named horse, Bermuda’s Gold, won the first gold medal for Bermuda in the history of the Pan American Games. David O’Connor (USA) had to settle for silver after dropping a pole in the show Jumping test, which concluded the three-day event, while teammate Abigail Lufkin earned the bronze. Thirty-two riders started the event and 21 finished the jumping test.

The Team Gold medal went to the United States. Brazil the only other country to finish with a team, took the Silver.

Complete results and More News
on the Pan American Games website

Executive Board Meeting
The Executive Board held a meeting on 28 July 1999 in London (GBR). The following items were raised:

The Executive Board approved the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee to deal with the FEI Challenge. This Committee will be chaired by the Bureau Member Jane Forbes Clark (Chairman Group IV) and include members of the Jumping and Dressage Committees. This Committee will first deal with issues pertaining to the Caribbean region and subsequently to other developing regions.

A development pilot project for the Caribbean region was agreed upon. It will include the establishment of a Caribbean Regional Championship on borrowed horses, as well as the development of training and veterinary care programmes.

The Board agreed on a detailed TV budget submitted by the FEI TV adviser, Mr Alastair Martin-Bird. The budget primarily covers the World Cup qualifiers and the full implementation of the EBU contract in respect to the World Cup Finals for the following year.

Upon recommendation of the Jumping Committee, the Executive Board approved the new formula for World Cup preliminary competitions in Western Europe. All riders present at CSI-W have, on Friday, to qualify for the FEI World Cup Competition, to be held on Saturday. Eighteen to 20 riders are allowed to compete in the World Cup. This allows a one-hour TV programme, which will be broadcast on the same evening on Eurosport, in most cases from 9 to 10 pm. If no rider of the home country is among those qualified, the best-placed home rider in the qualification competition may compete in the World Cup as an extra.

Jumping Open Forum to be organised in Hickstead
In conjunction with the European Jumping Championship in Hickstead, a Jumping Open Forum will be organised on Saturday 28 August at 9:30 am in the “Press Tent” on the show grounds.

Among the items to be discussed are the Nations Cup, World Cup, penalties for refusals and knock downs as well as media matters. Participants will be welcome to raise whatever issue they wish.

Representatives of the National Federations, Jumping Committee Members, organisers, officials, riders, trainers, chefs d’equipe, owners and press representatives as well as any other interested persons are invited to attend.

European Jumping Championship accreditation
The Press accreditation form and Hotel and Guest House List are available upon request from the FEI Communication Department.

Samsung Nations Cup Series Preview
The first Jumping International event (CSI) Bratislava was held in 1965. In 1977 Bratislava hosted the first CSIO ever in the former Czechoslovakia (TCH). In the eighties Bratislava alternated with Prague as the TCH-CSIO. Since 1994 it is the annual CSIO of Slovakia. The show is on the attractive show grounds of the Slavia Club with 4000 spectator seats. The still active jumping rider Andrej Glatz is the President of the CSIO in Bratislava.

Fourteen teams are expected to compete in the Samsung Nations Cup on Sunday 8 August: USA, The Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Switzerland, Slovenia, Poland, France, Croatia, Sweden, Slovakia.

CSIO Dublin (IRL) August 4-8
The Dublin Horse Show has long been referred to as Ireland’s premier equestrian and summer social event. The Dublin Horse Show has the distinction of being the first recorded Jumping competition in 1868. At that time the show was held on the site where the Parliament House now stands. In 1881, the Royal Dublin Society, organiser of the Dublin Horse Show, moved to the present site at Ballsbridge. In 1926 the first CSIO was held, with Switzerland as the winner. Four years later, after a third win, the Swiss retired the coveted first Aga Khan Trophy, which is now on display in the Swiss Horse Museum in La Sarraz. In 1982 the Jumping World Championships were held in Ballsbridge.

Total prize money in the CSIO this year is exceeds of IR£150,000 (more than US$ 205,000) for 11 international classes with IR£66,000 allocated to the Grand Prix and IR£40,000 devoted to the Kerrygold Nations Cup, part of the Samsung Nations Cup Series. Seven teams are expected to compete for the Aga Khan Trophy on the 6 August at 3.15 pm: Ireland, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands and the U.S.A.

1999 FEI Husky PERA World Event Rankings: The Kiwis Dominate again!
Current World and Olympic Champion Blyth Tait (NZL) has joined his fellow countrymen Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd in the top three of the FEI HUSKY/PERA World Event Rankings. Thanks to his second place in Bonn- Rodderberg CCI***, Tait is now second in the Global Rankings (329 pts) behind Andrew Nicholson and ahead of Todd (313 pts). Andrew Nicolson, who has been at the top of the HUSKY/PERA Rankings since Badminton CCI****, leads on the score of 399 points.

Following the Pan American Games which took place in Winnipeg (Canada) from 31July to 2 August, three new riders entered the top ten: Kerry Millikin (USA) is now 6th (256 pts) thanks to her sixth place in the Games; David O'Connor (USA) in 9th place, just ahead of his wife Karen who drops down to 10th. In equal 10th place is also the third new entry of the Global Rankings: Eddy Stibbe (AHO) who finished 8th in the Pan Am Games.

The first European rider in the HUSKY/PERA World Event Rider Rankings is still Pippa Funnel (GBR) who drops down from 6th to 7th place.

In Memorium
Guido Dominici (ITA) a long time member of the Italian Nations Cup team died on 21 July, aged 40.
During last year’s World Equestrian Games in Rome, where he was a member of the 7th placed Italian Jumping team (finishing 13th individually), Guido Dominici did not feel well and had problems with his eyesight. A brain tumour was diagnosed and Dominici had surgery in December 1998. Although problems came back in March, Dominici competed again in the Nations Cup of La Baule (FRA), Rome (ITA) Lisbon (POR) and Madrid and in the CSI Barcelona (ESP).
A former student of Nelson Pessoa, Guido Dominici rode from 1983 to 1999 in 42 Nations Cup and in 23 World Cup Competitions.

Colonel Felix Topescu (ROM), the last of the successful Romanian riders before World War II, died on 5 July 1999, aged 93. From 1936 to 1940, Col Topescu rode in 15 Nations Cups. After the War, he became Secretary General of the Romanian National Federation. Respected writer and journalist, he competed in 1977 at the age of 74 - in the first European Jumping Championship for Journalists.

Hansruedi Bigler (SUI), a FEI International Judge in Driving, died on 28 July 1999 after a short illness. For 35 years, Mr Bigler was the Manager of the farm connected to the farming school in Schwand, site of several international Driving events.

Dr Heinrich Lehrner(AUS), the Director for many decades of the Lippizan Stud at Piber, died recently at the age of 79. Dr Med. Vet. Lehrner was a respected FEI International Judge in three disciplines: Dressage, Eventing and Driving. In Driving, he had the distinction of being an FEI Official Judge.

Eventing Euro on the Web
The Organising Committee of the European Eventing Championship in Luhmuehlen (GER) from 16 to 19 September announced the creation of a website dedicated to the championship: www.luhmuehlen.de, which provides information in German and English.

HorsesDaily Related Links
FEI / BCM World Riders Rankings
Visit the Samsung Nations Cup web site
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