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Australia's Heath Ryan became the second rider this season (after Canada's Cindy Ishoy) to secure a place at the 2006 FEI World Cup Dressage Final when he won the Pacific League Final last weekend in Werribee, Victoria.
Ryan (47) rode Clive Wunderwald's 10-year-old Greenoaks Dundee to triumph in both the grand prix and freestyle. Ryan has the distinction of having represented Australia on both the Eventing and Dressage teams and just five months ago placed second, at this very venue, in the FEI World Cup Eventing qualifier.
This weekend is a busy one for the FEI Western European League with qualifiers taking place in Stockholm and Maastricht.
Reigning Champions Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero head the entries for Maastricht. Together with team mates Edward Gal, who rides his superstar Geldnet Lingh and the Dutch team's new shining light Laurens van Lieren on Hexagon's Ollright, they'll be facing opposition from Germany's Hubertus Schmidt (Wansuela Suerte) and Isabell Werth with Warum Nicht FRH amid a strong field.
Britain's Laura Bechtolsheimer, who became her country's youngest ever National Champion in September aboard Douglas Dorsey, who she'll be riding in Maastricht, is the current standings leader.
In Stockholm, Jan Brink and Bjorsells Briar will be greeted with excitement, although Brink has indicated that, with next year's World Equestrian Games in mind, this will be their sole FEI World Cup foray this season. German riders Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Ellen Schulten-Baumer and Klaus Husenbeth are among the challengers.
Timetable:
CDI-W Maastricht
Friday 25th November
14.30 FEI World Cup Grand Prix
presented by NASHUATEC
Saturday 26th November
15.15 FEI World Cup Qualifier, Freestyle to Music
presented by Nashuatec
CDI-W Stockholm
Saturday 26th November
9.20 FEI World Cup Grand Prix
Sunday 27th November
12.55 to approx. 16.20 FEI World Cup Qualifier, Freestyle to Music
For further information:
Full Results: FEI Pacific League Final Werribee http://www.vic.equestrian.org.au/?page=6115
CDI-W Maastricht 24-27.11.05
Press Officer: Fred Lubbers
Tel(general): +31 40 844 76 44
Email: jim@bcm.nl
Website: www.jumpingindoormaastricht.nl
CDI-W Stockholm 25-27.11.05
Press officer: Lotta Amnestal
Mobile: +46 709 79 56 35
Email: lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se
Website: www.stockholmhorseshow.com |