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Top International Show Jumping Teams Expected in Wellington for CSIO United States – CN Finale

Written by: Kenneth Kraus
Client: Winter Equestrian Festival
Release Date: 2005-01-11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kenneth Kraus for Phelps Media Group, Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mason Phelps, Jr. of Phelps Media Group, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at info@phelpsmediagroup.com

WEB SITE: Phelps Media Group, Inc. Press Releases and Photos are available for download at http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com/ <http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com/>

PHOTO CREDIT: Team Canada, 2004 Samsung Nations Cup winners. By Randi Muster

Top International Show Jumping Teams Expected in Wellington for CSIO United States – CN Finale

Wellington, Fl – January 11 - The thirty-third annual Winter Equestrian Festival is set to kick off on Wednesday, January 26, 2005, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Center, in Wellington, Florida, the first week of a seven week run in South Florida.

While this year’s festival is still a couple of weeks from getting underway, excitement is already beginning to build for the CSIO 4* United States – CN Finale, the final week in Wellington beginning on March 9th, 2005.

The CN Finale, featuring the nation’s only outdoor Nations Cup competition, is expected to draw the most exciting international field of competitors for any single event ever held in the United States.
The spectacular Nations Cup will be held on Friday, March 11, 2005, under the lights at the Internationale Arena beginning at 7pm.

If all teams that have expressed interest attend, the Wellington event will feature most of the teams of the highly competitive Samsung Super League.

In addition to the show jumping teams from the United States and last year’s winner, Canada, teams from Ireland, France, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany are expected for the Samsung Nations Cup, CSIO, presented by CN.

Olympians, World and European Champions dot the rosters of the teams expected to compete at this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.

Team Ireland is expected to feature Kevin Babington, fifth individually at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Dermott Lennon, a past World and European Champion, Marion Hughes, a member of the 2004 Irish Olympic team and Darragh Kerins, winner of the 2004 Hampton Classic Grand Prix.

France is scheduled to be represented by Eric Navet, a three time French Olympic team member at Barcelona, Atlanta and Los Angeles, Eduard Mathe, Yann Candele, 16th in the 2004 World Cup, Yannick Patron and former American superstar, Katie Prudent.

The team from Belgium includes Judy Ann Melchior, Eric Flameng, Gregory Wathelet, Jean Claude and Samantha Vangheenberg, winner of Grand Prix events in Athens and Helsinki.

“Team Whitaker” is expected to represent Great Britain. Invitations have gone out to family members, John, a four time Olympian and two time World Champion. Michael, with four Olympic appearances, Robert, a two time European Junior Champion and Ellen Whitaker, a junior and winner at Olympia this winter.

For Germany, topping the list are Toni Hassman, a three time World Cup Finalist and European Junior Champion, plus, Markus Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, one of the highest ranked riders in the world.

Switzerland is expected to field a team made up of Christophe Barbeau, a World Cup Finalist, Steve Guerdat, team Silver Medallist at the Athens Olympics, Gregoire Oberson and the legendary Marcus Fuchs, a five time Olympian and the 2001 World Cup Champion.

The nation’s largest and longest running equestrian showcase will be previewed at the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival Press Conference, Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at the Palm Beach Equestrian Club, at 12:00pm.

Three of the four members of the 2004 Gold Medal United States Athens Olympic Show Jumping team, Beezie Madden, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward will highlight the star studded panel. Five time Olympian Robert Dover, a member of the Athens Bronze medal Dressage team, top amateur rider, Georgina Bloomberg, one of the nation’s best juniors, Aimee Aron and top show hunter rider, Shachine Belle round out the dais.

The US Show Jumping Squad members will be presented representative Gold medals at the WEF press conference. This presentation follows the long awaited ruling by the FEI, stripping the German Show Jumping Team of the Olympic gold medal following a positive doping test by German rider, Ludger Beerbaum.

For information and a press conference reservation contact the Phelps Media Group

PHELPS MEDIA GROUP CONTACT INFORMATION:

Phelps Media Group, Inc., 13833 Wellington Trace, Unit E-4, #221, Wellington, Florida 33414, or telephone (561) 753-3389 or Emailto:info@phelpsmediagroup.com or visit www.phelpsmediagroup.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Team Canada, 2004 Samsung Nations Cup winners. By Randi Muster