The Samsung Super League with FEI leaders from Germany will be last into the ring for tomorrow’s seventh leg of the 2007 series in Dublin following today’s draw at the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds. The order of go will be as follows: 1. Belgium; 2. France; 3. Switzerland; 4. Ireland; 5. USA; 6. The Netherlands; 7. Great Britain; 8. Sweden; 9. Germany.
Belgian Chef d’Equipe Lucien Somers failed to arrive in time for the Draw Press Conference but his team’s unfavourable starting position had nothing to do with that despite much joking to the contrary. More new team managers have arrived on the scene with Anne-Catherine Carlsson, who shares responsibility for Swedish team affairs with Maria Gretzer and Peter Eriksson, taking over this time around, and Laurent Elias is conducting French affairs while British show jumping legend David Broome has stepped into Derek Ricketts’ shoes.
Only a few of the team managers were prepared to name their line-up - Rob Ehrens listing Ben Schroder, Willem Greve, Leon Thijssen and Henk Van der Pol while America’s Melanie Smith-Taylor, again deputising for George Morris, sends out her winning side from Hickstead which included Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, Molly Ashe-Cawley and Christine McCrea. Any disappointment Georgina Bloomberg may have been feeling when not receiving a call-up for the US has probably been compensated to some extent by the extensive press coverage, including front and inside-page pictures, of herself and new boyfriend - Ireland’s Cian O’Connor - in Ireland’s biggest-selling daily newspaper “The Irish Independent” this morning…..
David Broome has five riders at his disposal but has decided to leave Geoff Billington “looking after operations the training ring”, and he added “so we’ve got a team that includes one young person and three old hags!” - Robert Whitaker filling the former category and Nick Skelton, William Funnell and Robert Smith the latter. Anne-Catherine Carlsson said her side will consist of “old riders with young horses” and the Swedes have a lot to do tomorrow. They are the ones now lingering in that dangerous relegation zone at the bottom of the league table, 3.25 points behind France and 3.50 points behind the USA and time is running out - they desperately need a good result….
Germany’s Sonke Sonksen has called up Holger Wulschner, Thomas Voss, Heinrich-Hermann Engemann and Thomas Muhlbauer and Ireland’s Robert Splaine suggested that the German and American teams will be the ones to beat tomorrow. He is working hard to ensure Ireland’s return to the Samsung Super League with FEI series just as quickly as possible - the Irish don’t like being the outsiders at anytime.
The new footing in the main arena has been greeted with general approval - “this show has moved into the 21st century in a big way with the work that has been done with the surface” said David Broome. “And it will only get better as the roots deepen, giving horses more support on the turn” he added. Good reports from the riders suggest the €800,000 spent on completely re-laying the hallowed ground with a mixture of sand, soil and natural grass will pay dividends well into the future. “When you have top horses competing at top level you need the best ground and Dublin now has it” said Dutch Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens. “I’m also delighted that the old ring has been replaced with grass - we like to jump on grass” he pointed out and Switzerland’s Rolf Grass agreed - “yes” he said, “grass is good”…..
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 6 AT HICKSTEAD:
1. Germany - 37.75
2. Great Britain - 28.50
3. Switzerland - 27.75
4. Belgium - 24.25
5. The Netherlands - 22.00
6. USA - 19.50
7. France - 19.25
8. Sweden - 16.00
USA Starters and order of Go for Dublin
(Chef d’Equipe: M. SMITH TAYLOR)
3 Anthem KRAUT Laura Summit Syndicate
42 Vegas MCCREA Christine
132 Vicomte D ASHE- CAWLEY Molly Jane F Clark
92 Judgement MADDEN Beezie Iron Spring Farm
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!
FOR further information on the Samsung Super League with FEI in Dublin visit website www.rds.ie. Show President is Dr Austin Mescal, Show Director is Pat Hanly and Press Officer is Kayleigh Ckunningham - Email [email protected], Tel - +3531 2407289.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI - 2007 CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
ROUND 1 - La Baule (FRA) Friday 11 May; ROUND 2 - Rome (ITA) Friday 25 May; ROUND 3 - St Gallen (SUI) Friday 1 June; ROUND 4 - Rotterdam (NED) Friday 22 June; ROUND 5 - Aachen (GER) Thursday 5 July; ROUND 6 - Hickstead (GBR) Friday 27 July; ROUND 7 - Dublin (IRL) Friday 10 August; ROUND 8 and FINAL - Barcelona (ESP) Sunday 16 September.
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