Faultless Kürten claims morale-boosting Dubai victory
One of seven to line out for the day’s feature class, she picked up over €30,000 for her win.
The competition, in which riders were eliminated as they faulted, saw Kürten and Castle Forbes Libertina pitted against Dutch rider Gerco Schroder (Eurocommerce Acapulco) and German Marcus Ehning (Noble Savage) in the fourth round.
Conscious she had to be fast, Kürten threw caution to the wind in a strategy that paid dividends when she came home clear in 24.32 seconds, a time that forced Ehning into four faulting and Schroder into lowering two fences.
“I was first to go and I knew I had to go really fast to put Gerco and Marcus under pressure,” said a happy Kürten. “But Libertina jumped superbly. I just dropped the reins and let her run,” said the German-based 35-year-old, who is jumping against medical advice with torn ligaments following a fall from a young horse a fortnight ago.
She agreed the win was a boost ahead of today’s grand prix in what is the world’s richest show jumping event. “I am as confident as anybody else in the grand prix. I’m first to go, but that should not be a problem for Quibell.”
The inaugural Al Maktoum Challenge boasts a prizefund of $1.25m and has attracted the world’s top riders.
* JOE SAVAGE has agreed to stay on as chairman of Eventing Ireland until the association’s new constitution is in place.
The request came from the body’s national executive last Monday after it emerged the new memoranda and articles would not be ready, as envisaged, by the AGM on February 12. The new structure will bring to an end to Savage’s tenure after two years. However, the constitution is still being fine-tuned and, according to Savage, it will be a few more months before it is finalised.
“The legal people are going through it with a fine tooth comb and it is better to be safe than sorry. We are aiming to have it ready by April or May and an EGM will be called then to ratify it. I have been asked to remain in place to steer the organisation through until the EGM,” said the Corkman.
The extension of Mr Savage’s term in office must go before the membership at next month’s AGM. Technically, he may be challenged for the position, but yesterday he said: “I am happy to stay on. The national executive is anxious for the same team to stay in office until the memorandums and articles are in place. We do not want to change horses in midstream.”
In another notable development, Eventing Ireland has appointed former Swedish international event rider Lars Christensson as its Performance Director.
Christensson’s appointment was ratified unanimously at last Monday’s National Executive meeting and, according to Eventing Ireland, it came “after a careful selection process with close involvement from the Equestrian Federation of Ireland”.
Savage hailed Christensson’s appointment as significant in Eventing Ireland’s bid to become more professional and achieve what he perceives is its rightful place among eventing’s elite. He said it is not unrealistic to expect medals at the Beijing Olympics, but he said it would be fairer to focus on London in 2012.
“Lars comes with high credentials. The people who represent Irish eventing at international level assure me he is eminently suitable to leading our athletes to success in the future,” said Savage.
He acknowledged the assistance of the Irish Sports Council and the Equestrian Federation of Ireland for its contribution to the financing of the performance director’s post.
According to the chairman of Eventing Ireland’s interim board of directors, Neil Morris, the appointment is the “single most important step taken in the last five years” and is the central to the implementation of the strategic plan.
Eventing Ireland says “the remit of the role of Performance Director is to create, manage and implement a programme for international riders in order to focus and improve international results. Existing trainers have nothing to fear, however, and the move is likely to mean increased rather than fewer opportunities for them”.
Christensson was a member of the Swedish eventing team for nine years, competing in the European Championships in 1987 and in 1993, when helped bring home team gold. His CV also shows stints at the 1990 World Equestrian Games and 1992 Olympics, while as an individual, he lined out at Badminton, Burghley, Punchestown and made his mark several times at three star level at venues such as Boekelo and Luhmuhlen.
Christensson was employed as the Swedish chef d’equipe for seniors and young riders for two years and his tenure covered the 2001 and 2002 European Championships.
A law graduate, he also spent three years at the veterinary school.
Christensson has show-jumped competitively up to 1.40m and is experienced in schooling dressage horses to intermediate level. A national A-level trainer in eventing, he was the team trainer in Norway for five years and was responsible for the founding of the Swedish Riders Association in 1984 for whom he acted as chairman for 10 years.
He has already got down to work, visiting the Northern Region this week, where he met selectors and a couple of senior riders. He has drawn up a provisional plan and, following preliminary meetings with officials and riders, his priorities will be the setting of goals and familiarising himself with the eventing scene. Team training and performance evaluation will come in the following months.
Not surprisingly, considering Irish-bred horses have topped the world eventing rankings for many years, Christensson feels it is imperative to develop a system that will encourage owners to keep Irish riders on Irish horses.
International riders will get an opportunity to voice their concerns and hopes to Christensson on January 21 immediately prior to the annual ball in aid of the David Foster Injured Rider Fund. The ball will take place at Marriott Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co Meath.
* CORRECTION: IN last Friday’s equestrian column, in an interview with top Irish show jumper Kevin Babington, it was stated that: “Babington said he could see no reason why (Robert) Splaine should be chef d’equipe” to the Irish team.
This is incorrect and should have read that: Babington said he could see no reason why Splaine should not be chef d’equipe.
In Friday’s interview Babington went on to say: “I like Robert. He’s a good horseman. I’ve ridden on many teams with him and I think he could be good as chef d’equipe.”
We are glad to clarify this for Mr Babington and apologise to him and Mr Splaine for the inaccuracy.
* CARBERY PONY CLUB is to bring forward to noon the midi competition in its show jumping league at the West Cork Equine Centre this Sunday as a result of the huge interest in the league.
The class will take place in the outdoor arena.
The micro class will start at 9.30am, followed by the mini competition. Both will take place in the indoor arena.
For further details, contact: 023-49887, or, 023-43366.
