2010 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing-Malmo

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 | Mary Phelps

Clayton Fredericks Returns to Favourite Swedish VenueClayton Fredericks (AUS) returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs for the 10th leg of the 2010 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing series, which takes place this weekend (August 13-15). The Swedish seaside town of Malmö, where the Cross-Country course runs right down to the beach, is where Fredericks won the FEI World Cup Final in 2005, the victory that kicked off a roll of success which was to include Olympic and World silver medals.

Fredericks, who has made the long journey from Britain with his Burghley horses Brookleigh and Be My Guest, is just one of a large cast of international stars hoping to pick up valuable points in the FEI World Cup Eventing rankings which, with three events left to run, are currently led by Germany’s Michael Jung (GER).Jung’s compatriots are out in force at Malmö, including Kai-Steffen Meier, who is currently in eighth place with 107 points after a second-place finish at Marbach (AUS) and 11th at Strzegom (POL) and could easily better his position with higher placings on TSF Karascada M or Pretty Darling.Kai Rüder, for whom Sweden is an easy journey as he lives on an island in the Baltic, could also dramatically improve his HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing ranking of equal 21st from a third place at Marbach. He rides his four-star stallion Le Prince des Bois, also Burghley-bound, and Saaten-Unions Charlie Weld.The strong German entry also includes Andreas Dibowski with the lovely mare FRH Fantasia, recently third at Luhmühlen, last year’s Malmö winner, Marina Köhncke with Calma Schelly, and Frank Ostholt with Saumur winner Mr Medicott plus La Fair and Air Jordan.

Ostholt’s wife, Sara Algotsson, is part of the 10-strong Swedish squad, which includes the 2008 Malmö winner Viktoria Carlebäck, and Niklas Jonsson, who hopes to improve on his ranking of equal 27th on 61 points.The nations of Lithuania, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, the USA, Netherlands, Poland and Finland are also represented. The Ground Jury comprises Martin Plewa (GER), Nick Burton (GBR) and Christian Landolt (SUI) and the Technical Delegate is Andy Griffiths (GBR). Giuseppe della Chiesa (ITA) is again Cross Country Course Designer.Follow the event on www.malmo.se/malmocityhorseshowCalendar of events1. Tallahassee (USA), 5-7 March 22. Kihikihi (NZL), 2-4 April3. Sydney (AUS), 7-9 May4. Marbach (GER), 7-9 May5. Chatsworth (GBR), 15-16 May6. Tattersalls (IRL), 27-30 May7. Strzegom (POL), 24-27 June8. Minsk (BLR), 21-25 July9. Rebecca Farm, Kalispell (USA), 22-25 July10. Malmö (SWE), 13-15 August11. Haras du Pin (FRA), 18-22 August12. Schenefeld (GER), 26-29 August Standings (after 9 of 12 events)1 Michael Jung (GER) 142 points2 Megan Jones (AUS) 1383 Phillip Dutton (USA) 1314= Clarke Johnston (NZL) 1284= Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) 1286 Alexey Korshunov (RUS) 1257 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 1198 Kai-Steffen Meier (GER) 1079 Andrew Downes (GBR) 10410 Viachaslau Poita (BLR) 7811= Mary King (GBR) 7411= Karen O’Connor (USA) 7413= Mara Dean (USA) 7113= Chris Burton (AUS) 7113= Sam Griffiths (AUS) 7113= Oliver Townend (GBR) 71For the full rankings, see www.feiworldcup.orgPrize-money distribution (in US$)1st place: 50,0002nd: 34,0003rd: 23,0004th: 18,0005th: 13,0006th: 10’0007th: 8,0008th: 6,5009th: 5,00010th: 4,00011th: 3,00012th: 2,00013th: 2,00014th: 1,50015th: 1,000HSBC, the world’s local bank, is a platinum partner of FEI and global sponsor of the eventing discipline.As part of this partnership, HSBC is title sponsor of the HSBC FEI Classics and HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing.At the centre of all HSBC’s sponsorships is a commitment to youth, education and community. The Pony Club and HSBC have teamed up to create the HSBC Pony Club Eventing Training Programme.Photos:  Michael Jung and Karen O’Connor