British Riders Qualify for Longines FEI World Cup Final
Sunday 02 March 2014
With the last of the ten legs of the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League qualifiers having taken place in Gothenberg, this weekend all sights are now set on the Final which takes place in Lyon next month.
Great Britain have at least three riders qualified for the Final with a potential fourth in Michael Whitaker. Scott Brash, World No.1 ranked rider, from Peebleshire sits in 2nd place on the Longines FEI World Cup league table with 69 points, just one point behind Marcus Ehning for Germany. Joe Clee claims 12th place with 39 points whilst Tim Gredley holds 15th position with 36 points.
In addition to the above three riders, Michael Whitaker, who came 4th in the Goteborg Grand Prix with Amai on Saturday, is currently occupying 19th position has a chance of also receiving an invite. The invite would usually be extended as a result of him accruing cross-over points from outside of the Western European League in accordance with World Cup rules; however this has not yet been confirmed from the FEI.
The World Cup Western European League qualifiers have seen riders chasing league points in the hope of finishing within the top eighteen and in turn, receiving an invite to the Final which takes place in just over six weeks’ time (17-21st April). A total of forty five competitors will come forward spanning five continents and is a title that every international rider would wish to secure as their own.
2014 will see the Final enter its 36th year. Two British riders have had their name added to the World Cup history book by taking the title for Great Britain; namely John Whitaker with Milton in 1990 and 1991 along with Nick Skelton and Dollar Girl in 1995.
Further information on the FEI Longines World Cup series can be found by visiting www.fei.org
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