HSBC FEI EUROPEAN EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Fontainebleau (FRA), 22 September 2009
The list of entries as of 21 September 2009
All roads lead to Fontainebleau!
Excitement is mounting for the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championship at Fontainebleau (FRA) on 23-27 September with a thrilling line-up of 18 nations who have nominated riders, of which 11 could form teams.
France is renowned for its stylish international events, but this is the first time the internationally popular venue of Fontainebleau, with its splendid, historic chateau, has held a Senior Eventing Championship since the "alternative Olympics" in 1980.
The European Championship, held biennially, began in 1953, and since its inception, Great Britain has been the most successful nation, winning 20 team golds - including the last seven - and 17 individual golds.
Despite this lengthy dominance, the Brits will have a serious fight on their hands from the Germans, the reigning Olympic and World Champions. Germany has not won team gold for 40 years, an anomaly they will be out to correct and are seen as the strong favourites.
Even though France has won team silver 7 times since 1993 and individual gold with local hero Nicholas Touzaint in 2007, they have yet to win team gold. With the added motivation of being on home ground, they will be doing everything in their power to thrill their audience and go for team gold.
Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship at HSBC commented, "HSBC is proud to be a Platinum Partner of the FEI and the title sponsor of the European Eventing Championship 2009 in Fontainebleau. This is the first year HSBC has supported the Europeans and we are looking forward to a great competition which brings together nations from around Europe."
The nations with nominated entries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Spain and Sweden.
The Ground Jury at Fontainebleau is headed by President David Lee (IRL) assisted by Anne Mette Binder (DEN) and Michel Asseray (FRA) and anticipation is building about the new-look cross-country course designed by French maestro Pierre Michelet.
WATCH THE EVENT ON FEI TV
Extensive and high quality live and on-demand coverage of the event will be offered on www.feitv.org.
Confirmed (live) broadcasting times on www.feitv.org are:
Friday, 25 September (tbc): 19:00 - 20:00 CEST (highlights package)
Saturday, 26 September: 11:00 - 17:00 CEST (Cross Country)
Sunday, 27 September: 10:00 - 12:00 CEST (Jumping Part I)
Sunday, 27 September: 14:00 - 16:30 CEST (Jumping Part II)
USEFUL STATISTICS
France has hosted the FEI European Championships twice before, in Haras du Pin (1969) and Pau (2001)
France has won team silver 7 times since 1993
Supreme Rock (ridden by Pippa Funnell, GBR) is the only horse to have won back-to-back titles, in 1999 and 2001
Galan de Sauvagere (ridden by Nicolas Touzaint, FRA) has won the individual title twice in 2003 and 2007
Ginny Elliot (GBR) is the only rider to have won the European title 3 times, which she did in succession in 1985, 1987 and 1989 - she is now team trainer to the Irish
Linda Algotsson (SWE) and Stand By Me have won 2 individual silver medals, in 1999 and 2003
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) has the most European medals: 5 team golds, 2 individual silvers - this will be his 7th European Championship
The only nations to have won team gold in the history of the Europeans are Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, USSR and Germany
Full details of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championship 2009 can be found on www.fontainebleau2009.com
About HSBC
HSBC the world's local bank is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC Holdings plc is the exclusive financial services partner to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and in 2008 became a ‘Platinum Sponsor' - the FEI's highest sponsorship platform.
HSBC's equestrian sponsorship portfolio includes:-
The HSBC FEI ClassicsTM
The HSBC FEI World CupTM Eventing
The HSBC FEI European Eventing Championship 2009