NEWS | BLOG

At a Rolex press conference in Gothenburg today, it was announced that three of the  world’s  greatest equestrian shows – the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament and CHI Geneva – have joined forces to create the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping; the first global initiative to reward the outstanding rider who wins the Grand Prix at each show in succession. The winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping will be rewarded with a €1 million bonus prize.

More information on this exciting announcement can be found at: www.rolexgrandslam.com.

From L to R: Mr Alban Poudret (CSI Geneva), Mr Steve Guerdat, Mr Ian Allison (CSIO Spruce Meadows), Mrs Sophie Mottu Morel (CSI Geneva), Mr Arnaud Boetsch (Director of Communication and Image Rolex), Mr Eric Lamaze, Mrs Linda Southern-Heathcott (CSIO Spruce Meadows), Mr Michael Mronz (CHIO Aachen/President of the Steering Committee for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping), Mrs Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Mr Frank Kemperman (CHIO Aachen/Chairman Managing Board)

Day 2 at the Gothenburg Horse Show saw the first round of Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final competition, with America’s Beezie Madden and Simon winning the first round. Keep up to date with all the results on the show website: www.gothenburghorseshow.com.

The first media course walk of the show before the first round of Rolex FEI World Cup Final Jumping…

What all the riders are vying for, the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final trophy!

Yesterday marked the first day of the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Gothenburg, and several members of the Revolution team were on-site, as press, athletes, horses and spectators began to arrive from around the globe for the equestrian world’s show-piece event!

You can follow the team throughout the weekend’s competition on twitter @RevolutionSport - below are a few snaps from the day.

The show’s press centre is already packed!

Rolex FEI World Cup in Gothenburg is famous for its flower displays and they certainly haven’t dissapointed this year!

and most importantly, the rider draw for the Rolex FEI World Cup Final!!

David Beckham finding his feet in his new role as football ambassador for China

Bubba Watson updates his golf buggy with the help of Oakley

and Andy Murray wins the Sony Open in Miami in a sea of bubbles!!

Download the article here: Birmingham Post_Mizuno Swing DNA_14 02 13

Horse & Country TV and British Showjumping has announce a fresh line-up of TV programming for 2013, bringing showjumping fans top quality sports action and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from a variety of Britain’s most celebrated showjumping events and venues.

Viewers can enjoy the Grand Prix from Arena UK and POYS in March and April, followed by the FEI 2* International event at the Wales & West Showground. Further competitions that include some of the prestigious International Stairway competitions will follow through the summer season.

The new roster includes a number of shows that will be exclusive to Horse & Country TV which will later on be available to watch online via the British Showjumping website.

Head of Programming for Horse & Country TV, Jonathan Rippon, said: “Many of our viewers are avid fans of showjumping or indeed compete themselves, and since Team GB’s success at the Olympics we’ve seen a real surge of interest from people new to the sport. So we’re delighted to partner with British Showjumping in bringing more top quality UK competitions to television than there has been for many years and also to introduce a whole new audience to the personalities behind a real British success story.”

Maria Clayton, Head of Communications for British Showjumping, said: “Horse & Country TV has shown itself to be a key media partner for British Showjumping. We’re pleased that Horse & Country TV continues to be a unique specialist outlet for our programming in 2013.”

Saudi Equestrian – team bronze medal winners at the London 2012 Olympic Games – has today launched an all new English/Arabic website – saudiequestrian.com. The updated site has been built to be more user-friendly and easily navigable, as well as being fully optimised to be viewed on a range of mobile and tablet devices.

The website also incorporates a fresh look, whilst staying true to the origins of the Saudi Equestrian brand values. Content on the site includes: detailed biographies of the entire team (riders, horses and management); reports from shows in which the team competes; a comprehensive gallery of images of the team; and various other information about the team, their future competitions, and the recently announced Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™

Ziyad Abduljawad, managing director of Saudi Equestrian, commented, “We have always prided ourselves on keeping the loyal fans of Saudi Equestrian fully up-to-date on the team’s performances and their plans from around the globe, and our new modern website will only allow us continue to grow to enable our fans to be closer to the team.”

To view the new Saudi Equestrian website please visit saudiequestrian.com

MIZUNO EXTENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH WORLD #3 LUKE DONALD

Donald sticks with Japanese manufacturer in quest for major honours

Mizuno, the Japanese Golf equipment manufacturer, today announced an extension to one of the longest-standing equipment relationships in golf with world #3 Luke Donald signing to continue to be a brand ambassador for years to come. The agreement ensures that Donald, the world’s premier iron player, will continue to play the Mizuno equipment that has led him to 13 professional victories, including his incredible 2011 campaign which propelled him to the top rank on both PGA Tour and European Tour money lists in the same year, a feat that no other golfer had ever claimed.

Known for his amazing iron and wedge play, Donald regularly provides Mizuno engineers with significant and valuable feedback throughout the development of new products. Donald has recently switched to Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged MP-64 irons and MP-T4 wedges – models designed hand in hand with the player. The equipment, forged at Mizuno’s exclusive plant in Hiroshima Japan is world renowned for the precision and quality favoured by shot-makers like Donald.

Donald established his playing credentials with Mizuno during a standout career at Northwestern University. Donald signed on as a Mizuno Brand Ambassador in 2003 and has since recorded 13 professional tournament wins with Mizuno equipment.

In 2011 and 2012 Donald experienced the most prolific period of his career, holding the world #1 position for a total of 56 weeks. With four international victories in 2011 and top ranks on both PGA Tour and European Tour money lists, Donald was named the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year, becoming the first Englishman to win either award. He was also named the European Tour Golfer of the Year.
“I feel as if I am playing as well as ever at this stage in my career. Over the next few years I want to be in a position to win major championships and to continue to improve each year” Donald said. “We’ve refined my Mizuno equipment in the last couple of seasons and I’m really happy with what I have in the bag right now, so it gives me great pleasure to extend this relationship. Mizuno is the most precise, incredible club-maker out there, and I’m honoured to represent this quality brand.”

Akito Mizuno, Mizuno President and grandson of company founder Rihachi Mizuno, is equally delighted. “Luke Donald and Mizuno share a special long-term relationship that we are delighted to continue. Luke has become a very special friend to Mizuno over the years. He perfectly represents our company, and we look forward to what Luke will accomplish in the next few years. “

Donald re-joins Mizuno’s elite stable of world players including Jonathan Byrd, Charles Howell III, Marcel Siem, Chris Wood, Mayu Hattori and Jiyai Shin.

Ellerstina defeated La Dolfina, 12-10 in the Final of 2012 Argentine Open in a dramatic match on Saturday 8 December.

Pablo MacDonough opened the scoring for the match for La Dolfina early in the first chukka.  Gonzalito Pieres scored to tie it up at 1-1.  Three minutes later, Nico Pieres put Ellerstina ahead, 2-1, to end the first chukka.  Facundo Pieres scored the first goal of the second chukka, giving Ellerstina a 3-1 advantage, but La Dolfina stormed back.  Ellerstina fouls allowed Adolfo Cambiaso to convert a pair of 30 yard penalty shots to tie it up at 3-3.  Gonzalito Pieres’s second goal of the game had Ellerstina back on top, 4-3.  A foul in the Ellerstina goal mouth gave Cambiaso a short penalty shot for a goal and the chukka ended 4-4.

Goals were hard to come by in the third chukka. Adolfo Cambiaso put La Dolfina up 5-4 on a 40-yard penalty conversion. Facundo Pieres followed up Nico Pieres and tied it up on a goal from the field. At the end of three periods of play it was all even at 5-5.

La Dolfina picked up a pair of goals from Cambiaso in the fourth (one by penalty one from the field) to lead, 7-5. Nearly six minutes into the chukka, Ellerstina’s Facundo Pieres scored on a neck shot through a crowd. La Dolfina led at the end of the first half, but Facundo’s goal cut the lead to a single goal, 7-6.

Mariano Aguerre scored his first goal of the game in the opening minute of the second half to level the match at 7-7.  Facundo Pieres gave Ellerstina the lead on a 60 yard penalty conversion just two minutes later and Ellerstina was leading, 8-7.  Facundo Pieres scored on a 60-yard penalty shot and the defending championship La Dolfina team found themselves trailing by two goals, 9-7 as the chukka ended.

Gonzalito Pieres scored from the field less than two minutes into the sixth, carrying the ball over two-hundred and fifty-yards down the field.  Facundo Pieres converted a 30-yard penalty shot and Ellerstina was up, 11-7. Cambiaso cut the lead back to three goals but missed a 30 yard penalty shot to end the chukka trailing Ellerstina by three goals, 11-8.

Facundo Pieres put Ellerstina up by four goals again, 12-8, on a beautifully executed neck shot just a minute-and-a-half into the seventh chukka. Juan Martin Nero responded for La Dolfina with a goal from the field at 2:44, for a 12-9 score.  Cambiaso cut the Ellerstina lead to a pair of goals on a short penalty shot and the chukka ended with Ellerstina defending a 12-10, two goal lead.

In the opening 30 seconds of play, Gonzalito Pieres fouled Pelon Stirling, but Cambiaso had the 60-yard penalty shot blocked.  La Dolfina continued to press the attack with no result.  An Ellerstina foul put Cambiaso at the penalty line once again, but the 10-goaler proved he was human, missing his second 30-yard penalty shot of the game.  Moments later Cambiaso got another opportunity on a 60-yard shot, but once again it was blocked and cleared by Ellerstina.  A defensive backhander by Mariano Aguerre last in the chukka reversed the field on La Dolfina and despite a final charge at the Ellerstina goal by La Dolfina, the shot by Nero went wide, and Ellerstina looked to have the game won.  Ellerstina controlled the ball in the final seconds of regulation time, as neither team got on the scoreboard in the eighth.  Time expired and Ellerstina celebrated an incredible 12-10 win.

Score Ellerstina: 2-1, 4-4, 5-5, 6-7, 9-7, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) wins the 12th Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva, Switzerland.

Riding Taloubet Z, Ahlmann won the two-round event featuring the World’s Top 10 riders as based on the Rolex Rankings, ahead of 2nd place Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) riding Cevo Itot Du Chateau and 3rd place Kevin Staut (FRA) riding Silvana HDC.

The results of the 12th Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final:

1. Christian Ahlmann (GER), riding Taloubet Z
2. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), riding Cevo Itot Chateau
3. Kevin Staut (FRA), riding Silvana HDC
4. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), riding Quintero La Silla
5. Roger Yves-Bost (FRA), riding Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois
6. Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), riding Mylord Carthago*HN
7. Marco Kutscher (GER), riding Cash
8. Steve Guerdat (SUI), riding Nasa
9. Marcus Ehning (GER), riding Copin Van De Broy
10. Pius Schwizer (SUI), riding Verdi 111