March 23, 2016 – Hosting the only annual FEI championships for the 14th time in the event’s 38 year history, the Gothenburg Horse Show will be a hub of excitement this week as the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final take place over four days. The U.S. will be represented by eight athlete-and-horse combinations in the Jumping Final, taking on a field of 38 combinations from 18 nations. The Final begins with the speed leg, the first of three rounds on Friday. Competition continues Saturday with the second round and concludes on Monday with the champion being crowned following the conclusion of the final round.
Six U.S combinations qualified out of the Longines FEI World Cup™, North American East Coast Sub-League (in qualified order):
Hardin Towell (Camden, S.C.) with Jennifer Gates, LLC’s Lucifer V, a 2006 Westphalian gelding and New York, a 2006 KWPN gelding. Towell and Lucifer V represented the U.S. at the 2015 Final and earned second-place honors at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI4*-W Del Mar in the fall. With New York, Towell has had top ten placings across the U.S. this season.
Quentin Judge (Wellington, Fla.) with Double H Farm’s HH Copin van de Broy, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood stallion. As part of a successful qualifying season, the pair marked a second-place finish at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI3*-W Sacramento.
Callan Solem (Glenmoore, Pa.) with Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard, a 2003 KWPN gelding. At the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI4*-W Washington D.C. the pair earned a second-place finish.
Katie Dinan (Wellington, Fla.) with Grant Road Partners LLC’s Nougat du Vallet, a 2001 Selle Francais gelding. Dinan is the youngest of the U.S. representatives at age 21. She spent the spring competing lightly at the Winter Equestrian Festival as she balances riding with her final semester at Harvard University. This will be Dinan and Nougat du Vallet’s third Final appearance, having competed in 2013 and 2014.
Peter Lutz (Goldens Bridge, N.Y.) with Katherine Gallagher and M. Michael Meller’s Robin de Ponthual, a 2005 Selle Francais gelding and Retiro, a 2005 Warmblood gelding. Highlighting the qualifying season with Robin de Ponthual, Lutz took the victory in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI3*-W Las Vegas. Retiro is a brand new partner for Lutz, having only started competing together last fall.
Charlie Jacobs (Boston, Mass.) with CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star, a 1999 Irish gelding and Cassinja S, a 2006 Zweibrucker mare. With Flaming Star, Jacobs kicked-off the inaugural North American League with a solid performance in the Longines FEI World Cup™ North American League qualifier at CSI3*-W Bromont. This will be the gelding’s second Final appearance, having represented the U.S. at the 2014 Final. Cassinja S has had consistent results this season coming into her first Final.
One U.S combination qualified out of the Longines FEI World Cup™, North American West Coast Sub-League:
Rich Fellers (Sherwood, Ore.) with Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible, a 1996 Irish Sport Horse stallion. As one of five returning champions in the 2016 field, this will be Fellers and Flexible’s seventh Final appearance. The pair took the title in 2012 at the FEI World Cup Jumping Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
One U.S combination qualified out of the Longines FEI World Cup™, Western European League:
Audrey Coulter (San Francisco, Calif.) with Copernicus Stables, LLC’s Alex, a 2004 Westphalian gelding and Domino, a 2003 Belgian Warmblood gelding. Coulter had success with both geldings during the qualifying season in Europe and the U.S. including second-place finishes at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI3*-W Las Vegas with Domino and at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualifier at CSI4*-W Valle de Bravo with Alex.
Learn more about all the U.S. athletes
The order of go for Friday’s first round will be available on Thursday
Watch the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final live on FEITV.org.
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