Starting today, the World Cup Finals will be on the program this weekend for the world's top riders in jumping and dressage.

Through the regular way, Dutch jumping rider Harrie Smolders and dressage riders Edward Gal and Madeleine Witte-Vrees had already qualified for this prestigious event next weekend in Paris. At the last moment, Patrick van der Meer was also added to the list of participants.

A total of eight KWPN Jumpers and six KWPN Dressage Horses are entered.

 

The World Cup finals take place at the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris and starts today for the jumper riders with a Speed & Handiness course. Friday, a classic round follows and Sunday it will be topped off by the final over two rounds. The dressage riders will have their Grand Prix on Friday. The result will determine the starting order for the final Kür to Music on Saturday (see time schedule below).

Dressage

Through the regular World Cup qualifying competitions, Dutch riders Edward Gal with his KWPN approved stallion GLOCK's Zonik N.O.P. and Madeleine Witte-Vrees with the KWPN-recognized stallion Cennin qualified for the World Cup Final. On Monday it was announced that Patrick van der Meer will also travel to Paris with Zippo. Van der Meer takes the place of the British rider Emile Faurie who had to cancel last minute. The first reserves Krinke-Susmelj (Zwi) and Pinto (Por) did not want to use the vacant place. That cleared the way for Van der Meer. "The question of whether I wanted to start overwhelmed me, I did not count on it at all and was not a reserve on the list.

Last year, at the European Championships in Gothenburg, I heard at the last moment  as well that I was going, but then I was really reserve and prepared for it. Meanwhile, the worst tension has gone and I am actually ready for it, thanks to my great team at home. I trained some proper exercises with Zippo this morning and fortunately he knows his work, I don’t have to teach it to him anymore. We will leave tomorrow after the rush hour ", Patrick said on Tuesday.

A total of 18 pairs from 12 different countries come at the start. Among them also the German title defender Isabelle Werth, who is one of the favorites in the french caprital. This is the 33th final.

Jumping

Only one Dutch rider has qualified for the finals, Harrie Smolders. The current number 2 in the World Rankings is one of the favorites for the title. Smolders brings two horses, the KWPN recognized Emerald and Zinius.
For this final, 39 riders from 19 countries secured a starting place. Among them defending champion McLain Ward from the USA. Besides Ward, another four riders, that have won the title before are in Paris. These are Beezie Madden (USA), Daniel Deusser (GER), Steve Guerdat (Sui) and Marcus Ehning (GER), the latter is the first rider ever to make chance of winning for the fourth time.

Thursday and Friday, all 39 riders will compete. On Sunday only the best 30 will come back, and the best 20 will compete in the final round.

Competing KWPN-horses

 

Time schedule FEI World Cup Paris 2018

Jumping

 

Thursday 12 april

20.30h – Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Speed and Handiness (Table C)

 

Friday 13 april

20.30h - Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping – Round 2 (Table A)

 

Sunday 15 april

14.00 h - Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping  Final round 1

16.35 h - Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping  Final round 2 (with jump-off)

 

Dressage

Friday 13 april

15.30 h - FEI World Cup™ Dressage – Grand Prix (Group 1)

17.06 h - FEI World Cup™ Dressage – Grand Prix (Group 2)

 

Saturday 14 april

14.00 h - FEI World Cup™ Dressage – Kür (Grand Prix Freestyle to Music (Group 1)

15.45 h - FEI World Cup™ Dressage – Kür (Grand Prix Freestyle to Music (Group 2)

 

A complete time schedule and more info can be found on www.feiworldcupfinals-paris.com

 

Source KNHS/ YBF

Photo: Emerald: Dirk Caremans