copyright: Tish Quirk
Las Vegas, NV – April 19, 2007 – Isabell Werth of Germany took top honors in the Rolex FEI Dressage Grand Prix, riding Warum Nicht FRH, in front of a large and appreciative crowd at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas on opening day of the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals.
“It was very emotional,” said the six-time Olympic medalist of the standing ovation they received. “It’s great when you see and feel so many emotions at a competition.”
Werth and “Hannes”, as he is affectionately called, were placed first by all five judges for their performance receiving an impressive score of 74.792, but they had some problems during their test.
“The first part of the test was really, really good, but then he saw the camera and I had to get him to concentrate again,” said Werth of her 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “He kept looking around for something else and so we made little mistakes.”
1996 Olympic Team Bronze medalist Steffen Peters of the United States said the roar of the crowd actually helped Floriano to their second place score of 72.875.
“I would like to say a big thank you to the crowd, it made a big difference.”
Kyra Kirkland of Finland who was third with 71.708, said her horse Max was ready for his Las Vegas debut. “Max said 17,000 people came to look at me so I have to look my best.”
Imke Schellekens-Bartels of The Netherlands also received a score of 71.708 riding Sunrise, but they were placed forth as a result of the tie-breaker.
The top12 finishers from Thursday’s Grand Prix advance to Saturday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle that will determine this year’s Dressage World Cup Champion. All riders will start Saturday evening even as scores from Thursday do not carry forward. Saturday’s starting order will be inverse order of finish from Thursday’s Grand Prix.
Dressage competition continues on Friday with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle B – Final for those horses who did not qualify for Saturday’s Freestyle, and the Invitational FEI Grand Prix for US horses and riders.
Started in 1979, the FEI World Cup Jumping Final is an annual international showdown among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The 2007 event will mark the seventh FEI World Cup Jumping Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore in 1980, Tampa, FL in 1989, Del Mar, CA in 1992 and the three in Las Vegas in 2000, 2003 and 2005. In the 28 finals held through 2006, United States riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times.
First held in 1986, the FEI World Cup Dressage Final has been held in the U.S. only twice, in 1995 in Los Angeles and 2005 in Las Vegas. The Netherlands has dominated the competition, winning seven times, followed by Germany with six. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald rode Brentina to the Championship. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of the 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 390 events, which have driven more than 3.3 million visitors to the area, resulting in an economic impact of more than $2 billion.
Fans wanting to bring home the excitement of every ride of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals will be able to do so with full-coverage DVDs. DVDs of the Dressage and Jumping Finals will be available for each of Friday, Saturday, & Sunday’s Sessions and will include every minute of action from those sessions. The DVDs of each session will be available for sale at the Thomas & Mack Center starting Saturday and will also be available on line.
The Animal Planet television network will televise a special 90-minute broadcast of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals on Saturday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 p.m. (EDT).
The telecast will include the Finals in both jumping and dressage.
Further information on the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Dressage Finals is available on line at the official Las Vegas World Cup website at www.worldcuplasvegas.com.
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