17 June 2004
 
Samsung Nations Cup Series 
Switzerland is leading the standings of the Nations Cup Series with 17 points, ahead of Sweden (10.5) and Korea, Brazil and Canada equal third with 7 points.
 
Switzerland won the Samsung Nations Cup of Finland last week-end in Ypäjä with a convincing overall score of 4 points, with Niklaus Schurtenberger / Corranda and Theo Muff / Karondo Von Schlösslihof achieving a faultless course.
 
The biggest surprise of the week-end came from Poznan (POL) where the Korean Team scored its first victory ever in a Samsung Nations Cup in Europe with an overall score of 1 point. Bong-Gak Sohn / Cim Christo, Soon-Won Hwang / C. Chap both managed a clear round, while Jung-Ho Woo / Seven Up 15 had one point penalty for overtime in the first round. A great achievement for the Korean team, coached by the three-fold European Champion Paul Schockemöhle, which proudly qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games during the Olympic Trials held in Aachen in June last year.
 
The Samsung Nations Cup of Norway in Drammen will be held on Saturday 26 June at 13:00. 
 
FEI Eventing World Cup
After a very successful event in Melbourne, another busy FEI Eventing World Cup weekend lies ahead.
 
Record number of spectators braved the Australian autumn weather to watch the seventh qualifier of the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier held at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre near Melbourne from 11 to 14 June.
Sonja Johnson riding the 13-year old gelding Ringwould Jaguar won the qualifier. She placed 3rd following the Dressage test with 49.8 penalties (66.81%) and, being the fastest across country over Michael Creber's
innovative course and scoring one time penalty in the Jumping test, she convincingly took the lead with a final result of 50.8.
 
Sonja is almost ten points ahead of 22-year old runner-up Emma Mason on Starstruck with 60.5 penalties. Emma was 8th after Dressage with 53.7 points (64.2%) but a clear Cross Country (2.8 time penalties) and one Jumping fence down, helped her reach the podium.
 
She is followed by another young female rider, 25-year old Claudia Graham on Diamond B Vogue. Claudia's notable Dressage test had put her in 2nd position (48.9 - 67.39%) and a clear Cross Country with only 2.4 time penalties, had consolidated her rank. However, a calamitous Jumping test with 3 rails down and four time penalties made her step one place down with a final result of 67.3. The complete results.
 
 
After seven qualifiers the leaderbord of the FEI Eventing World Cup is as follows:
 
1. Darren Chiacchia (USA) - 123
2. Matthew Grayling (NZL) - 118
3. Phillip Dutton (AUS) - 110
4. Andrzej Pasek (POL) - 101
5. Sonja Johnson (AUS) - 100
5. Robyn Fisher (USA) - 100
5. R. de Gouveia Jr. (BRA) - 100
5. Pippa Funnell (GBR) - 100
9. Emma Mason (AUS) - 60
9. Sergio Henrique Marins (BRA) - 60
9. M. Duroy De Laurière (FRA) - 60
9. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) - 60
9. Craig Nicolai (NZL) - 60
9. Anna Collier (USA) - 60
 
 
Two FEI Eventing World Cup qualifiers will take place during the weekend from 17 to 20 June): one in Moscow (RUS) where some thirty riders representing Finland, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia will gather.
 
The other in Luhmuehlen (GER) will welcome 56 riders and 72 horses from the following 13 nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Sweden and host county Germany. The participation of Olympic champion Andrew Hoy of
Australia, of World bronze medallist Piia Pantsu of Finland and the reigning FEI Eventing World Cup champion Sweden's Linda Algotsson should be noted.
The host nation will be superbly represented by, among others, Andreas Dibowski and Bettina Hoy, both of whom participated actively in last year's World Cup series winning several qualifiers.
 
Along with the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier, the traditional CIC** Milford Trophy will also be part Luhmühlen 2004. A new national class for young riders under 25 or for horses aged 7-9 years, the "Youngster Cup", supported by the Hanoverian Breeders' Association will be introduced.
 
As the popular song has it "Love and marriage go together like the horse and carriage", and so do foals and Luhmühlen. Therefore, the Luhmühlen Foal Championship will once again be an eye catcher.
 
The market area and trade stands will give visitors the opportunity to browse amongst bargain offers and high quality products. Children can be supervised by qualified staff at the popular "Kinderland"and leave adults free to enjoy the day's entertainment and unique atmosphere.
 
The FEI Eventing World Cup is the sport's first linked series consisting of 17 qualifiers culminating in a yearly Final. It is organized at the highest level (three-star) of the short Eventing format which is the new standard
for Championships and the Olympic Games. The series is designed in manner to encourage the participation of the world's best riders and horses and thus promote such emblematic values of Eventing, as the constant quest for harmony between physical skills and mental balance, contact with nature, precision, stamina, agility and insightful training. The FEI Eventing World Cup is a showcase of a sport resolutely turning to the future.