HSBC FEI World CCup™ Eventing: Series Goes East

So far, 65 riders from 13 nations have scored points in the truly international 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing qualifiers. Now the Eastern European riders get their chance to qualify for the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final during the 6th qualifier, at Minsk (BLR) this weekend (16-19 July).

Sixteen riders have entered Minsk, including last year’s winner Aliaksandra Hlushakova (BLR), riding the 13-year-old Russian-Trakehner mare Logika, and the 2007 winner, Viachaslau Poita with two horses, Energiya and Absolut.

Four nations are represented: Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Lithuania, which is represented by Aistis Vitkauskas and AK’s Galopper, who competed in the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final at Deauville (FRA) last year.

Olympic judge Martin Plewa (GER) will head the ground jury with Natallia Yuranova (BLR) and Mercedes Campdera Alatorre (MEX). Per Magnusson (SWE) will act as Technical Delegate and the Cross-Country has been designed by Mikhail Rybak (BLR).

As riders start to plan for the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final at Strzegom in Poland next month, Australia’s Megan Jones is still way out in front of the rankings, the only rider to win two qualifiers. Australia will be well represented in the Final, as the reigning champion Clayton Fredericks (AUS) is determined to defend his title.

Second-placed Mary King (GBR), whose season is rapidly improving after a slow start due to a stable virus, is also planning to travel to Poland for the Final.