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SSL: Germans have it again at Hickstead
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
An almost completely unknown German team swept to victory at the sixth leg of
the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series in Hickstead this afternoon while
for Great Britain it was also a special day. To the delight of the home crowd a
new star was born in the shape of super-talented 22 year old Charlotte Platt who
completed the only double-clear of the competition to help her side to secure
joint-runner-up spot with Sweden.
The Swedes at last got the break they
deserved, challenging strongly throughout, but for the 2007 Hickstead winners
from the USA it was a bad day, Michael Morrissey's sensational elimination in
both rounds and a crippling total score of 61 putting paid to any chance of a
repeat.
The Netherlands was hampered by the enforced withdrawal of
anchorman Wout Jan Van der Schans when his stallion Sir Corland left the arena
looking lame at the end of round one and they had to settle for seventh place
from the eight starting nations. Belgium finished sixth ahead of Ireland in
fifth while Switzerland slotted into fourth place.
THE
TRACK....
This was the third year for Kelvin Bywater to create the
Hickstead track and the designer presented a clever course that utilised all the
undulations of this world-famous arena. There was plenty of drama, and, as
German team member Philipp Weishaupt pointed out - "this is a very difficult
arena to ride in - it is so big and there is a big difference when the poles are
six metres wide. You go and go and still the fences never seem to get any
closer!" he pointed out.
Starting out over a vertical there was a
right-hand turn to a triple bar followed quickly by a 1.58m white gate which
proved the bogey in the opening round. The run to the following double at four
was downhill all the way and the front bar fell repeatedly while the following
vertical also claimed a number of victims. Then it was left-handed on an uphill
slope to another double followed by the formidable Hickstead planks before
kicking on to the open water at fence eight which, in keeping with Hickstead's
tradition, produced a few heart-stopping moments.
The vertical at nine
was followed by a loop to a cream-coloured oxer and then the final question came
with a second triple-bar at fence 11 and the final double. There was a
five-stride distance here but with the ground falling away on the landing side
it was essential to avoid over-jumping the former in order to leave the latter
intact.
BRITAIN TAKES THE LEAD...
The home side had the whip hand
at the end of round one when collecting just eight faults but they were closely
followed by Sweden and Germany sharing 12. The British advantage was achieved
through clear rounds from newcomer Platt, who rode the course like an
old-stager, and the considerably more experienced Michael Whitaker whose nine
year old mare Wonami van Den Aard seemed to be jumping a little
green.
The Swedes opened with a four-fault result for Lotta Schultz and
Calibra but could have been unnerved when Erika Lickhammer and Magic Dream
picked up 16. However Helena Lundback pulled it back for them with a
foot-perfect run from Madick and then Royne Zetterman and Isaac returned with
eight to seal the 12-fault first round tally. The Germans were much more
consistent however, all four riders lowering just one fence each to leave them
on level pegging.
The Swiss were lying fourth as round two began carrying
a score of 20 while The Netherlands and Ireland shared fifth place with 21
faults each but the Americans were in deep trouble with 48 faults already on
their scoresheet. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson was US pathfinder and returned with a
disastrous total of 28 while Hillary Dobbs lowered four fences when next to fly
the flag. Michael Morrissey's first round came to an end when his gelding,
Crelido, refused to have anything to do with the open water but Lauren Hough and
Quick Study picked up just four when last to go.
GOOD
RECOVERY....
The US made a good recovery second time out -
Shahinian-Simpson suddenly getting it all absolutely right and Dobbs clipping
only the second element of the double at six while also picking up a time fault
in a very much more composed round. For Morrissey however the day was to end on
a horrible note when, having just had a big cheer from the crowd after clearing
the water in fine style this time, it all fell apart for him on the very last
line. He was carrying eight faults and must have expected to finish with little
more butm following an aggressive ride to the penultimate triple bar, Crelido
suddenly slammed to a halt in front of the final double and was not prepared to
take it on at a second attempt either.
The Dutch meanwhile added 20 to
their tally - Mathijs Van Asten and VDL Groep Castella adding four to their
eight first-round faults, Jur Vrieling and VDL Emmerton adding five to their
first-round nine and Gerald Geesink adding 11 to the single mistake at the
opening attempt. Geesink was very unlucky in round two however - his white-grey
stallion Casco, who was popping the track with consummate ease, suddenly losing
his stride inside the final double and crumpling in a heap. Clearly frightened
by the experienced the nine year old horse still bravely took it on a second
time.
The Irish day was a little odd too. Eddie Macken, on his
much-publicised return to the team after 10 years, was looking good until
getting an awkward jump at the water and then the 59 year old rider was very
nearly unseated when First Tedechine Sept put in a huge effort over the
penultimate triple bar. Macken had to ride a circle to recover his stirrup
before approaching the last again, and that same line was to catch him out again
in round two. This time his mare took off a stride too early at the final double
after a strong ride to the triple bar but the partnership added just four in
total to their first-round score of 10. Cian O'Connor's new ride, the scopey
Rancorrado, breezed around with the greatest of ease in both rounds collecting
just four faults each time and looking like a very promising prospect, while
Capt David O'Brien and Mo Chroi had a double-error each time out and Denis Lynch
picked up nine in round one and just four in round two with Nabab's
Son.
A consistent four faults from each of the Swiss secured a
second-round total of 12 for them too - Theo Muff and Con Spirito R and Celine
Stauffer and Narcossa Z collecting a total of 12 each, Jane Richard and Jalia de
Gaverie rounding their score at 16 and Pius Schwizer retiring with Unique in
round two after dropping one fence - their continuing participation now unable
to alter their final tally of 32 faults.
ALMOST A JUMP-OFF....
The
Swedes deteriorated with eight faults from Schultz, Lickhammer and Lundback but
Zetterman's clear steadied the scoreline at a total of 28 while it very nearly
came down to a third-round jump-off between the Germans and
British.
German pathfinder, 26 year old Anna-Maria Jakobs, added 12 to
her scoresheet with Georgenhof's Lausejunge while Philipp Weishaupt and Leoville
added eight and Andreas Knippling and Neolisto Van Het Mierenhof added just four
and when Holger Wulschner and Clausen stayed clear they recorded a final score
of 24.
Geoff Luckett seemed to have put paid to British chances when
leaving four on the floor with the electric Monline as round two got underway
but Platt was cool as cucumber when recording her second perfect run with
Paulien and although third man in, Duncan Inglis, had to retire with Sunkist who
broke a blood vessel it was still possible to secure a head-to-head with Germany
if Whitaker could leave all the fences up. The Hickstead planks at seven hit the
floor however and they had to settle for joint-second in the final
analysis.
FANTASTIC FEELING....
The German win, the third in a row
in this year's Samsung Super League with FEI series, was particularly impressive
as so many of Sonke Sonkssen's team are new to this level of the sport.
"It's a fantastic feeling, this has been a fantastic day" the German
team manager said, delighted with his side's performance. "I'm very proud of my
team" he added. "For three of these riders, two days ago it was their first time
to see the Hickstead fences. All over the world we know how difficult it is to
jump here so this makes me very happy".
For 26 year old Jakobs, 23 year
old Weishaupt and for Andreas Knippling this was their Super League debut and
they were also more than pleased.
Weishaupt works with Ludger Beerbaum
and rang him for advice after having a shaky start yesterday when he and his
horse were a little overwhelmed by the Hickstead ring. "Ludger said just keep
riding in there and it will get better!" he said, and of course his mentor was
right. "My horse is just eight years old so he did a super job today" Weishaupt
added.
There were big smiles all round, but the biggest of all was on the
face of Charlotte Platt who came from nowhere - well actually from just down the
road two miles away from Hickstead - to put in the performance of a life-time
and jump to the attention of British selectors and fans. An accomplished Young
Rider, she only moved into senior level in 2006 when she jumped double-clear in
the nations cup at Poznan and she looks, like the winning German side, full of
promise.
"Today" said Platt, "makes up for all the hard days and bad days
- today was a great day!". And for the Germans, who have now established an even
larger lead at the head of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI leaderboard,
it as even better.....
Equal 2. GREAT BRITAIN 28 faults: Monline (Geoff Luckett) 8/16,
Paulien 11 (Charlotte Platt) 0/0, Sunkist (Duncan Inglis) 8/Ret, Wonami van den
Aard (Michael Whitaker) 0/4.
4. SWITZERLAND 32 faults: Con Spirito R
(Theo Muff) 8/4, Jalia de Gaverie (Jane Richard) 12/4, Narcossa Z (Celine
Stauffer) 8/4, Unique X CH (Pius Schwizer) 4/Ret.
5. IRELAND 33 faults:
First Tedechine Sept (Eddie Macken) 10/4, Rancorrado (Cian O'Connor) 4/4, Mo
Chroi (Capt David O'Brien) 8/8, Nabab's Son (Denis Lynch) 9/4.
6. BELGIUM
35 faults: Withney Van De Dwerse Hagen (Patrik Spits) 4/4, Equiphrma Tekila D
(Peter Devos)20/12, Top Gun (Peter Postelmans) 18/5, Item de Quintin (Niels
Bruynseels) 4/0.
7. NETHERLANDS 41 faults: VDL Groep Castella (Mathijs
Van Asten) 8/4, VDL Emmerton (Jur Vrieling) 9/5, Casco (Gerald Geesink) 4/11,
Sir Corland (Wout Jan Van der Schans) 10/DNS.
8. USA 61 faults: SRF
Dragonfly (Nicole Shahinian-Simpson) 28/0, Quincy B (Hillary Dobbs) 16/5,
Crelido (Michael Morrissey) Elim/Elim, Quick Study (Lauren Hough)
4/8.
SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2008 - LEADERBOARD AFTER SIXTH LEG IN
AACHEN:
For further information on the
Samsung Super League with FEI in Aachen check out WEBSITE www.chioaachen.de.
Show President at the German fixture is Klaus Peter Pavel, Show Director is
Frank Kemperman and Press Officer is Niels Knippertz - Email
niels.knippertz@chioaachen.de.
The sixth leg of the series takes place
in Hickstead, Great Britain on Friday 25 July. Show President is Douglas Bunn,
Show Director is Edward Bunn, Show Secretary is Elizabeth Bunn and Press Officer
is Peter Jeffery - contact email
jeffery.communications@btopenworld.com
FEI TELEVISION - BROADCAST
INFORMATION - ROUND 5 IN AACHEN:
Live/Delayed Live SKY (UK) - Friday
25 July 14.15 Equidia (France) - Sunday 27 July 21.45 RAI (Italy) - Check
local listings Dubai Sports Channel - Check local
listings
Highlights CNBC Asia - Saturday 9 August 15.00 CNBC Europe
- Saturday 10 August 17.00 ESPN Brazil - Check local listings ESPN Star
(Pan Asia) - Tuesday 12 August 18.00, Wednesday 13 August 18.00, Thursday 14
August 01.30, 23.00, Friday 15 August 14.00, 15.00, Saturday 16 August 01.30,
05.30; Tuesday 19 August 18.00, Wednesday 20 August 15.00 EUROSPORT -
Wednesday 30 July 19.25, Thursday 31. July 08.30 EUROSPORT ASIA - Thursday 31
July 10.00 FINNISH SPORT TV - Saturday 9 August 18.25 FOX MIDDLE EAST -
Thursday 14 August 16.00 SETANTA SPORTS (Ireland) - Check local
listings SUPERSPORT (Pan Africa) - thursday 14 August 21.30, Friday 15 August
02.00, 06,00, Sunday 17 August 09.00, Monday 18 August 15.00, tuesday 19 August
17.00, Wednesday 20 August 23.00 SPORT PLUS (France) - Monday 04 August
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.
