More than half of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League events are in the books and this week will prove to be an exciting one with two qualifiers taking place Saturday, November 9—the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Thermal and the $210,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto.
The North American League series offers 14 venues, in three different countries, the chance for elite athletes to qualify for the Longines Jumping World Cup™ Final (April 15-19) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Thermal has drawn quite a roster of riders, with over 70 entrants hoping to compete in Saturday’s prestigious event.
Missing from this year’s roster is the 2018 champion Nayel Nassar, who has won the event three times total and twice consecutively. However, last year’s second place finisher, Eve Jobs, who recorded the best World Cup finish of her career to date, will return.
Ashlee Bond, who won the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Del Mar less than a month ago, and Karl Cook, who clinched the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Sacramento will also be competing. Cook is at the top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League – West Sub League Standings with 49 points and Bond is currently ranked second with 31 points.
A total of 51 U.S. riders are set to compete, including Jamie Barge, Georgina Bloomberg, Kelli Cruciotti (currently third in the Western Sub League Standings), Rich Fellers, Zazou Hoffman (tied for fourth in the Western League), Jenni McAllister, Mandy Porter, Will Simpson, Adrienne Sternlicht and Andrew Welles (currently third in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League – East Sub League Standings).
The FEI classes kick off on Wednesday, November 6 with the $40,000 Desert Welcome Stake, followed by Thursday’s $40,000 Desert Classic and finally the main event, the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Thermal on Saturday.
Helpful Links
About the North American League
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League, now in its fifth year, consists of 14 venues in three countries – the United States, Mexico and Canada. Each venue hosts qualifiers to determine the North American riders who will compete at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final (April 15-19) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The NAL, which offers $2.4 million in prize money, is one of 16 leagues that form the global FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, which has been in existence since 1978.
Follow the action before, during and after each qualifier with #FEIWorldCup, #Longines and #JumpToGreatness.
