FEI Show Jumping Event news Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2008 | Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2008 |
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The 2008 edition of the Rolex FEI World Cup Final, from 23 to 27 April in Gothenburg marks the 30th anniversary of a competition that is one of the most prestigious events on the international equestrian calendar. The Final is the culmination of the FEI World Cup. For Mikael and all fellow Finns it's a historical opportunity, as outside the home competition 1998 in Helsinki, this is the first time ever a Finnish rider will be jumping the finals. Gothenburg Grand Prix: Evli Nandele, a star on the rise! On Friday Noora prepared herself and her horse for the open CSI classes in Gothenburg, by taking part in a big German national event with Quidana in Werne Lenklar at Lutz Gripshöver's stable. There were many of the top German riders present and Noora told she feels good about Gothenburg after those preparing rounds. The weekend in Guttecoven had otherwise been perhaps even quieter than normal, as Mikael was in the limelight with something totally different. Mikael was in Silverstone making his FIA GT Championship debut and was also driving twice in FIA GT3 onto the podium. Noora rode those Mikael's horses going to Gothenburg and she told both Nandele and Isaac felt very, very fresh - which is a good thing though! The horses left Monday afternoon for Gothenburg and the riders followed on Tuesday. Tuesday was the start for the finals, as it's the time of the CSIW's vetcheck. TuesdayThe first leg is successfully completed. Both CSI and CSIW horses had their vet.check on Tuesday. The inspection went fine and the horses trotted well under the watchful eyes. Otherwise it was easy day for the horses, planned to ensure they would recover optimally from the long transport. For Wednesday there was planned an early riding pass on the arena. Quidana and Nandele take part in the first CSI-class, which is a 1m40 course in two phases. Isaac will have a warm-up in the second CSI class, as the CSIW finals start first on Thursday. WednesdayWednesday's big news is about sponsors, as Noora's long-term co-operation with the independent investment bank Evli Bank now expends also to include Mikael. Starting from Gothenburg Evli Bank is also Mikael sponsor for the season 2008. We also expect to see Evli Bank to have Evli Nandele named after them. The first class for Evli Nandele and Quidana went more and less as a warm-up. Noora told Quidana was ok, but she was needs to be even quieter with the tempered mare. ThursdayMikael and Evli Nandele did a fabulous double clear round in 1m50 with jump-off, placing 3rd in the class with very respectable competition. Mikael had decided to ride two unhurried rounds and was well rewarded as a big number of competitors took a rail in the jump-off. Evli Nandele has surprised everyone how well and fast it taken steps up to an international 1m50, maybe even 1m60 level. There is still work to be done with the rideability and strength to be developed, but the path is very promising. Also Noora found reason to be delighted with her course. Noora did a clean round with Quidana and despite not trying to achieve a fast time, succeeded to make a very nice round. Mikael started as number 7 to the first leg of the World Cup final, did a very good round, but with one unlucky rail down and finished 25th. Mikael was very pleased with his horse, which despite the very light preparations jumped excellently today. Mikael seemed a little uneasy before the class, knowing his horse was basically perfectly sound, but not necessarily in the best form possible. Mikael and Isaac advanced to the second-last fence without any problems, where a very unlucky small mistake caused a rail to fall. The mistake was no-one to blame and Mikael thought his horse had done a spotless job. - I aimed for a semi-fast time around the 74 second mark we finished on, which would have given us a point score within two knockdowns for tomorrow. Unfortunately the unnecessary four-faulter dropped us now a good 10 places down from that, Mikael explained. FridayMikael was a disappointed man after Friday’s course. The horse was perhaps healthy, but everything indicated that the pieces were not quite right. - Isaac is a great horse! He tried really his best and fought well in those many demanding hazards of today’s course. Everything was basically right, but the result was nothing to cheer about, Mikael told disappointed. Noora and Quidana had a nice round in late evening the 1m40 speed class. A small mishap on the second last fence stained an othervise clean round. SaturdayMikael did one more very promise-giving round in the Gothenburg Grand Prix with Evli Nandele. The result, one rail down, was not the essence of the mare’s performance. - Nandele was already a bit tired, which made the mare progressively difficult to ride along the course. There were still a lot of good jumps though, and I’m very pleased with what the mare has done in Gothenburg, Mikael told after the course. - We have come so far in so little time with Nandele. I’m absolutely assured that this one special horse, which has tons to give, a pleased rider continued. There is still one course remaining, as Noora and Quidana – another very promising mare – jumps Sunday morning. SundayNoora and Quidana concluded the nice World Cup Final tour to Gothenburg. One unlucky rail down, as so many others, in the 1m45 speed class was their result. - Quidana jumped well. I got one short turn a little wrong and came to deep for a vertical, where we then unfortunately took a rail down, Noora explained the course. The next show is the Hamburg Derby to which Noora goes already ion Tuesday.
A preliminary timetable (local time)Tuesday 22.4 Wednesday 23.4 Warm-up 1m40 and 1m50 Thursday 24.4 Int. jumping 10:00-16:30 Friday 25.4 Int. jumping 1m50 10:00-16:30 Saturday 26.4 Grand Prix 18:00-23:00 Sunday 27.4 Int. jumping 10:00-16:00
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