Show Jumping Superstars Set to Compete in
Longines FEI
World Cup™ Final Omaha 2017
Switzerland's Steve Guerdat Seeking to "Three-Peat"
Omaha, Nebraska - March 20, 2017
-
An impressive lineup of the world's best show jumping riders and horses is set to compete in the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Final in Omaha, Nebraska. A total of 38 of the world's best show jumping stars, including Olympic, World Cup, European and World Champions, have qualified and indicated their intention to compete for the championship title at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, March 29 - April 2. The Final is being held concurrently with the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final Omaha 2017.
"There is no question that this will be the most exciting equestrian event of the year," said Lisa Roskens, Chairman of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation, which is producing the Finals. "The Finals offer an opportunity to see the sport's best horses and riders and we encourage everyone to get their tickets now and join us for this history-making event!"
|
|
Reigning World Cup champion Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren's Paille (c) FEI - Roland Thunholm
|
|
Heading the list of entries is two-time defending World Cup champion,
Steve Guerdat of Switzerland
. Guerdat
, individual Gold Medalist at the 2012 London Olympic Games, is seeking to tie the record of Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil with his third consecutive title.
A s
trong U.S. contingent is headed by Olympic gold medalists
Laura Kraut
and
McLain Ward.
Kraut, who
will be competing on
Zeremonie
, took second place against top fields at qualifiers at both the Washington International Horse Show and Palm Beach Masters. Ward, a two-time U.S. Olympic Team gold medalist who is ranked fourth in the
world, is set to compete in his 17
th
FEI World Cup Final aboard his 2016 Rio Olympic mount
HH Azur
. He has placed as high as second in the World Cup Finals (2009).
Laura Kraut and Zeremonie
(c) FEI - Debra Jamroz
|
McLain Ward and HH Azur
(c) FEI - RedBaystock
|
Joining Kraut and Ward out of the North American League - USA East are
Todd Minikus, who will be riding in his 6
th FEI World Cup Final aboard
Babalou
41 after winning the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier at the Live Oak International in Ocala, FL;
Audrey Coulter, aboard
Alex, whom she rode at the FEI World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2016;
Charlie Jacobs, whowill be riding in his third World Cup Final, competing on
Calenta or
Cassinja S; and
Christian Heineking of Germany who returns to the scene of some of his greatest accomplishments, having been Grand Prix champion at International Omaha four times in the last five years.
|
|
|
Karl Cook and Tembla
(c) FEI - Rebecca Berry
|
In the North American League - USA West,
Karl Cook was the top-ranked U.S. rider after
winning the qualifier at Thunderbird Park in Canada and finishing fifth at Del Mar. He will be riding in his third FEI World Cup Final on
Tembla
. He is joined by
Jenni McAllister
who is competing in her second Finalon
Legis Touch the Sun
or
Legis Venice
and
Jamie Barge
who will be making her first appearance in the Final on
Luebbo
. Also qualified out of this League are Egypt's
Nayel Nassar
, a two-time FEI World Cup™ final competitor, who won the qualifier at the Palm Beach Masters along with three top-ten placings in qualifiers at Las Vegas, Del Mar, and the American Gold Cup; and three-time Olympic veteran and 1990 World Show Jumping Champion
Eric Navet
of France.
|
|
Kevin Staut and Reveur de Hurtebise HDC (c) FEI - Stefan Lafrentz |
|
Some of the sport's biggest names headline a star-studded line-up coming to Omaha from Europe. Among them are two-time Olympic veteran
Kevin Staut, who was part of France's gold medal team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Staut topped the Western European League rankings. He is currently ranked sixth in the world.
|
|
|
Marcus Ehning and Singular LS La Silla (c) FEI - Pierre Costabadie |
Also on their way to Omaha are German
veterans
Ludger
Beerbaum
and
Marcus Ehning.
Beerbaum, a seven-time Olympian with one individual and three team gold medals, will be competing in his 21
st
World Cup Final. He won the Final in 1993 and has seven other top 5 finishes to his credit. Ehning, one of only three riders (along with Rodrigo Pessoa and
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) to have won the Final three times (2003, 2006, 2010), is an Olympic and World Equestrian Games team gold medalist and is competing in the World Cup Final for the 17
th
consecutive year!
Others who qualified out of the Western European League include 2012 Olympic team Gold Medalist
Scott Brash of Great Britain who placed third in the 2014 FEI World Cup Final in Lyon, France; Italy's
Lorenzo de Luca who earned several top-ten placings with different horses and will be competing aboard
Limestone Grey;
Denis Lynch of Ireland who earned the majority of his qualifications aboard his top horse
All Star 5; Sweden's
Henrik von Eckermann; Guido Jun. Klatte and
Markus Brinkmann of Germany; Belgium's
Gregory Wathelet and
Nicola Philippaerts;
Leopold van Asten and
Maikel van der Vleuten of The Netherlands; France's
Simon Delestre and
Olivier Robert;
Romain Duguet and
Martin Fuchs of Switzerland;
Max Kϋher of Austria; and
Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain.
Coming from the Central European League Northern Sub-league are
Dawid Kubiak of Poland,
Gábor Szabó Jr. of Hungary, and
Rein Pill of Estonia.
Canada will be represented by
Christopher Surbey, making his first World Cup appearance aboard
Chalacorada, and
Keean White who will be making his second appearance in the Final aboard
For Freedom Z.
2016 Rio Olympian
Sheikh Ali Al Thani of Qatar will be competing in his fourth FEI World Cup Final and
Martin Rodriquez Vanni of Uruguayrounds out the field.
A range of ticket packages are still available for the Finals in Omaha!
Single-Session tickets for either Jumping or Dressage range from $45 - $85 depending on the session and location.
All-Session ticket packages include seats for five events in either jumping or dressage. The best seats in the house are the
VIP Tickets in the first 5 rows which include access to the
VIP Hospitality Lounge throughout the event! The VIP Hospitality Lounge will feature full meals, open bar, live music, concierge service and other amenities, all included with each VIP ticket.
For more information about the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2017 and to purchase tickets, please go to
www.OmahaWorldCup2017.com,
charge by phone at 402-930-3079 or at the CenturyLink Center Omaha box office. For VIP Seats, please call 402-930-3079.
|