Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 – Round 7: GAUDIANO GALLOPS TO VICTORY IN LONGINES THRILLER IN LONDON

The Christmas show at the Grand Hall in Olympia is always something special, and the seventh leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League more than lived up to expectations today when Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano produced a sensational victory at the London (GBR) venue.

In a 17-way jump-off, the 29-year-old rider and his plucky 10-year-old gelding simply blew the rest away with a fearless gallop when eleventh to go against the clock. A top-class list of home contenders were obliged to line up behind him, with Ben Maher coming closest to take runner-up spot with Diva ll ahead of Michael Whitaker and Viking in third, world no 1 Scott Brash and Hello M’Lady in fourth and Guy Williams and Titus in fifth place.

A total of 36 horse-and-rider combinations from 14 nations took part, and Bernardo Costa Cabral set them a 13-fence track that Brash described as “twisty and turny”. The narrow confines of the Olympia ring always presents quite a course-building challenge, and the Portuguese course designer described his creation as “not one of the tallest tracks, but technical enough – it walked tougher than it rode.” That was borne out when five of the first seven starters jumped clear, but the double of oxer to vertical at fence eight, and the last two fences which consisted of a massive 1.75m-wide oxer followed by a water-tray vertical took their toll.

Bold and brave

The real excitement kicked off when Williams set the jump-off target with a fabulous round from the bold and brave 15-year-old Titus who stopped the clock in 37.74 seconds. This pair’s relentless gallop from the penultimate oxer to the final fence had the crowd gasping with incredulity, but little did they know what was still to come.

Five horses later they were on the edges of their seats once again as Maher produced a fabulous flowing round from the 10-year-old mare Diva who tapped a few poles but left them all in place, and with a great turn to the penultimate red oxer galloped into the lead in 37.15 seconds.

Next to go, Brash took a pull before the last that may have cost valuable fractions of seconds to temporarily slot into runner-up spot when crossing the line with his nine-year-old mare Hello M’Lady in 37.49 seconds. And when Dutch contender Jur Vrieling’s brilliant grey, VDL Zirocco Blue, threw in a stop at the double, now four fences from home, and German ace Marcus Ehning’s stallion Comme Il Faut stood too far off the penultimate oxer for four faults, then Gaudiano was still chasing Maher’s leading time when next into the ring.

Great run of form

And the Italian showed exactly why he took the Leading Rider trophy last weekend in Geneva (SUI) where he enjoyed a great run of form. As always throwing caution to the wind, he set off with complete determination and Admara answered his every call, showing precisely the same level of commitment as the man on board to race through the timers in 36.20 seconds and really put it up to the rest of them.

Try as they would, none could match their speed and accuracy, although, last to go, Michael Whitaker gave the home crowd one more moment of magic when quick enough to slot into third place. Whitaker said afterwards that he had “a terrible stride at the third and a terrible stride at the fourth which is why I didn’t win!” But for Gaudiano and his courageous gelding it was a day when everything fell into place.

Talking about his jump-off round the Italian rider said the eight strides from the opening triple bar to the following oxer was very long for the short-striding Admara, and that while many of the others could cover the distance from the penultimate oxer to the last on seven strides “I did eight but I still won!

“I knew I would have to go very fast if I was to win, but I have a fantastic horse who is very clever and careful, and I love him!” he said of the gelding which he has had since the horse was just two years old. “To win here is very nice for me. Italy has only one place in the World Cup series and I chose to come here because I really love this show” he added.

Impossible to beat

“When Emanuele is clear it’s impossible to beat him” said runner-up Ben Maher. “He’s known as a very fast rider, but next year he’s better off in Italy than here because he’s spoiled our party here today!” the British rider added with a grin. “It was difficult course in a tight ring and I couldn’t have done any more with my horse today, she did everything for me”, Maher added.

Today’s result has rocketed Gaudiano from 42nd spot on the Western European League leaderboard all the way up to 13th, and well within a shot of a place at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next March. So the Italian rider said today that he will hope to pick up some more points at the ninth leg of the series in Leipzig, Germany in January. There were some other significant moves on the leaderboard also, with Maher moving up from 51st place to 23rd while Michael Whitaker picked up his first points of the season to go into 33rd position.

There are four remaining legs of the Western European League, and the next will take place in Mechelen, Belgium on 30 December with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann still holding pole position ahead of French riders Simon Delestre and Penelope Leprevost.

For further information on the seventh leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League Olympia, London (GBR) visit http://www.olympiahorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, JoPeck@hpower.co.uk, +44 1753 847 900.

The next leg will take place at Mechelen in Belgium on 30 December 2016. For details of the Belgian fixture go to http://www.jumping-mechelen.com or contact Press Officer Edith de Reys, edith.dereys@skynet.be, +32 475 65 92 81.

Result: 1, Admara (Emanuele Gaudiano) ITA 0/0 36.20; 2, Diva ll (Ben Maher) GBR 0/0 37.15; 3, Viking (Michael Whitaker) GBR 0/0 37.28; 4, Hello M’Lady (Scott Brash) GBR 0/0 37.49; 5, Titus (Guy Williams) GBR 0/0 37.74; 6, Super Sox (Cian O’Connor) IRL 0/0 38.51; 7, Cornet Kalua (Max Kuhner) AUT 0/0 39.68; 8, Caccorina (Marco Kutscher) GER 0/0 40.64; 9. Comme Il Faut (Marcus Ehning) GER 0/4 37.09; 10, Corbinian (Steve Guerdat) SUI 0/4 38.40; 11, Cool and Easy (Hans-Dieter Dreher) GER 0/4 39.45; 12, Bintang ll (Laura Renwick) GBR 0/8 37.54; 13, Quiet Easy (Bertram Allen) IRL 0/8 37.97; 14, Quenlle du Py (Olivier Robert) FRA 0/8 39.28; 15, H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) SWE 0/8 39.85; 16, VDL Zirocco Blue NOP (Jur Vrieling) NED 0/12 52.51; 17, H&M All In (Peder Fredricson) SWE 0/21 53.24.

Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Admara produced a devastating turn of speed in the jump-off to win the seventh leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League at Olympia, London (GBR) today. (FEI/Jon Stroud)

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015/2016 Western European League leaderboard – after Round 7 at Olympia, London (GBR):

1. Christian Ahlmann GER – 57
2. Simon Delestre FRA – 51
3. Penelope Leprevost FRA – 44
4. Henrik von Eckermann SWE – 38
5. Jos Verlooy BEL – 37
6. Marco Kutscher GER – 36
7. Romain Duguet SUI – 35
8. Harrie Smolders NED – 33
9. Nicola Philippaerts BEL – 33
10. Max Kuhner AUT – 33
11. Marcus Ehning GER – 32
12. Steve Guerdat SUI – 30
13. Emanuele Gaudiano ITA – 28
14. Douglas Lindelow SWE – 27
15. Patrice Delaveau FRA – 27
16. Scott Brash GBR – 27
17. Audrey Coulter USA – 26
18. Daniel Deusser GER – 25
19. Hans-Dieter Dreher GER – 25
20. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE – 25

Louise Parkes

Dutch, Swiss players emerge champions of 2015 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis

The grand finale of 2015 edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship ended Saturday with Dutchman Antal Van Der Duim and Conny Perrin of Switzerland respectively winning the men and women’s singles of the $80, 000 prize-money International Tennis Federation (ITF)- approved competition.

Perrin defeated Tadeja Majeric, who was a winner in the 2013 edition and runner up in the first leg (Futures 1) women’s singles 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 to lift the women crown, while Van Der Duim won a repeat of Futures 3 quarter final match, beating Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garangaga 6-3, 6-4 to win the men’s singles title.

Chairman of LOC, Pius Akinyelure (left) presents trophy to women’s singles winner, Conny Perrin of Switzerland

The final of the men’s singles was watched by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme among other dignitaries which included chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Pius Akinyelure, President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Engr. Sani Ndanusa, school children and tennis pundits at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The men’s doubles was won by the Africa’s pair of Harris Llyod (South Africa) and Karim-Mohammed Maamoun (Egypt), while the women’s doubles was won by Indian Prarthana Thombare and Julia Terziyska from Bulgaria.

The newly-introduced media exhibition game early in the morning of the finals was won by Fred Edoreh, chairman of Lagos SWAN, who beat Ganiyu Salman, Group Sports Editor of Nigeria Tribune in straight set of 6-1, 6-3.

Governor’s Ambode presented the trophies to both winner and runner up of the men’s singles. LOC boss, Akinyelure presented the trophies to the winner and runner up in the women’s singles. President Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Edu presented winners of the men’ doubles their trophies, while women’s doubles winners received their trophies from the President of NTF, Ndanusa.

Governor Ambode presents runner up trophy of men’s singles to Zimbabwe

The Governor’s Cup Tennis, a tournament organized to celebrate sitting governor of Lagos State since the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, featured players from more than 40 countries in this year, which was the 15th edition.

Bayern To Replace Guardiola With Ancelotti At End Of Season

Bayern Munich Have confirmed the departure of Coach Pep Guardiola at the end of this current season and With top rated Italian Coach Carlo Ancelloti set to replace Guradiola at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed this much to the media today in a press statement.

Rummenigge thanked Guardiola for all he had done for the club since when he joined them in 2013.

Pep guardiola
photo credit: Thomas Rodenbücher
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

Bayern Munich are currently topping the German Bundesliga table and have also qualified for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, Ancelloti Will be looking to add to his rich collection of silverware when he joins the German Champions next season after successful stints in Italy, France, England and Spain.

NFF To Reconstitute Standing Committees

The Nigeria Football Federation will soon reconstitute its standing committees and judicial bodies, which were dissolved at the end of the 71st Annual General Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

In dissolving the committees and the judicial bodies, NFF President Amaju Pinnick said the objective was to rejuvenate them and reinvigorate the administration of football in the country.

“The committees and judicial bodies are very critical to the administration of football in the land. They make most of the recommendations that inform all the decisions and policies of the Executive Committee.

“We dissolved them in order to carefully reconstitute them, and thereby reinvigorate the administration of football in the country.”

The NFF has 18 standing committees and two judicial bodies.

Among these are the Emergency Committee, Finance Committee, Organizing Committee, Football Committee, Technical and Development Committee, Strategic Committee, Ethics and Fairplay Committee, Referees Committee, Match Commissioners Appointment Committee, Youth Development Committee, Media and Publicity Committee and Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee.

The judicial bodies are the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeals Committee

Russian Champion Returns To Defend Youth Worlds Title

Russia’s Stefania Elfutina will be returning to the Youth Sailing World Championship in Langkawi, Malaysia to defend her RS:X Girls title from 27 December through to 3 January.

The Russian makes up part of the 23-boat RS:X Girls fleet and she will be a strong favourite to retain the title she won at the Tavira 2014 Youth Worlds. The RS:X Boys fleet will feature a fleet of 30 sailors and with no returning medallists, new names will be carved on the trophy.

2015 will be a record year for the Youth Worlds as more than 430 sailors from 80 nations are making the trip to the beautiful Malaysian island of Langkawi to race across nine fleets. New and returning nations make up the numbers to easily surpass the previous best of 67 set in Tavira, Portugal last year.

The 23-boat RS:X Girls fleet sees 2014 Champion Elfutina of Russia make a reappearance at the Youth Worlds. Elfutina was reduced to tears of joy when she found out she won in Tavira last year and thanks to that victory she has enjoyed a string of success stories since.

“The medal from the Youth Worlds last year gave me a lot of confidence because I understood that anything is possible,” explained Elfutina. “In the last race I thought I was second and I was like, ‘oh you’re second, do not lose your second place’ and then I won it and it was unbelievable.

“Now I believe I can do anything.”

And the motto, “I can do anything,” has certainly stuck firm with Elfutina as she took her form in the youth ranks straight into the senior division just months later.

RSX Fleet 2014 Youth Worlds

At the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships Elfutina qualified her country for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and she backed that up with gold at the 2014 Sailing World Cup Melbourne, all before her 18th birthday.

She turned 18 at the turn of the year and since then further top finishes have followed including a 10th at the 2015 World Championships and a fifth at the Olympic Test Event.

In the 23 strong RS:X Girls fleet it’s hard to bet against Elfutina but she knows that every sailor will be looking to perform to the best of their ability across the week, “At the Langkawi Youth Worlds I will try to race as well as I can and maybe I can take gold again. Everybody is going to be racing to their best so it is going to be very hard.

“I’ve been training in a lot of countries and doing a lot of events. It’s been a good year for me but whilst I am looking forward to the Rio Olympics, I am concentrating on Malaysia. My coach and team mates have been helping me so a big thanks to them, we are working really hard.”

If Elfutina is to retain her title she will have to go through a string of strong competitors. Great Britain’s Emma Wilson is making the trip to Langkawi and will be amongst the leading pack having won gold at the 2014 RS:X Youth World Championship in Clearwater, USA.

2015 RS:X Youth Worlds bronze medallist Berenice Mege of France will be in the mix for the medals as will 2015 RS:X South American Champion Maria Belen Bazo (PER), Hong Kong’s Kwan Ching Ma and Isis Hoekstra (NED).

In the RS:X Boys, Argentina’s Francisco Saubidet Birkner will be hotly fancied to add the Youth Worlds title to an impressive list of accolades.

Saubidet Birkner took a dramatic gold medal on the final day of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in the Techno 293 and having made the step up to the RS:X shortly after he has made significant gains. He won his first graded event, the 50-point San Isidro Labrador in his home country and then finished ninth at the Youth European Championship in Mondello, Italy.

One month later he finished second at the RS:X Youth World Championship in Gdynia, Poland ahead of Langkawi rival Titouan Le Bosq (FRA). With strong preparation behind him, Saubidet Birkner will come in with confidence sky high.

The Argentinian edged out Russia’s Maxim Tokarev at the Youth Olympic Games via countback and much like Saubidet Birkner, the Russian has stepped up into the RS:X. The pair will renew their rivalry in Langkawi and Tokarev will want to get one up on the Argentinean following his Nanjing disappointment.

Stefania Elfutina, Youth Sailing World Championship, Langkawi, Malaysia,

RS:X Youth European Champion Sil Hoekstra of the Netherlands will be amongst the frontrunners and you can never count out the Italian and Polish RS:X sailors who consistently produce top sailing talent. Matteo Evangelisti of Italy and Mateusz Grochowski of Poland will be looking to continue their nations strong run of form in the RS:X fleets at the Youth Worlds.

Sailors will start to arrive at the Langkawi venue on 27 December where they will receive the supplied equipment from Ovington, UpMarine, Nautivela, Sirena Voile, Neil Pryde and Laser Performance/Maclaren.

From there, the ceremony on 28 December will signal the start of the Youth Worlds before racing commences on 29 December. Racing will run through to Sunday 3 January with Friday 1 January a lay day for the sailors.

IJsbrand Chardon beats Boyd Exell at London Olympia

The Netherlands’ IJsbrand Chardon tonight succeeded in doing what all the drivers in the FEI World Cup™ Driving series are aiming to do. The four-time World Champion pipped the so-far-unbeatable Boyd Exell from Australia with two fast and faultless rounds in the electric atmosphere of the Grand Hall at Olympia in London (GBR). Exell, who competed with a wild card, finished second ahead of Koos de Ronde (NED) in third.

It is the third time that Chardon has won the leg in London, having previously been victorious in 2011 and 2013. And he performed very well throughout the three competition days, which included an extra competition on the first day that did not count for the World Cup.

By earning the 10 World Cup points, Chardon is now certain of a starting ticket for the Final in Bordeaux, France along with Exell and de Ronde.

From the largest to the smallest arena

Dutch Level 4 Course Designer Johan Jacobs was responsible for the course last week in the largest arena in Geneva, Switzerland and took up the challenge to design another exciting course in the smallest arena in the FEI World Cup™ Driving series in London Olympia, which worked out very well.

The spectators, who have become very knowledgeable over the past few years, very much enjoyed the performances of the seven drivers, and the atmosphere in the beautiful Olympia Hall was just amazing.

Grow in the competition

IJsbrand Chardon did not use his regular leader horse Aladin as he had a cough on arrival in England earlier this week. He replaced the gelding with the more experienced but tougher-to-drive Lipizzaner horse Inci, who, however had previous experience as part of the team. “I know that Inci has to grow in the competition, he just needs a bit of time. My horses felt super and I haven’t knocked any balls down for three days, which is brilliant” Chardon said tonight.

He analysed both his own rounds and those of Exell on video after the first competition yesterday, and he subsequently decided to take a shorter route, which resulted in the second-fastest time, only one second behind Exell, who had a knock down. Chardon went into the Winning Round over an altered course with almost nine seconds of an advantage, but he still went for it. “I had a very safe feeling but I did drive at full speed. I knew I could have one knock down, and when I went clear the feeling was just great!”, the winning driver said.

With his ticket to the final now in his pocket, and with one more competition to go in Mechelen (BEL) later this month, Chardon will try some alternate set-ups to his team in order to get the good feeling again for Bordeaux.

Not affect Christmas

Boyd Exell won the extra competition and the first competition and was last to go in the first round, where he set the fastest time. He was unfortunately plagued with team set-up problems and had one knock down, which put him into third position. After only a short break, he had to enter the arena again for the Winning Round and had no time to think about his tactics.

His plan to take a different route in one of the marathon type obstacles failed, he lost speed and rhythm and a ball fell, leaving the 2014 Olympia winner in runner-up spot at the end of the day.

“It is good for the sport that somebody else wins,” Exell said afterwards. “I am still pleased with my second place. I can’t expect to win all the time and I am for sure not going to let this ruin Christmas!” he added.

The last time Exell was beaten at an FEI World Cup™ Driving Leg was in Leipzig, Germany earlier this year, where Koos de Ronde was the strongest.

Exciting finish

The Dutch team gold medallist, de Ronde, has had his ups and downs this week. He finished sixth in the first competition after having made several changes in his team of horses. He actually made some changes during the warm-up session today as well, and finally re-found the right feeling.

He went for it in in the first round, knowing that his fellow competitors were all eager to make it to the Winning Round as well. He drove clear in a fast time, and only Chardon managed to beat him in the end. De Ronde was then unlucky again in the Winning Round where he had 20 penalty seconds added to his time after two knockdowns and rebuilding the course.

His unlucky run however wasn’t finished yet. De Ronde caused excitement when his left wheeler horse and left leader horse fell just after passing the finish line. “I passed the finish at high speed when my left horses fell. I got pulled off the carriage but my horses quickly got back on their feet and did not get injured” the Dutchman explained afterwards.

Johan Jacobs stood in their way and grabbed the team quickly, and in the true spirit of this great sport Boyd Exell and some of the other competitors rushed into the arena to also see if they could do anything help. However de Ronde presented his team in the prize-giving ceremony, showing the spectators that everything was fine with his four-legged friends.

Strong competition

The remaining four drivers pushed their teams of horses in a very strong competition, where the level was extremely high, including second wild card driver Dan Naprous from Great Britain.

Hungary’s József Dobrovitz drove a short route from gate 8 to 9, but the risk didn’t pay off when a ball fell. It cost him a place in the Winning Round and dropped him to fourth place in the final analysis.

London Olympia was Dobrovitz’ fourth and last competition of this series, and with just 12 points picked up so far it is very unlikely that he will make it to the Final. The goal of Germany’s Georg von Stein was to drive very fast so he could afford a ball, but he unfortunately came short over one second and had one ball. Von Stein has one more competition to go and is currently in fifth place in the standings.

After finishing third in the first competition, Glenn Geerts from Belgium was determined to equal this performance today, but he unfortunately had three knockdowns and finished sixth. Geerts will compete on home turf in Mechelen (BEL) with a wild card, and then in Leipzig where he will get his last chance to earn enough points to enter the Top Six.

Dan Naprous, who is a stuntman by profession and currently working on the film “Wonder Woman”, put down very good performances with his team of Lipizzaner horses. And although he is always disappointed to finish last, he also accepted that the world-class drivers in London were very hard to beat.

IJsbrand Chardon on his way to beating Boyd Exell at London Olympia. (Photo: FEI/Trevor Meeks)

New look and feel

Johan Jacobs and the Organising Committee gave the obstacles on the course a bit of a make-over, which resulted in several obstacles shaped as Christmas gifts.

“We are keen to have our own obstacles with a different look and feel,” Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said.

The bridge on the course was completely new, and the Olympia jumping obstacles were used as wings at the entrance and exit of the bridge. The standard orange cones were covered with green sleeves to add to the Christmas theme that makes this horse show such a hugely popular event at this time of year.

Results FEI World Cup™ Driving, London Olympia (GBR), 19 December 2015:

IJsbrand Chardon (NED) 207,07
Boyd Exell (AUS) 213,89
Koos de Ronde (NED) 230,19
József Dobrovitz (HUN) 113,53
Georg von Stein (GER) 115,44
Glenn Geerts (BEL) 125,69
Daniel Naprous (GBR) 133,01

FEI World Cup™ Driving, standings after 5 of 7 events:

1 Boyd EXELL AUS 30
2 IJsbrand CHARDON NED 27
3 Koos DE RONDE NED 21
4 Jozsef DOBROVITZ HUN 12
5 Georg VON STEIN GER 9
6 Rainer DUEN GER 8
Jozsef DOBROVITZ jr. HUN 8
8 Michael BRAUCHLE GER 7
Jérôme VOUTAZ SUI 7
10 Glenn GEERTS BEL 4

Cindy Timmer

ANTHONY MARTIAL WINS GOLDEN BOY AWARD

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has won the 2015 Golden Boy award for Europe’s best young player.

Established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, the award is reserved for players under the age of 21 and is voted for by journalists from 30 major newspapers across the continent.

The 20-year old French international scooped the prize ahead of Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman and Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin. His Reds team-mates Luke Shaw and Adnan Januzaj were also on the 40-strong shortlist.

Martial’s exciting rise in the calendar year of 2015 included a successful end to the season with Monaco (who finished third in Ligue 1), a first senior cap for France in September and a highly promising start to his Reds career, with six goals in his first 19 appearances.

Anthony Martial wins Golden Boy Awards

Anthony Martial is the third Manchester United player to receive the award, after Wayne Rooney (2004) and Anderson (2008) – no other club has had more than one winner.

Martial succeeds Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, while other previous recipients include Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero and Paul Pogba.