pau_press_releases

The long-anticipated Final of the first FEI Eventing World Cup began today
in Pau, South-western France. Forty-four riders representing Australia,
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Great-Britain, Greece, Ireland, Japan,
New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, the USA and Ukraine performed their
Dressage tests under cloudy and cold but fortunately dry skies.

The Swedish rider Linda Algotsson on Stand by Me and Australian Megan Jones
on Kirby Park Irish Hallmark are equal leaders with an impressive score of
38 penalty points (74.64%). They are closely followed by the British William
Fox-Pitt riding the veteran 17-year old gelding Stunning and Polly Stockton
on Oscar, who are tied for the third place with 38.7 (74.2 %). And the ties
don't end here. France's own Eddy Sans on Ecile and Marie Christine Duroy on
Crazy Love are equal 6th with 43 (71.3%), only 5 points behind the leaders.

26-year old Megan Jones, who began her career as a groom to Olympian Wendy
Schaeffer, is relatively new to the international Eventing scene as this her
first high level competition outside Australia. "I am very pleased to be
here," she commented. "I am looking very much forward to tomorrow's Cross
Country course. It is very tough as the fences get narrower near the end and
there is plenty of room for mistakes. My horse is very big and fast which
makes it all the more challenging. But I haven't travelled half the globe to
be slow and jump something easy. So, we'll have to jump, won't we!"

Her impressions were confirmed by Linda Algotsson, Individual silver
medallist at the recent European Championship held in Punchestown (IRL) in
September. "There are no fences where you can relax and you have to attack
them all."

This first day of Dressage has proven a promising opening and has brought in
its part of expectations and excitement. And the 27-fence Cross Country
course built by designer Pierre Michelet is certain to keep up the tension.

Malina Gueorguiev
Fédération Equestre Internationale
FEI Communications Department
Tel. + 41 79 216 95 32

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Press Release 19 (Pau, 25 October 2003)

FEI Eventing World Cup Final: Linda Algotsson (SWE) confirms her supremacy
after Cross Country

Linda Algotsson of Sweden riding Stand By Me scored no penalties on today's
very technical and bold 27-fence (40 jumping efforts) Cross Country course
and with an impressive result of 38 points remains in the lead of the first
FEI Eventing World Cup Final held in Pau (FRA). She performed one of only
two clear rounds finishing at 8,43 min., 7 sec. before the end of time
allowed. When asked to comment on her ride, she said: "When I first walked
the course I thought those that don't die here have won, but it felt much
more comfortable to ride than to walk. I was the penultimate to go and had
had the whole day to gather information and work on strategies. I was so
tense that once I was out there it felt almost too easy. My horse was great
and I am very happy with what we have achieved."

Linda is followed by two French riders: Pascal Leroy on Eersteling du Leou
and Eddy Sans on Ecile with 49.1 and 49.4 respectively. Both of them
defended brilliantly the colours of the home nation and were loudly cheered
by an enthusiastic and abundant crowd. Eddy Sans had remained in the lead
for most of the day as he was the third starter, had no fence penalties and
had scored 6.4 points for finishing 16 sec after the time limit. However, he
had had to leave this coveted position to Pascal, 33rd to go and who was
penalised with only 0.4 time points. Leroy's achievement is all the more
remarkable as he was held at fence 9 (The Farm) for 10 minutes as the
previous rider and fellow countryman Michel Bouquet had fallen in the first
water (fence 12).

Peter Thomsen (GER) on Bordou and Sam Griffiths (AUS) on In the Groove are
in 4th and 5th position.

The day was less successful for the British (William Fox-Pitt, Julie Tew,
James Robinson, Clare Chamberlayne and Polly Stockton) all five of whom
retired or were eliminated.

Given that there is only a 5.5 point difference between the 2nd (Pascal
Leroy 49.1) and the 10th rider (Matt Ryan (AUS) 54.9), the situation remains
very open and Jumping promises to be very exciting. However, with an 11.1
point advantage, Linda Algotsson's perspectives look bright. She will
nevertheless have to remain very focused as she go last of the 29 riders
still in competition.

Malina Gueorguiev
Fédération Equestre Internationale
Communications Department
tel. ++41 21 310 47 54

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Press Release 20 (Pau, 26 October 2003)

A truly international trio wins the first Final of the FEI Eventing World
Cup

The Swedish rider Linda Algotsson (SWE) on Stand By Me won today the first
Final of the FEI Eventing World Cup held in Pau, South-western France. The
pair convincingly took the lead since the very beginning by performing a
high-quality Dressage test (38) and went clear in both Cross Country and
Jumping. The winner was presented with a trophy for perpetual competition
generously donated by Mr and Mrs Apter, owners of Stunning ridden by William
Fox-Pitt.

Linda is followed by Andrew Nicholson (NZL) on Fenicio and Gina Miles (USA)
on McKinlaigh with 51.6 and 53 points respectively.

Her performance is all the more remarkable as she scored one of only two
clear rounds within the time allowed in the Cross Country and, even with two
fences in hand before the third phase, went faultless on the very technical
Jumping course. Linda's success is that of an entire family. Her sister Sara
placed 7th riding the Swedish warmblood Robin Des Bois bred by the Algotsson
sisters' mother by the same mare as Stand By Me.

When asked to comment on the horse's exceptional performance, especially
since the pair won the silver medal in the European Championship only five
weeks ago, she said: "That are Swedish horses for you, they can do
everything!"

Runner-up and Olympic champion Andrew Nicholson paid tribute to Linda in a
true spirit of horsemanship and fair-play. He expressed the view that the
short Eventing format, which is becoming the standard for the Olympic Games
and will also gradually be introduced for Championships, was beneficial for
the sport as it would allow for horses to be seen more often on the
international sporting scene. All three riders conveyed their full support
and enthusiasm for the World Cup concept as a showcase of modern Eventing.

The FEI Eventing World Cup will resume in only ten days' time in Nichelino
(ITA).

Malina Gueorguiev
Fédération Equestre Internationale
Communications Department
Tel. + 41 21 310 47 54

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