The best show jumpers in the world converge this week at Deeridge Farms for the North American Eastern Sub-League’s second-to-last qualifying event before the 2020 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas in April.
A star-studded lineup of Olympic veterans and World Cup Champions will be competing this week, including defending champions Alex Granato and Carlchen W. Brian Moggre and Karl Cook, the leaders of the Eastern and Western Sub-Leagues, respectively, are on the roster with their top mounts. U.S. Olympians Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Margie Goldstein-Engle, Lauren Hough and Rich Fellers will also be competing.
Several riders right at the top of the standings will be there, including World Equestrian Games team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht, who won back-to-back qualifiers at Thermal and Las Vegas and is ranked 3rd in the Eastern League, along with Rowan Willis of Australia (4th), Andrew Ramsay (5th), Ireland’s Conor Swail (8th) and Andrew Welles (10th). In the running for the Western League are Israel’s Ashlee Bond (2nd), Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti (4th), Kelli Cruciotti (6th) and Jenni McAllister (7th).
There are many notable riders coming from the international sphere including the No.1-ranked rider in the world, Martin Fuchs of Switzerland. Ireland has a large contingent of riders including Jordan Coyle, who won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League opener at Thunderbird last August, as well as Cian O’Connor, Darragh Kenny, Shane Sweetnam and Paul O’Shea. Competing for Canada are Mario Deslauriers, Ben Asselin, Erynn Ballard, Vanessa Mannix and Amy Millar.
Competition kicks off on Thursday, January 30 at 2:30 p.m. with the $36,600 CSI4*-W Suncast Welcome Stake. Friday’s agenda features the $72,900 CSI4*-W Candy Tribble Qualifier at 2:30 p.m., and the $36,600 CSI4*-W Palm Beach Masters Classic will be the highlight on Saturday at 1 p.m. Of course, Sunday’s culminating event, the $213,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington is the main attraction. The competition will begin at 1:30 p.m.
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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.
