FEI 25th World Cup Jumping: Situation in the Leagues

Source :  FEI

There are 12 Leagues in the 2002 / 2003 season of the FEI World Cup Jumping. Seven Leagues have ended their qualifications:Central Europe, Canada, South America, South Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia and Japan.

Five Leagues are still going: Western Europe, USA East Coast, USA West Coast, Australia and New Zealand.





THE FOLLOWING SEVEN LEAGUES HAVE ENDED THEIR QUALIFICATIONS:



Central European League (4 qualified)



138 riders from 23 countries competed in the 16 competitions of the Central European League. They came from all the Central European countries plus from Egypt, Syria, Jordania and Korea, countries not belonging to a League. In addition there was a US-American, living in Prague. For the first time the League closed with to Indoor competitions, Poznan and Warsaw, both Poland, where 150% of World Cup points could be earned. Czech Petr Dolezal won the League, ahead of Grzegorz Kubiak (POL) and the American living in Prague, Robert Chelberg.



- Petr Dolezal -CZE-Beach Girl

- Grzegorz Kubiak -POL-Orkisz, Diane des Fontenis

- Robert Chelberg -USA-Aktiv

- Ales Opatrny-CZE-Hamburg, Silvio, Grand, Crazy Love

1st Reserve : Rein Pill-EST-Ecuador

2nd Reserve : Oleg Krasiyk-UKR-Laceful, Seven Up



Canadian League (2 qualified)



There were 6 competitions in the Canadian League where a total of 26 riders competed, including two Colombians and a French living in Canada. Karen Cudmore won the League, ahead of Melissa Brown – both represented Canada at 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez (ESP).



- Karen Cudmore-CAN-Conejo

- Melissa Brown-CAN-Karolus

1st Reserve: Ian Millar-CAN-Nicos, Le Chanel, Promise Me, Aftershock

2nd Reserve: Ainsley Vince -CAN-Kafka, Catch 22





South American League – Southern Part (2 qualified)



Seven competitions have been held in South America: 4 in Brasilian cities and 3 in 3 different sites in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. Once Argentinean competition had to be cancelled. Since not all results have been received, the Final standings in the League cannot be established yet. Five riders are close toeger: Vitor Teixeira (31), Justo Albarracin and Matias Albarracin (30 each), Gregorio Werthein and Martin Moschini (29 each).



South African League (1 qualified)



Four competitions were held in South Africa, with 22 riders – all South Africans – competing. Ronnie Lawrence, who rode in the 1999 World Cup Final, won the League, ahead of Lynn Piercy,



- Ronnie Lawrence -RSA-Avis Panache

Reserve : Lynn Piercy-RSA-Piroli, Avis Ella





Central Asian League (1 qualified)



There were again three competitions in Central Asia: in Bishkek (KGZ), Almaty (KAZ) and Tashkent (UZB). 17 riders from these three countries competed. Sadir Marmitov (KGZ) won the League, ahead of last years winner, Gairat Nazarov (UZB).



- Sadir Marmitov-KGZ-Langraf

Reserve : Gairat Nazarov-UZB-Peikam





South East Asian League (1 qualified)



From 28 July to 08 September 2002 four World Cup competitions were held in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. They were held on four different sites. Helena Gabrielson, a Swedish riding instructor who lives in Thailand for nearly ten years, won the League, as she did in 2001, ahead of Syld Omar Almohdzar (MAS).



- Helena Gabrielson-SWE-Aladdin

Reserve : Syed Omar Almohdzar-MAS-O’Canthus





Japan League (1 qualified)



Four competitions were held in Japan in the 2002 / 2003 season, with six riders competing. Ryuma Hirota who rode in the 1996 and 2002 Finals, won the League again, ahead of Seiji Ninomiya and Riichiro Matsushita, who tied for second place.

- Ryuma Hirota-JPN-Zero

Reserve : Seiji Ninomiya

oR Riichiro Matsushita-JPN -JPN-Survival, Tamerlan





THE SITUATION IN THE REMAINING LEAGUES



Western European League (18 to qualify)



8 of the 14 competitions have been held. Still to come are Leipzig (26 January), Bordeaux (08 February), Vigo (15 February), Dortmund (16 March),‘s-Hertogenbosch (23 March) and Göteborg (30 March). Paris-Bercy was cancelled.



Three times World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa (winner in Verona and Geneva) is in the lead with 58 points ahead of the winner in Mechelen, Markus Merschformann (53), Jos Lansik (49), Meredith Michael-Beerbaum (45), Toni Hassmann (45), Ludger Beerbaum (43), Lars Nieberg (40) and Thomas Velin (39). Pre-qualified for the Final, 16 - 20 April 2003 in Las Vegas, is the current champion, Otto Becker.



USA East Coast League (7 to qualify)



Five of the nine competitions have been held. Still to come are two competitions each in Palm Beach and Tampa. McLain Ward, fourth in the 2002 Final in Leipzig, is in the lead with 78 points, ahead of Norman dello Joio (67), Margie Goldstein-Engle (59), Beezie Madden-Patton (53) and Leslie Howard (52). Dello Joio and Leslie Howard won part of their points in Western European competitions.



USA West Coast League (3 to qualify)



Five of the nine competitions have been held. Still to come are, from 02 February to 09 March, four competitions in Indio, California. Misti Cassar is in the lead with 58 points, ahead of Richard Spooner (56), Liz Denny (52) and Puerto Rican Mark Watring (48). The latter would qualify for the Final as an extra if he has as many points as the 3rd placed US American.



Australian League (2 to qualify)



Twelve of fifteen competitions have been held. Still to come are Dapto and Kiama in January and Canberra on 02 February. David Dobson, who rode in his first World Cup competition in 1980, is in the lead with 115 points, ahead of Chris Chugg (97), Anthony Thomas (86) and Paula Hamood (71).



New Zealand League (1 to qualify)



Eight of ten competitions have been held. Still to come are Levin and Auckland end of January. Marcus Wild is in the lead with 49 points ahead of Merrain Hain (46), Molly Savill (40) and Douglas Isaacs on (37).