Festival of British Eventing to Host HSBC FEI World Cup Qualifier

The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park presented by BETA (7-9 August), has been allocated the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing qualifier that, due to heavy rain, had to be abandoned at Chatsworth (16-17 May). This event will be the only HSBC FEI World Cup™ Qualifier in Great Britain.

“We were all extremely disappointed that our first British qualifier was unable to be completed especially as we know how much work goes into the planning and preparation for these events,” said Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship at HSBC. “Therefore we are particularly delighted and grateful that the team at Gatcombe Park, a venue that will provide a spectacular setting for the qualifier, has taken this extra organisation on board.”

The Festival qualifier will be the final competition in the series of nine qualifiers before the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final which will be held for the first time at Strzegom in Poland (21-23 August). Clayton Fredericks is the current holder of the HSBC FEI World Cup™, a title he previously won in 2005 with Ben Along Time, at last year’s final in Deauville. The British-based Australian previously won the title in 2005 the following year he won his first British Open Championship title at Gatcombe Park.

“Hosting an HSBC FEI World Cup™ qualifier will be a new challenge for us but one that we are looking forward to,” said Gatcombe Course Designer Captain Mark Phillips. “I am sure the HSBC FEI World Cup™ qualifier at Gatcombe Park will provide an excellent alternative to the one at Chatsworth and will be a great addition to our programme.”

2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing standings (after 5 of 9 qualifiers)

1 Megan Jones (AUS) 203

2 Mary King (GBR) 129

3 Simone Deitermann (GER) 117

4 Andreas Dibowski (GER) 104

5 Kai Rüder (GER) 92

6= Marina Köhncke (GER) 71

6= Patricia Ryan (IRL) 71

8= Heelan Tompkins (NZL) 67

8= Georgia Clifford (AUS) 67

8= Julia Mestern (GER) 67

8= Peter Thomsen (GER) 67

8= Michael Ryan (IRL) 67

12= Matthew Grayling (NZL) 64

12= Stuart Tinney (AUS) 64

12= Michael Jung (GER) 64

12= Sanna Siltakorpi (FIN) 64

Qualifying venues for the 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing:

1 Kihikihi NZL 10-12 April 2009

2 Sydney AUS 2-3 May 2009

3 Marbach GER 8-10 May 2009

4 Chatsworth GBR 16-17 May 2009 (CANCELLED)

5 Malmo SWE 23-24 May 2009

6 Tattersalls IRL 28-31 May 2009

7 Minsk BLR 16-19 July 2009

8 Kalispell USA 23-26 July 2009

9 Mansfield, ON CAN 7-9 August 2009

10 Gatcombe GBR 7-9 August 2009 (ADDED)

HSBC FEI World Cup ™ Eventing Final 2009 Strzegom POL 21-23 August 2009