Articles: Horse News
Fellers Sprints to the Lead of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final Following
the Speed Leg
Rich Fellers and Flexible jump to the lead of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup
Final (SusanJStickle.com)
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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012
By Helen Murray
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands- Competition got underway at the Indoor
Brabant Thursday evening in the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with the
first leg of the four round competition. Of the 37 combinations that went to
task over Louis Koninck's 13 obstacle course, nine were representing the
United States. With the faults
converted format, riders needed to ride forward and efficiently while still
jumping carefully. American Rich Fellers rode like a man on a mission to set
a blazing pace no else could catch to head the field after day one.
Fellers (Sherwood, OR) guided Harry and Mollie Chapman's Flexible to a clear
round to stop the timers at 60.26 seconds. The pair surged to the head of
the field on the strength of tight, efficient turns and the 16-year-old
stallion's natural speed.
This is the second time the pair have won the initial round of a Finals
after having lead after day one at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals in
Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, they were second overall in the 2008
edition of the competition held in Gothenburg, Sweden.
"It's always incredible to win at a World Cup Final." Fellers said of his
partner of ten years. "He has some longevity in the sport. He's a tough
horse and is continuing to learn. He's a better horse now then he was in
Gothenburg."
The only time a clear round looked in doubt for Fellers and his diminutive
partner was heading into the double combination at fence five off a short
turn. However, Flexible was unfazed by a slight stumble before the fence and
just kept jumping.
"I made a little mistake in the turn back to the double
verticals. Fortunately, my horse is clever and didn't seem to mind. I didn't
slow my horse down enough before the turn so I had to add a stride late but
he didn't seem to mind."
Kirsten Coe (Johnston, SC) followed Fellers into the ring three rides later
and produced another clear jumping effort for the United States. However, a
more conservative pace meant she and Ilan Ferder's Baronez completed the
course in 65.76 seconds. They lay in eighth place following Thursday's
opening round.
Rounding out the U.S. riders in the top 20 placings are Richard Spooner,
Beezie Madden and Charlie Jayne. All three posted competitive times but each
had costly faults moving them down the order. Spooner (Agua Dulce, CA) and
Show Jumping Syndication International's Cristallo faulted at the oxer
jumping into the Rolex combination at six and stand equal 14th. Madden
(Cazenovia, NY) and Abigail Wexner's Cortes 'C' lay 16th after adding four
penalty seconds to their time as a result of faulting at the ninth fence an
oxer down the rail. Jayne (Elgin, IL) and Pony Lane Farm's Uraya had rails
at fences 6B and 12 and stand 20th.
Kent Farrington and Margie Engle, both of Wellington, FL, each were forced
to add eight penalty seconds for two knock downs on course. They stand 22nd
and 25th on RCG Farm's Uceko and Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden
Creek Farm's Indigo respectively.
Also competing for the U.S. were Francie Steinwedell-Carvin (La Canada, CA)
and Prentis Partners' Taunus and Michelle Spadone (Kennett Square, PA) with
Morgan Hill Partners' Uwwalon. Each collected faults over the course and lay
29th and 32nd.
Fellers will head into the second round Friday with the early lead in the
2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final and 38 World Cup points. Steve Guerdat of
Switzerland stands second finishing just over a second off the pace and
Belguim's Rik Hemeryck is third after stopping the timers 2.4 seconds later
than Fellers. Guerdat and Hemeryck head into tomorrow's second round with 36
and 35 World Cup points respectively following their second and third place
finishes.
The second round of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final gets underway Friday
at 7 p.m. CEST.
Watch live action from the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final on
http://www.feitv.com.
Follow the 2012 U.S. Jumping Team;
http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012Jumping/
Details about the Finals are available at http://www.indoorbrabant.com/
ENDS
The vision of the United States Equestrian FederationRegistered trademark
symbol is to provide leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
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