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Bill Steinkraus Received FEI Award
On the occasion of the CSI-W Wellington, Florida, on 3 March 2002, William C. Steinkraus (USA) received the FEI Award for Dedicated and Distinguished Services to Equestrian Sport. The crystal trophy designed by Tiffanys was presented to Mr Steinkraus by the FEI President, HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, in the presence of the Executive Board members during a dinner organised to this purpose by the Chairman of Group IV and Executive Board member, Jane Forbes Clark.
Bill Steinkraus had an exceptional sporting carrier. Olympic champion in 1968 in Mexico, he rode in 87 Nations Cup and won 38 of them. Elected to the US Horse Show Hall of Fame in 1986, he dedicated his life to the development and improvement of equestrian sport both in the United States and worldwide.
Member of the FEI Bureau from 1988 to 1996, Bill Steinkraus chaired with conviction the World Cup Jumping Committee for many years. Under his leadership, the World Cup had a tremendous expansion and became one the highlights of equestrian sport. In the mid-nineties, Bill Steinkraus chaired the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee. The groundwork of this committee was the basis for a crucial reflection on the role and structure of the FEI.
World Cup Dressage Final
The World Cup Dressage Final will be held in s-Hertogenbosch from 21 to 24 March 2002. The following riders have announced their participation:
WESTERN EUROPEAN LEAGUE
TITLEHOLDER
LEAGUE WINNERS
Eventing & Dressage Pony Championship Moved To Hagen
Due to organisational difficulties on the part of the organising committee, the venue and dates of the Eventing and Dressage Pony Championships for 2002 have been changed. The Dressage and Eventing Pony Championships will now be held at Hagen (GER) from 31st July to 4 August 2002.
These two championships will, therefore, coincide with the European Junior Jumping Championship, which will take place at Hagen at the same time.
The Jumping Pony Championship will take place at the original venue and on the same dates viz., Lanaken (BEL) from 24 to 28 July 2002.
Executive Board Meeting
The Executive Board met on 4 March in Palm Beach, Florida, in conjunction with the CSI-W Wellington. Among the main topics discussed were the following:
2004 Olympic Games Athens The Executive Board expressed concern regarding the slow progress achieved in the construction works of the equestrian venues in Athens. A meeting of Technical Delegates later this month was expected to clarify the current situation and the Executive Board was hopeful that positive results would be reported.
2002 European Pony Championships The change of venue and dates for the Eventing and Dressage Championship was accepted by the FEI Executive Board. (see previous article)
Presidents Cup In view of the fact that there was no longer any interest in the Presidents Cup (annual classification counting all Jumping team competitions, including championships) and as a result it had lost its importance, the Executive Board agreed that it was to be deleted from the Jumping Rules. 2006 WEG Several offers to host the 2006 WEG, which had been received at the Secretariat, were discussed. The future of WEG would be debated in the Forum to be held during the General Assembly in Rabat (MAR) next month.
Ad Hoc Committee for Revision of Statutes and General Regulations The Executive Board took note that the Ad Hoc Committee for Revision would hold its first meeting the following day and start working on the various proposals received.
The next meting of the Committee will take place on 22 April 2002 in Rabat (MAR).
World Cup Jumping
Situation In The Leagues There is a new League in the Middle East with three competitions in the United Arab Emirates.
Ten Leagues have ended their qualifications: - Central Europe, Central Asia, Canada, South Africa, South East Asia, Japan South America, Australia, New Zealand and USA West Coast. Three Leagues are still going: - Western Europe, USA East Coast, Middle East.
THE FOLLOWING TEN LEAGUES HAVE ENDED THEIR QUALIFICATIONS:
Central European League (4 qualified) 133 riders from 18 countries started in the 14 competitions of the Central European League. Podebrady in the Czech Republic had to be cancelled for economic reasons. Robert Chelberg, an American living in Prag for several years was the League winner, and is qualified for the Final as an extra. The three other Central European riders qualified are Jozsef Turi of Hungary, Jacek Zagor of Poland and Petr Dolezal of the Czech Republic. The latter had the same number of points as Guntars Silins of Latvia, but better high placings. All four are expected to compete in the World Final in Leipzig.
Central Asian League (1 qualified) 20 riders from Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan competed in the three competitions in the three capital cities of Tashkent, Bishkek and Almaty. Gairat Nazarov of Uzbekistan was the League winner, ahead of his countryman Aziz Sadykov. Nazarov is planning to compete in the World Final Leipzig.
Canadian League (3 qualified) Twenty riders, mostly Canadians, but also four Mexicans, two Columbians and Yann Candele, a French living in Canada, competed in the six competitions of the Canadian League. Jill Henselwood won the League ahead of Eric Lamaze and newcomer Melissa Brown. All three are expected to compete in the World Final in Leipzig.
South African League (1 qualified) Five competitions have been held, with twenty South African riders participating. Karen van der Burgh won the League with 38 points ahead of Barry Taylor and Lynne Piercy with 35 points each. Taylor, the winner in Midrand, has the higher placings and is, therefore, Reserve rider.
South East Asian League (1 qualified) Twenty riders from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines competed in the five competitions of the South East Asian League. Four of the competitions were held on three different sites in Kuala Lumpur and one in Singapore. Qabil Ambak, the younger of the two sons of Haji Mohamed Fathil, won the League. He is planning to compete in the World Final in Leipzig.
Japan League (1 qualified) Twenty riders competed in the four competition of the Japan League. Ryuma Hirota is the League winner, ahead of Seiji Ninomiya and last years Finalist, Chieko Yamaguchi. Hirota rode in the 1996 Final in Geneva.
South American League Southern Part (2 qualified) Of the eight competitions
the one in Buenos Aires-Aleman had to be cancelled and
Australian League (2 qualified) Sixteen Competitions were held in Australia. Two events had to be cancelled: Caboolture in Queensland and Canberra in the Capital City, both for economic reasons. Vicki Roycroft with 155 points is the league winner, ahead of Ron Easy (145 points), Greg Smith (137 points), Brad Frankum (113 points) and Janelle Waters (99 points). Vicki Roycroft will compete in the World Final in Leipzig.
New Zealand League (1 qualified) Only seven of the nine competitions scheduled in the New Zealand League could be held. Both Kelly Park and Kawerau had to be cancelled due to extreme bad weather conditions; heavy wind and rain. Greg Best won the league with 75 points ahead of Maurice Beatson (64 points) and Sally Anderson (56 points). Greg Best, who lives in New Zealand for several years now, competed for his native United States in the 1988 Olympic Games (individual and team silver medal) and the 1990 World Equestrian Games (4th individually) both on this grey Gem Twist. Best just received New Zealand citizenship.
USA West Coast League (4 qualified) 9 competitions were
held in California with 49 riders competing, among them several riders
from NZL, PUR, IRN, ARG, JPN, IRL and LEB. Will Simpson won the league
with 91 points ahead of Duncan MacFarlane of New Zealand with 79 points,
Ray Texel
THE SITUATION IN THE REMAINING LEAGUES
Western European League (18 to qualify) Twelve of the fifteen competitions have been held. Still to come are three competitions: Dortmund, s-Hertogenbosch and Göteborg. 18 will qualify for the Final to be held 01 - 05 May 2002 in Leipzig, plus the next two Germans in the final League standings, and the defending Champion, Markus Fuchs. After the 12 competitions. Rolf-Göran Bengtson of Sweden is in the lead with 83 points ahead of Jan Tops (73 points), Markus Merschforman (63 points) and Toni Hassmann (62 points). They are certainly qualified for the World Final in Leipzig, as should be all the other riders with 49 points and more (Marcus Ehning, Meredith Beerbaum, Eric van der Vleuten, Jos Lansink, Ludo Philippaerts and Ludger Beerbaum). Meredith Michaels (55 points) and her husband Markus (41 points) are currently competing in the US where they won 27 respectively 20 points toward their present total. Three times winner Rodrigo Pessoa has 46 points in 11th place.
USA East Coast League (7 to qualify) Eight of the ten competitions have been held. Still to come are two competitions, 24 and 28 March in Tampa. McLain Ward is in the lead with 75 points ahead of the Amsterdam winner, Leslie Howard (64 points), Laura Kraut (60 points), Todd Minikus (54 points) and Chris Kappler (51 points).
Middle East (2 to qualify) No competition has been held yet.
Accident At CSI-C Weikersdorf (Aut) Two members of the Hungarian Team, Istvan Lipcei (lorry driver) and Gergely Szabadi (groom) were found in their caravan in coma on Sunday morning 10 March 2002 at CSI-C Weikersdorft (AUT). The first aid diagnosed a carbon monoxide poisoning. The driver Istvan Lipcei passed away on site, while the groom Gergely Szabadi was brought to the local hospital.
The event was cancelled at 9:30 the same morning. The situation of the Hungarian groom was reported by the hospital as stable but not yet out of danger.
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