Reem Acra London 2012
Transcription
Reem Acra London 2012
October 2011 Behind the scenes Reem Acra Horses & High Heels – Page 44 London 2012 Who’s got a ticket? – Page 49 ROLEX ROLEX FEI WORLD FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING CUP™ JUMPING R OR LO EL XE X F EF I E I W O RWLO DR C LD U P™ CU JP™ U MJPUI N MG PING UNITY. FOR UNITY. EQUESTRIAN FOR EQUESTRIAN EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENCE, IT IS IT IS A NECESSIT A NECESSIT Y. NOT Y. ONCE NOT OR ONCE T WICE, OR TBUT WICE, BUT FOR 13FOR COMPETITIONS. 13 COMPETITIONS. AS SOON AS AS SOON HORSE AS HORSE A N D RA ID NE DRRH ID AE VR E H GA I VVE ENGTI V HE EN I R TB HE ES IR T BEST P E R FOP RE MRAFO N CRE, M ATN HC EE,N E TH XT E C NH EA XL TLC EN HG AL EL E N G E EMERGEMERG E S. WHEN E S. WHEN PERFEC PERFEC T HARMONY T HARMONY IS IS REACHED, REACHED, IT IS TRULY IT IS A TRULY THING A OF THING BEAUTY. OF BEAUTY. OYSTEROYSTER PERPETUAL PERPETUAL DATEJUST DATEJUST II II Editorial This edition of FEI Focus magazine bears the subtitle “Behind the scenes” for several reasons. Some forty FEI Championships have taken place this year, starting with the FEI Balkan Eventing Championships in May in Shumen, Bulgaria and finishing earlier this month with the Pan American Endurance Championships for Seniors and Young Riders in Santo Domingo. We were able to go behind the scenes at six of the Championships to capture, in images, some rarely-seen moments of emotion before and after the events. The stylish partnership between fashion designer and the FEI continues this season and the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series was held in Odense (DEN) from 27 to 28 October. In July, Reem Acra shipped some of her new collection, which was inspired by nature, to a beautiful country setting in northern Italy for a photo shoot featuring horses. You can admire some of the stunning photos and read about the shoot on the pages that follow. We also look into the ticketing system for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Many sports fans have expressed frustration and disappointment over the difficulties they have encountered in their quest to buy entry tickets for next year’s much-anticipated Games and we thought it was important to explain how tickets are distributed for sale internationally. Still on the subject of the Olympic Games, in our “Greenwich Clean Time” feature, we look at the measures being taken to ensure that Greenwich Park - the beautiful, historical backdrop of the equestrian events in London – is restored to its original state after the Jumping, Dressage and Eventing competitions. The four FEI World Cup™ series will ensure that the next few months are punctuated with many memorable sporting moments. We are very grateful to the organisers for the enthusiasm and energy they put into making these events such a pleasure to attend and, for this Focus, we found out exactly what goes on behind the scenes at four of the venues. Giles Morgan is Head of Global Sponsorship at HSBC Holdings, which has been a loyal partner of the FEI since 2008. If you are an Eventing fan, you may well have seen him participate in the medal ceremonies at the HSBC FEI Classics™ or the HSBC FEI European Championships. Giles took some time out of his hectic schedule to talk to the FEI about his love of sport and the way in which sponsorship has evolved in recent years. Globetrotter has been extended to four pages to include more worldwide horse-related news. National Federations, we welcome news of projects in your countries, so please do not hesitate to contact our Corporate Communications team if you have any stories for future editions of Focus. We look forward to seeing National Federation representatives at the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where we will continue to move our wonderful sport forwards. In the meantime, I send my best wishes to all those of you who are involved Note from the FEI President HRH Princess Haya 02 in any way in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping, the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the FEI World Cup™ Driving and the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting series and remind those of you who won’t be able to attend that you can follow many of the events on our video website FEI TV. Impressum - Focus N° 8 - October 2011 Follow us on Table of Contents 06 Globetrotter 10 FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 Otto Becker looks back 20 FEI Championships Inside Out 40 A life in a day 52 FEI insight 34 The other side of... 42 Fashion 54 FEI Equestrian World 36 Why the long face? 46 HSBC Profile 38 Postcard from 49 FEI insight Tim Flach Maria Alvares Ponton Lyle Lovett Cambodia 28 04 Contact / Advertising FEI - Fédération Equestre Internationale [email protected] HM King Hussein I Building Chemin des Délices 9 1006 Lausanne T. +41 21 310 47 47 F. +41 21 310 47 60 www.fei.org 28 Portrait 12 FEI World Cup™ Series Circulation2,600 FrequencyQuarterly Editor in Chief Marianne Burkhardt Design / Art Equestrio SA Printing Grafiche SIZ - Italy Cover ©Gianguido Rossi George Dimaras Horses & High Heels Greenwich Clean time 55 FEI TV VOD & Live broadcast schedule 2011 Giles Morgan Who’s got a ticket for London 2012? 34 46 FOCUS 05 Museum Lipikum ter Equestrian Academy in Malawi could benefit hundreds The Malawi NF is working on a project to open an Equestrian Academy at Saint Andrews International Secondary School in Blantyre, southern Malawi. The project would benefit more than 650 children of various nationalities who attend the school, as well as pupils from neighbouring schools and underprivileged children who visit and use the school facilities, particularly at weekends and during school holidays. Accommodation at the academy would resolve the problem of children being unable to ride due to transport issues or lack of availability in yards. The Malawi Equestrian Federation hopes the local community will help to clear areas that would house the academy facilities CWG webinfo@fei and assist with construction work. If the project, which is supported by many children and their parents, is accepted, the academy will open with 10 horses. Zoe Kayes, Secretary General of the Malawi NF, hopes that work will begin on the academy in 2012-2013. She believes the academy would help considerably with the development of the sport at a national level. FEI web wizar d Nicole Sigris t has been busy convertin g the FEI Annua l Report 2010 and all pa st editions of Focus into flipview versio ns. You can fin d them in this reader-frie ndly format at www.fei.org/m edia/publicatio ns Calling all social media fanatics FEI Coaching Working Group (CWG) meeting HM King Hussein I Building, Lausanne, 26 July 2011 From left to right: Kathy-Amos Jacob, FEI Senior Tutor, Peter Strijbosch, FEI Senior Tutor and Member of CWG, Céline Kunz, Assistant FEI Solidarity, Gerry Mullins, FEI Tutor and Member of CWG, Jacqueline Braissant, Director FEI Solidarity, Jean-Philippe Camboulives, FEI Senior Tutor and Member of CWG, Liam Moggan, Moderator, Coaching Ireland 06 g l o be t r o t t e r @Stud Farm Lipica ot g l o be t r The Lipica Stud Farm in Slovenia recently opened a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the lovely Lipizzaner breed. Modern, airy and colourful, the museum features a number of interactive as well as multimedia installations designed for visitors of all ages. It covers topics such as the breed’s biology and behaviour as well as its history and relationship to humans. Children will especially like grooming the plush toy horse, while the young at heart can pose in the saddle of a life-sized model Lipizzaner. Visitors can even feel the rush of the region’s legendary “burja” wind thanks to a simulator in the final exhibition room. Information is currently provided in English as well as Slovenian. Admission is €7 for adults, €3.50 for children aged 5-15. The real horses – including the young ones whose coats have yet to turn white – are in nearby stables and paddocks. Through prior booking, visitors can arrange to go riding; equipment can be hired on site. http://www.lipica.org/en/museum-lipikum The FEI is joining forces with the Equestrian Social Media Awards (ESMAs), which were set up in 2010 to highlight the online equestrian community. Regional categories, based on the geographical areas of the FEI’s Regional Groups, have been introduced for the 2012 awards. The finalists will be judged in January by some of the world’s best equestrian marketers, digital professionals, social media gurus and branding experts, including FEI Director of Corporate Communications Richard Johnson. You can nominate your social media favourites from the 1524 December via the ESMA Facebook page. Categories include riders, charities, bloggers, Facebook pages and competitions. For more information visit: equestriansocialmediaawards.com @ESMAwards on Twitter and facebook.com/equestriansocialmediaawards. 07 FEI to mark 250 years of veterinary profession at WEVA Congress Places are still available at the FEI’s special session during the 2011 World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA) Conference in Hyderabad, India on 2 November to mark World Veterinary Year. The FEI session will highlight the past and current contribution of the veterinary profession to equestrian sport, with lectures by eminent speakers in a variety of clinical disciplines. Full details can be found at http://www.fei.org/veterinary/weva-2011-fei-session. Megan Lewis crosses Russia IJRC elects new president Chinese Eventing rider promotes Britain Megan Lewis, the 60-year-old Briton who in 2008 began her charity ride from Beijing to London, informed the FEI in September that she had ridden through the part of Russia between Kazakhstan and Ukraine and was about to cross the Ukrainian border. The photo shows Meagan at the border post on the Russian side of Bolashak. Follow Megan at www.thelonghorseride.com or www.thelonghorseride.blogspot.com Chinese Olympic Eventing rider Alex Hua Tian was in May appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for the “Britain You’re Invited” Campaign in China. The rider, who currently lives and trains in Britain, is one of three Asian Goodwill Ambassadors, selected by Britain’s national tourism agency VisitBritain. The trio were chosen because they were in some way inspired by Britain in their respective fields. Hua Tian’s image at Greenwich Park has appeared throughout China to promote the UK and London 2012. His branded video is on show at hundreds of travel agents throughout China and he will feature in the Tourism Trade Fair in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in November 2011. Cayetano Martinez de Irujo (ESP) is the new president of the International Jumping Riders Club, following his election at the IJRC General Assembly in September. He replaces Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), who will now share the role of Vice-President with Ludger Beerbaum (GER). FEI welcomes China into FEI World Cup™ Jumping series Guatemala City to host FEI World Jumping Challenge Final 2011 08 Twenty-one riders have been selected for the FEI World Jumping Challenge Final 2011, which will take place at the Escuela de Equitación El Cortijo, Guatemala City from 4 to 11 December. Australia, Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, Dominica Republic, Egypt, G uate m a l a , M a l ay sia , New Zealand, Peru, The Philippines, Qatar, Syria, Swaziland, Venezuela and Zimbabwe are the 16 countries that will be represented. The FEI World Jumping Challenge Final will be part of the National Jumping Championship. Coaching Ireland’s Liam Moggan and a pool of regional FEI Tutors will present workshops every afternoon during the event on themes such as the role of the coach, mental fitness of the riders, video analysis. August saw nine riders win through to the jumpoff at the first ChinaLeague event in the history of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping series. Samantha Lam (HKG) and Double Bent claimed victory, winning by three seconds from Vincent Vermeulen (NED) on Dyrslunds Lotus. Zhengiang Li (CHN) steered Tianwang Xing into third place. The new China League is composed of three CSI1*-W events. The second, in September, ended with three Chinese riders in the top three positions: Tongyan Liu (CHN) on Kubuqi (first), Nulahemaiti Abai on Lauxley De Breve (second) and Zuping Huang on Argelith Sambuca (third). As this FEI Focus went to print, the Beijing organises were preparing for the last qualifier. The number of FEI World Cup™ Jumping leagues worldwide now totals 14, with more than 120 qualifying events leading to the Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in April 2012. Follow us on FOCUS 09 ©FEI/CHIO Rotterdam Press LA BAULE was a very well-organised show. The course was tough and there was just one double-clear from Belgium’s Judy-Ann Melchior. We were very satisfied with our third place. ROME is a city that I like very much and it’s always good to be there. This was the first time I was there as a Chef d’Equipe. We came fourth. ST GALLEN was a disaster for us! We had a big show in Hamburg the same weekend. In the last three weeks before the show, four out of the five nominated riders withdrew. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong and the team retired in the second round. FALSTERBO saw our first victory this year and a very good team performance. This was just a week before our home show in Aachen and was good for our selfconfidence. Marco Kutscher performed very well with Cash and Ludger Beerbaum didn’t have to jump in the second round because we’d already won. Ludger Beerbaum and Gotha clinch Germany’s victory in the jump-off against Ben Maher and Tripple X (GBR) ©Karl-Heinz Frieler Otto Becker looks back 10 Germany’s victory in the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 series was sealed during an exciting competition in Rotterdam that ended with a jump-off between Ben Maher (GBR) and Ludger Beerbaum (GER). German Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker takes a brief look back over the season. AACHEN our home Nations Cup show, took place in the evening. The weather was very bad – it was cold and rainy – but the floodlit stadium was packed (40,000 spectators) and the atmosphere was great. We tried to win but the Netherlands team’s performance was better. We were satisfied with our second place. The last round decided the event and the season. The Dutch were leading in the overall standings and the competition was like a thriller towards the end – a Hollywood screenwriter couldn’t have made it better! It was a great showcase for the sport. We were in second place with Great Britain behind The Netherlands and I thought we had a chance to win in the overall standings. Carsten-Otto Nagel rode a double-clear and, in the jump-off against Great Britain, Ludger Beerbaum beat Ben Maher, meaning we had won the competition and the FEI Nations Cup™ title. We were very, very happy. 2011 standings after Round 8 at Rotterdam (NED) 1 Germany 50.00 2Netherlands 48.50 3 Great Britain 47.00 4 Ireland 41.50 5 6 7 8 France Belgium USA Denmark 40.50 35.00 31.50 10.00 All information about the series, including press releases, is available in the press kit in the media section at www.fei.org. HICKSTEAD was the place of our second victory and I was very happy for Sönke Sönksen, who was the German Chef d’équipe there. Marcus Ehning had the only double clear of the competition, followed by a clear in the jump-off against France and the USA. DUBLIN saw the German team in sixth position with 24 faults. We had a young rider and some new young horses. We were good in the first round, finishing in third place but went into sixth position after the second round. ROTTERDAM was our third victory of the season. We had a good team, the same as in Falsterbo Cash (Marco Kutscher), Carinjo (Thomas Voss), Corradina (Carsten-Otto Nagel) and Gotha (Ludger Beerbaum). ©FEI/CHIO Rotterdam Press FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 The German team celebrate their double victory in Rotterdam (NED) - L to R - Carsten-Otto Nagel, Ludger Beerbaum, Otto Becker (Chef d’Equipe), Marco Kutscher and Thomas Vos FOCUS 11 ©Yohanna BRETTE/PAR/G-L/FR FEI World Cup™ Series spotlight on lyon Size of venue: 105,000 m 2 Number of permanent staff members working on the event: 10, plus 3 trainees. Number of volunteers: more than 400 Preparations for the event begin 1 to 2 years in advance. Apart from the FEI World Cup series qualifiers, the venue is used to host exhibitions with various forms of entertainment. Number of trade stands during the event: more than 450 Approximate number of media representatives (journalists and photographers) at the event: 250 Seating capacity of the venue: 6,000, including a VIP area with 90 tables. The organising team have to be on site 3 days before the event. It takes 3 to 5 days to restore the venue to its original state after the event. 5,000 kg of sand/footing from the company Toubin Clément are brought in for the three arenas used during the events. JUMPING FINAL LEIPZIG JUMPING JUMPING This season’s FEI World Cup™ Jumping series is composed of 14 leagues with more than 120 qualifying events worldwide leading to the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED). Qualifiers in the Western European League of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series take place at 13 venues, the third of which is Lyon (FRA), where the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series will also be hosted. 12 The organisers will provide 6 tons of hay. In 2010, they provided 1,395 bags of shavings and 2 tons of straw for the CSI5*, CSI2* and CDI5*. Equita’Lyon is an event that celebrates horses and equestrianism. In addition to the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifiers, the event will host a national Jumping show, including pony competitions, breeding competitions, a children’s village and performances by the Cadre Noir de Saumur, the French Equestrian Elite. ROLEX FEI World Cup™ Series 2011/2012 JUMPING For the CSI5*, and CSI2*, 300 boxes are created in temporary stables in a quiet and isolated exhibition hall. 25 are built for the CDI5*. During the event, 150 horses will be stabled for the CSI5* and 20 for the CDI5*. Calendar Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series 12-16.10/2011 Oslo (NOR) 26-30.12/2011 Mechelen (BEL) 20-23.10/2011 Helsinki Hartwall Arena (FIN) 19-22.01/2012 Leipzig (GER) 26-30.10/2011 Lyon (FRA) 27-29.01/2012 Zurich (SUI) 03-06.11/2011 Verona (ITA) 03-05.02/2012 Bordeaux (FRA) 16-20.11/2011 Stuttgart (GER) 09-12.02/2012 Vigo (ESP) 08-11.12/2011 Geneva (SUI) 23-26.02/2012 GOTHENBURG (SWE) 13-19.12/2011 London Olympia (GBR) Rolex FEI World Cup ™ Jumping Final 18-22.04/2012 ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) For all information about the series, please consult the FEI press kit in the media section at www.fei.org FOCUS 13 SPOTLIGHT ON GOTHENBURG Size of venue: 10,000 m2 Number of permanent members of staff working on the event: 40 Number of volunteers: 300 Preparations for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ qualifier begin 14 months in advance. Apart from the FEI World Cup™ series qualifiers, the venue is used for ice hockey, theatre, concerts, exhibitions, etc. Number of trade stands during the event: 250, in the adjacent building Number of media representatives (journalists and photographers) at the event: 250 Seating capacity of the venue: 12,044 The organiser is located in the arena all year It takes 6 days to set up the event and 36 hours to restore the venue to its original state after the event. Ice hockey is played before a full capacity audience two days after the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ qualifier! The main challenge in terms of logistics is space. 1,300 tons of sand/footing are brought in for the arena, the collecting ring, a lunging volt and a big warm-up area. The footing (from Bart Poels in Belgium) is stored within a distance of 8km. During the event, a total of 190 horses are stabled. 210 boxes are created in four temporary stable buildings that are built in the exhibition hall and garages. Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Series 2011/2012 Dressage The FEI World Cup™ Dressage series 2011/2012 is composed of the Western European League, sponsored by Reem Acra, the Central European League, the Asia Pacific League and the North American League. A maximum of eighteen athletes will qualify for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final in April at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED). Gothenburg (SWE) is the host of the ninth leg of the Western European League. 14 The organisers provide 4 tons of feed and 1,600 bags of shavings Volunteers also help out at the outdoor equestrian events at Falsterbo and Strömsholm. Calendar Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series 2011/2012, Western European League 20-23.10/2011 ODENSE (DEN) 26-30.12/2011 MECHELEN (BEL) 28.10-01.11/2011 LYON (FRA) 19-22.01/2012 AMSTERDAM (NED) 25-27.11/2011 STOCKHOLM (SWE) 16-19.02/2012 NEUMÜNSTER (GER) 13-14.12/2011 LONDON (GBR) 23-26.02/2012 GOTHENBURG (SWE) 14-18.12/2011 FRANKFURT (GER) FINAL 18-22.04/2012 ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH (NED) For all information about the series, please consult the FEI press kit in the media section at www.fei.org FOCUS 15 Spotlight on Hannover Size of venue: 15,515 m2 Number of permanent staff members working on the event: 7 Number of volunteers: 150 Preparations for the event begin 10 months in advance Apart from the FEI World Cup series qualifier, the venue hosts: CSI3* CSIYH1*, CSI Am. A+B, CDN, shows and exhibitions There are 80 trade stands on 7,000 m2 during the event. Approximate number of media representatives (journalists and photographers) attending: 90 Seating capacity of the venue: 5.000 (VIP included). ©Karl-Heinz Frieler The team has to be on site 5 days before the event. It takes the organisers 4 state afterwards. days to set up the event and 2 days to restore the venue to its original The biggest challenge for the organisers is preparing the venue in just four days (footing, seating, VIP boxes, sound, light, video-walls, results boards, monitors, camera positions, stables, exhibition walls and carpet, decoration). For the event, 810 tons of sand/footing are brought in by the company Fairground. Approximately 300 horses are stabled during the event. Some 330 boxes are created in temporary stables in a garage close to the show arena. FEI World Cup™ Series 2011/2012 DRIVING The ten drivers qualified for this season’s FEI World Cup™ series will each compete at three of the seven qualifying events. The top six will qualifier. Hannover (GER) is the host of the first qualifier of the FEI World Cup™ Driving series 2011/2012. The organisers provide 8,600kg of straw and hay and approximately 900 bags of shavings / bales of straw. Staff at the Hannover leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving series also work at the CDI-W/CSI 3* Neumünster, CSI2*/CDN Redefin and CSI3*/CDI Hagen. 20 hours per day for at least 5 days. The event has a budget of approximately 1.3 million euros. Staff work nearly Calendar FEI World Cup™ Driving series 2011/2012 20-23.10/2011 Hannover (GER) 08-11.12/2011 Geneva (SUI) 16-21.11/2011 Stuttgart (GER) 26-30.12/2011 Mechelen (BEL) 25-27.11/2011 Stockholm (SWE) 19-22.01/2012 Leipzig (GER) 02-04.12/2011 Budapest (HUN) FEI WORLD CUP ™ DRIVING FINAL to be confirmed For all information about the series, please consult the FEI press kit in the media section at www.fei.org 16 FOCUS 17 ©EN GARDE Marketing GmbH spotlight on leipzig Size of venue: 40,000m2 for the two halls used for the FEI World Cup™ qualifier (main arena, 2,600m2). Number of permanent staff: 50 Number of volunteers: 300 Preparations for hosting the FEI World Cup™ qualifiers begin 6 months in advance. Apart from the FEI World Cup™ qualifiers, the venue is used for exhibitions, trade fairs, concerts, etc. Number of trade stands during the FEI World Cup™ qualifier: 320 Approximate number of media representatives (journalists and photographers) at the event: 270 Seating capacity of the venue: 13,000 The team is on site 8 days before the event. It takes them 8 days set up for the qualifier and 3 days to restore the venue to its original state. 1,892,000 kg of sand are brought in for the event. During the event, some 430 horses are stabled. Approximately 450 temporary boxes are created in the exhibition hall. The organisers provide 3000 kg of hay and 1000 bags of shavings. Some staff at the Leipzig qualifiers work at other equestrian events, including the Gera Summer Meeting (July); E.ON Westfalen Weser Challenge in Paderborn (September); Munich Indoors in Munich (October); German Classics in Hannover (October); German Jumping and Dressage-Derby in Hamburg (May). FEI World Cup™ Series 2011/2012 VAULTING The first FEI World Cup™ Vaulting series follows the success of last season’s test series and is composed of five qualifying events. In April 2011, four FEI World Cup™ Finals were simultaneously hosted under one roof at Leipzig and this season, the German city is the location of the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting, the ninth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and the seventh leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving series. 18 Calendar FEI World Cup™ Vaulting series 2011/2012 13-16.10/2011 Kiel (GER) 03-06.11/2011 Munich (GER) 10-11.12/2011 Paris (FRA) 19-22.01/2011 Leipzig (GER) 01-04.12/2011 Salzburg (AUT) FINAL to be confirmed For all information about the series, please consult the FEI press kit in the media section at www.fei.org FOCUS 19 FEI Championships 2011 Inside Out A picture-led journey through some of the summer’s FEI Championships held around the world, in all the FEI disciplines. Come rain or shine, athletes, support crews, fans, officials, volunteers and spectators gathered in many a location to experience first-hand the exhilaration and excitement of elite equestrian sport. They were young and old, experienced and novice, some were victorious, others learnt valuable lessons, some just came to watch, some came to work, but all came to be a part of something memorable. Norway’s Molina’s Nikow on a misty break with a groom during the FEI European Endurance Championships in Florac (FRA) ©Matthew Childs 20 1 5 6 1. The winning British team at the FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors in Vale Sabroso (POR), from left to right: Zoe Brenan, Tom Jackson, David Doel and Bethany Stephenson ©Michael Steiger 2. Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA) at the vet inspection in Luhmühlen (GER) at the FEI European Eventing Championships ©Henry Browne 3. and 4. Some keen spectators at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid ©John Sibley 5. Ingrid Klimke (GER) as she crosses the finish line in Luhmühlen ©Henry Browne 6. A groom keeps a watchful eye over the horse ©Henry Browne 7. Georgina Hunt (GBR) as she gets ready at the FEI European Driving Championships in Breda (NED) ©James Benwell 2 8. The U.A.E support crew celebrate as Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri crosses the finish line first to take Open individual gold at the FEI Open European Endurance Championships ©Matthew Childs 9. Double gold medallist at the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Moorsele (BEL), Debbie Criddle (GBR) ©Liz Gregg 7 10. The Netherland’s Adelinde Cornelissen is crowned the new European Dressage champion in Rotterdam ©Henry Browne 8 4 3 9 10 FOCUS23 Left: A horse emerges from the forest before the Cross Country test in Luhmühlen (GER) ©Henry Browne Right: France’s Vladimir Vinchon riding Flipper d’Or ENE HN at the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships ©Liz Gregg Eurovision Eurovision 3 4 5 1. Giuseppe Prevosti riding Skeets Flamin, part of the Italian gold medal winning team at the FEI European Reining Championships ©Christian Kellner 2. Camilla Speirs (IRL) congratulates Portersize Just a Jiff for a good cross country performance in Luhmühlen (GER) ©Henry Browne 3. Joanne Eccles (GBR) impresses again at the FEI European Vaulting Championships in Le Mans (FRA) and takes home individual gold ©www.pixbank.org 4. David Doel (GBR) riding Kings Cross, a member of the gold medal winning British team and individual bronze medal at the FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors in Portugal ©Michael Steiger 5. Finland’s Mikaela Lindh prepares for the team test at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam (NED) ©Henry Browne 6. Cooling down © Henry Browne 7. Gold medallist Stina Kaastrup (DEN) gets ready at the FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Belgium ©Liz Gregg 8. Michael Jung’s (GER) number one fan – his mum ©Liz Gregg 6 7 8 We Webring bringthe theevent event to to your yourhome home European Broadcasting Union European Broadcasting Union Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision Union Européenne Radio-Télévision +41 (0)22 717 2111 de www.eurovision.net +41 (0)22 717 2111 www.eurovision.net © Kit Houghton/FEI 2 © Kit Houghton/FEI 1 Portrait tim flaCh CHAOS & CONTROL Tim Flach’s animal photographs have been admired at exhibitions around the world and his best-selling books Equus and Dogs-Gods have received critical acclaim. Permanent collections of his equine photography are on display at the the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket (GBR) and in the HM King Hussein I Building, the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI). 28 Multi award-winning British photographer Tim Flach is simultaneously putting together two new books and is not easy to contact by phone. “We’re working with armadillos today,” his studio manager and producer Joanna Niklaus says on one occasion, the next time announcing that Flach is “with a tarantula”. London-based Flach has spent years observing animals, delving into their history and examining how their relationship with man has evolved. He is intrigued by the juxtaposition of chaos and control, which he orchestrates regularly by bringing his unpredictable subjects into the controlled environment of his studio. Before each shoot, he visualises what he wants to achieve but is undaunted by the unexpected. “It’s important to find things, to trip over things on your journey,” he says. Flach’s philosophical and cerebral journey through the animal kingdom has certainly not been dull. On one occasion, he was accidentally kicked underwater by a horse as he photographed it in a training pool in Dubai. Another time, a cobra he was working with turned on its handler, who ended up in casualty. There have been some amusing moments too; Flach remembers putting two Icelandic horses together for a photo and having to patiently wait for an hour while “they went off gallivanting”. His career in photography is one of life’s happy accidents. He studied communication design then did a postgraduate degree in painting. Towards the end of his studies, a journalist friend needed a photographer to accompany her on an assignment. Flach had a camera and some spare time. From covering press events and providing images for corporate publications, he moved into advertising. A first animal assignment involving a python and a vulture proved to be a turning point. FOCUS 29 Flach grew up with horses. His father played polo, his mother hunted and, although he is not a rider, he “mucked out many a stable” in his youth. But it was only in 2001, when he produced a series of photographs of horses, that he became aware of the strong connection many people have with them. He sees Equus (Abrams, 2008), which spans the aesthetically pleasing to the disturbing, as a direct descendant of man’s earliest attempts to record and express his co-existence with the horse on cave walls. In the second part of the book, Flach connects heritage and landscape and investigates how location has shaped the appearance of different breeds, including the wild Przewalski in Mongolia, Fjord horses in Norway, the Marwari in India and Arabian horses in the United Arab Emirates. He is fascinated by the way our ancestors took the species through the centuries of domestication and breeding that gave us the diversity we see today. through cross-breeding and embryonic transfers. Commenting on his more disquieting images, Flach insists that he is not out to shock. “I am evoking an association,” he says. “I have a genuine curiosity for and wonderment of nature. When I use aesthetics, it’s to bring people to an idea, not hit them with one. I’m not chasing the beautiful, I aim to capture something that will resonate and throw up questions. I think we should always consider history and ethics.” Equus is not aimed at a specific audience. Flach says: “It’s Equus is divided into three sections. The first is an aesthetic appreciation of the species, which features many images that are characterised by their minimalism. “Mies van der Rohe [the German pioneer of Modernist architecture] said ‘less is more’,” says Flach. “It’s about creating poetic space.” 30 The third section is conceptual, scientific and futuristic. With his photos of equine embryos, for example, Flach explores the human influence on horses important to produce pictures that work on different layers. A non-horsey person can still gain something from them.” He gives the example of a photo of the Arabian chestnut JJ Ballerina (left), taken in the Royal Yard of Ahjiman in the United Arab Emirates. “ If you know a lot about horses, you may recognise the horse. If you’re an art-lover, you may link it with the painting Whistlejacket by George Stubbs in the National Gallery. It’s about extending the experience geographically and prospectiley.” “I’m not chasing the beautiful, I aim to capture something that will resonate and throw up questions” Like Equus, Dogs-Gods (PQ Blackwell, 2010) aims to convey the sense of human involvement in the subject, how we put ourselves at the centre of our understanding of animals and respond to them by imposing our behaviour on theirs, seeing them as we see ourselves. The collection has a strong fun element but Flach implies that dogs were more complicated to photograph than horses. “The dog is so domesticated and dependent that I had to consider the owner to get the most out of the animal,” he says. “I needed to manage the person as well as the dog If the owner was stressed, so was the dog.” Flach’s interest in nature centres on a notion of stewardship that overrides all his work. For one of the books he is currently working on – a visual exploration of the rainforest habitat and its wildlife that has taken him to Peru, Malaysia and Africa – he is consulting members of the scientific community to grasp the most important concepts behind rainforest ecology and our relationship to it. The book, which is scheduled for publication in 2013, examines the political and economic processes involved in the notions of conservation and sustainability. Its cast of characters includes the golden orb spider, whose web is used to make ligaments for human transplant and another spider that produces biosilk with which bulletproof vests are manufactured. Flach’s second current project, which has the working title More than human, examines the meaning behind animals, particularly the ethical and political aspects. It will feature photographs of many animals in captivity and endangered species such as the Liger – a cross between a tiger and lion – and a gecko used in China to cure cancer. More than human will be published in October 2012, offering the public another thought-provoking and fascinating record of Flach’s exotic guest list. FOCUS 33 The other side of... The first time I rode a horse... I was two years old, and it wasn’t a horse, it was my neighbour’s mule. He always let me ride her when he came with the cart after cutting the grass for the cows. My contact with horses has taught me... that I know almost nothing about them but what I know for sure is that if I take good care of them, they always take good care of me. I chose to compete in Endurance... ©Gilly Wheeler/FEI Maria Alvares Ponton Thirty-five-year-old Maria Alvarez Ponton was the first rider to simultaneously hold the FEI World and European Championship Endurance titles. She is married to Endurance rider Jaume PuntiDachs and won the individual gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 just seven weeks after giving birth to their daughter Maria. September 2011 saw her clinch individual gold at the FEI Open Endurance Championship in Florac (FRA). as soon as I knew that riding across the mountains was a competition. It was what I had always done, I loved long rides, and I’m very competitive. But I’m also very shy and I don’t like to compete in the arena or the track in front of a lot of people looking at me. Before I had the baby I usually spent between 40 or 50 hours a week riding, between training and competing. Now I don’t think I spend more than 20, but what I do now is to spend much more time with the brood mares and the foals. When I’m not riding I like to... do my other job, which is being a vet. I love lameness diagnosis, it is my job but I try to keep it as a hobby because my other hobby is already my job. When I’m not working I like to spend as much time as I can with my daughter and my husband. Before, I liked to read and go to the movies, but I don’t have time anymore! ©Matthew Childs/Action Images once he begins to canter, he just wants to go. Stopping is not an option for him. My dream is... to live with my family on our farm, just to be happy there, working with the horses. Before, I used to dream of an Olympic Medal, but I know that’s almost impossible now. The Endurance course I have enjoyed the most... was the 160km of Compiegne, the year that we won with Iska. It was also one of the most difficult races I have ever done, but the mare gave me everything she had and in the last loop she was unbelievable! I get angry when... people don’t work well, but the thing that makes me even more angry is my own mistakes. The only thing I lose sleep over is knowing that I’ve made a mistake in a race. The best advice I have ever been If I had not become a professional given... came from my father I’m sure. He gave rider, I would have been a vet only, now I do me a lot of good advice when I was young. I was a both things. little bit difficult as a teenager and he gave me a good education. Family is... the most important thing in life, It makes you suffer but it is the only thing that gives you real happiness. The rider I admire the most... is my The person who makes me laugh the most is... my husband. He always makes The happiest day of my life... me laugh when I really need it. Nobby is special because he was born a champion, to win is in his blood. He wants to win, he has the physical capacity, but the important thing is that it’s on his mind, husband, because he has taught me a lot and he’s always been there for me. I’m happier since the birth of my daughter but I also have a very clear and happy memory of the day my father bought me my first mare. I was twelve years old and I named her Winner. FOCUS 35 Why the long face ? Is there a unique trait you look for in a horse that you can’t find in people? I think horses can be far more generous than people. I think horses help us to be better people. They do their best to make us look good, no matter how poorly or incorrectly we might ask them to do something. Horses inspire me to try and be better with people. What would you miss most if you could no longer go riding? I just simply can’t imagine not riding. It has been an ever-present in my life. No, I just can’t picture it. Lyle Lovett ©Michael Wilson American singer, songwriter and actor Lyle Lovett grew up on his family’s ranch in Texas. In parallel to a musical career that has earned him four Grammy Awards, Lovett raises and breeds quarter horses and regularly competes as a non-professional Reiner. He is the two-time Reining champion of the National Reining Horse Association’s Celebrity Slide – an event that benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma – and recently received an award from the Reining Sports Foundation in honour of his contribution to and positive influence on the Reining industry. What is it about the horse that makes you a horse lover? We have had horses in our family for as long as I can remember and have always enjoyed being around them and felt drawn to them. I find riding to be a truly profound experience. Horses teach us so much every time we’re with them. Your first riding experience – was it bliss or terror? It was great! I have very strong memories of riding with my dad when I was still small enough that he could put 36 me in front of him. Where we lived in Texas the landscape was fairly level but we had a couple of gullies. I vividly remember riding up and down, experiencing that change in elevation. I was with my dad though and he made me feel completely safe. It was pure fun! Do you think anyone can ride? I absolutely do, yes. I think anyone can sing too, although that’s a different conversation! Would you encourage young people to get involved in riding both at an amateur and professional level? If they are interested and inclined to want to spend time around horses then I think, yes, for sure. It is a life-enriching experience. I grew up on a farm outside Houston learning to care, not just for animals but also for a place, a way of life. I just think that is a great way to learn about life, to focus your attention on something outside of yourself. With horses in particular, you develop such a relationship with them. Horses teach you to do the right thing – when you do the right thing with your horse, the right thing happens. I think that’s the valuable thing that horses teach us – to do the right thing. Have you ever competed in an equestrian event (at any level) or thought about how you could get involved? Yes, I have competed and won, although I didn’t grow up competing. For me it is more about the personal test, especially in reining and reined cow horse. It is more about trying to better yourself. For me, even the score isn’t the measure of how well I’ve done. It is about trying to improve my execution under the pressure of being in the competition arena. For me it is mostly about working on myself than working on my horse. My horse is always better than I am! When did you first develop your bond with the horse? I can’t recall a specific moment, however all my earliest memories are of being with my father on horse. There’s never been a time when we didn’t have a horse. Riding with my Dad was something I always enjoyed and when I was older, during the spring break, my Dad would take a week off work and we would go on trail rides all over Texas. We would spend a whole week riding and those are memories that I still cherish today – that time together on horses, just the two of us. Do you think that riding can add to the character and development of a young person? Every aspect of caring for a horse is character building. To think completely about his well-being – right feed, his barn, exercise – helps with developmental building blocks and teaches you the basics about how to do anything. When an animal depends on you for its survival it teaches you a certain sense of responsibility that you can certainly apply to all aspects of your life. Did all your friends ride? When you were young, what did you do when you weren’t riding? My friends didn’t ride. As our area became more suburban, fewer friends I went to school with and grew up with were involved with horses. I didn’t go to horse shows so I didn’t really associate with people that rode outside of our family. If not riding, I ran and was involved with track at High School. My summer job in Houston was working in a motorcycle shop and I used to race motor cross, which I always enjoyed. Do you think the sport needs to adapt to the young people today? The most important starting point is a willingness for people to be involved. The horse doesn’t change in terms of what he needs from us. We do take a great responsibility when we take a horse on. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has lots of programmes aimed at exposing people with limited access to them, to enable them to participate in riding without owning them as a way of introducing them. The sport at its highest competitive level can be a pretty small world but on a social level, it is far bigger and can leverage real change. Organisations like the AQHA and programmes such as these play an important role. If you could spend one afternoon riding with a famous person (past or present) who would it be and why? I would have to say William Shatner! He is such a character and for the last couple of years he has helped us with a fundraiser we’ve done for the Make A Wish Foundation of Oklahoma. He’s just really fun to spend time with. Two horses go out for dinner, what kind of restaurant do they choose? Whatever the style of food they would choose, it would be a nice place with wooden walls and red and white chequered tablecloths – nothing too fancy. Two horses go to a concert, whom do they see? I would imagine horses would appreciate classical music more than anything. I see them going to the symphony rather than a pop concert. FOCUS 37 Interview with the President of the Cambodian Equestrian Federation, Mr Van Sou Ieng In general, how is equestrian sport perceived in Cambodia? The Cambodian horse was not a myth. The figures of the Mahabharata equestrian team, illustrated in the Angkor Wat Temple fresco, depict a game that may be the ancestor of polo. The national archives also offer multiple testimonies of the role of the horse in the royal tradition. In the last century, the Khmer people expressed interest in this animal, particularly through cup racing. Courses of 2000m and more were raced on by local horses. In the 1950s, equestrianism was a popular elite sport and athletes enjoyed international experiences on the instigation of King Norodom Sihanouk, an accomplished rider. The sport vanished completely in the torment of the Khmer Rouge tragedy in the 1970s. Cambodian equestrian sports have had to rebuild themselves and win the interest of the people in a country where the horse is primarily considered as a means of transportation in the province. The Cambodian Equestrian Federation has been affiliated to the FEI since 2007. What has this changed for you? This affiliation gave us legitimacy in the eyes of the authorities and the National Olympic Committee. The visit of FEI President HRH Princess Haya to the national championship in February 2011 and the media coverage it enjoyed gave the public another perception of the sport. Our Federation has since been the subject of several national and 38 international reports and articles. Thanks to the FEI network, some fruitful contacts have been possible. For example, when we were recruiting our last instructor, we collaborated with National Federations from the Caribbean islands. of Lampang Welfare Foundation, Thailand) and Miss Van Porleng, (Member of the Cambodian NF Bureau). This NGO is now run by two young Cambodian veterinarians, introduced in 2006 to the horse on the initiative of Soraya Ourrais in collaboration with the Cambodian Rural University of Agriculture. This organisation provides free horse care through one-off actions (treatments), preventive actions (regular visits and follow ups) and education (workshops and training sessions). What does your Federation do to encourage young people to take up equestrian sport? We have organised cultural and sports camps and training courses focused on equestrian activities, as well as educational school trips dedicated to animal welfare in our stables. Our national team has participated in friendly international events abroad and we have set up practice trainings and competitions with children and teenagers. Competitions, including the National Championship, are open to all levels, from infant to senior. What are your main objectives for equestrian sport in your country for the next few years? To increasingly involve ourselves in the life of our National Federation, by referring to our great predecessors, the “senior Federations”. We also aim to pursue our collaboration with the South East Asia Equestrian Federation (SEAEF) and, at a regional level, find a solution to our recurrent issue of a large ponies supplier. We also aim to participate in more international sporting events and invite foreign teams to our 2012 Championship. We will attempt to participate in the SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013. Is there anything your Federation is particularly proud of? The Horse Future Programme, which is aimed at the most fragile of the poor. From its establishment, the Cambodian Equestrian Federation decided to make horse riding available to underprivileged Cambodian children. This socio-educative and athletic programme was implemented by Soraya Ourrais, the only equestrian professional in the Kingdom. Her young Cambodian trainee recently became the first Cambodian instructor. During its most fruitful season, thanks to the French Embassy’s support, this programme benefited 188 children (77 girls and 111 boys aged between seven and 19 including 64 sick children, 61 orphans and ten mentally handicapped youngsters). The 2010 and 2011 national champions are from this programme and were received by His Majesty the King Father on the occasion of a dedicated audience. We are also proud of the Cambodia Pony Welfare Organisation, which was founded in 2007 by Dr Siraya Chunekamrai (President Is there anything you would like the equestrian community to know about your Federation, its members and their activities? The Cambodian Equestrian Federation has a basic level but Olympian enthusiasm! In attempting to revive equestrian sports in the Kingdom, it has to deal with two major issues: attracting young riders and securing their loyalty. We cannot attract young riders without benefiting from the competence of very enterprising skilled instructors. Collaboration with large National Federations could be essential for this. We need large, tough ponies that can bear teenagers, especially at Jumping events. For this, the Cambodian Equestrian Federation is placing its hopes in a collaboration at a regional level, in order to find ponies or retired race horses that are used to our tough climatic conditions. I encourage horse-lovers to discover the Cambodian Kingdom and to meet our riders. The Cambodian Equestrian Federation would be delighted to welcome and them and could even provide them with accommodation in its new headquarters and training centre. Facts & Figures President: Mr Van Sou Ieng Secretary General: Philippe Garcia Member since 2007 Affiliated members: 2. CCC, a sports club in Phnom Penh, and Happy Ranch, a riding club in Angkor Wat. 110 affiliated riders (250 when the socio-educative and athletic programme “Horse Future” was at its peak (see interview) Competitions affiliated to the Federation: the yearly National Championship “Norodom Sihanouk du Cambodge” organised since 2004 and rewarded by His Majesty the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia 2 national events held in 2010: in Jumping, the 3 rounds National Championship, in Dressage, “Dressage Day”. 0 international events held in 2010 2 disciplines are practiced in Cambodia, Jumping, Dressage 0 breeding associations There are approximately 7,000 local ponies in Cambodia, which are harnessed to carts for the transportation of people and goods. Ponies and horses at CCC and Happy Ranch: local ponies and some large imported horses with (Quarter Horses, Selles Français) which have great acclimatisation difficulties. FOCUS 39 A life in a day In my “normal” life I am a corporate lawyer and lobbyist. I run a legal practice of nine lawyers, which pays my horse-related bills! I live in the centre of Athens and my legal practice is nearby, so I drive to my office on my Vespa or walk. I arrive at around 8am and catch up on local and international news, especially financial. I then browse the internet for news from the equestrian world. Until 7pm, my day is split between legal work and staying in touch with the Greek NF. My job is very demanding and necessitates continuous meetings and negotiations. I work with Greek and international clients, including large organisations, and represent them in different forums and procedures. There are also business trips. My work at the GRE NF mainly involves supervising all Jumping activities - putting together the annual show and training schedule and overseeing team selection. I am also responsible for organising members of the Veterinary Committee. The duties I enjoy most are those associated with FEI matters and the international equestrian community. I believe in working closely with the FEI and foreign NFs, as well as with other stakeholders and individuals in the equestrian world and I try to put the best of myself into this. George Dimaras George “Giorgos” Dimaras joined the Executive Board of the Hellenic Equestrian Federation in 2008. He chairs its Jumping and Veterinary Committees and represents the NF within the FEI: He has held the Greek Jumping Champion title twice, won three gold medals at FEI Balkan Jumping Championships and competed in more than 20 FEI Nations Cup™ competitions. 40 The Greek NF offices are at the Olympic Centre in Markopoulo, around 25km out of Athens, so I take care of most NF matters from a distance, thanks to the help of our capable staff. I am always available on the phone for NF matters, but I go to the NF offices about once every two weeks and try to squeeze all meetings into that day. At 7pm I go to the Hellenic Riding Club, where I keep my three horses (currently two Young Horses and one Grand Prix horse). Depending on my time and energy, I train them, but that is not the main reason why I go there. For me, daily contact with the horses is necessary and rewarding. I started riding in 1981 and been around horses ever since. Interaction with my horses makes me a better person and I try to give them back as much as I can. I am also involved in the club’s management, so my time there gives me the opportunity to check on “Interaction with my horses makes me a better person and I try to give them back as much as I can” things. I rarely stay home in the evenings. Usually, I go with friends to the movies, theatre, exhibitions or for dinner and drinks. Living in an international capital like Athens makes it easier to enjoy cultural and night life and I take all the opportunities available. At weekends, I attend shows approved by the GRE NF both as a rider and as an NF official. I quit the national Jumping team when I became a Board Member but I occasionally act as Chef d’Equipe. When I have a free weekend, I try to travel around Greece or abroad, either to international competitions or to visit friends. Once a year I organise a long trip with friends to countries off the beaten track, such as Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania or Sri Lanka. In spite of its horse-rich history, Greece’s modern horse-sport culture is mostly developed around the main urban areas. The GRE NF has around 80 active member clubs with almost 400 active sport riders and 800 sport horses of all levels. There are many horses and horse-involved individuals and groups in the countryside that need NF help and guidance. I consider this a very important duty of the GRE NF and devote a lot of time to it. Unfortunately, the financial crisis in Greece has had a negative impact on the sport. Our NF has limited financial resources as a result of reduced government funding and sponsorship but it is working hard to keep the sport and the shows going. As Chair of the NF Jumping Committee, I now have increased responsibility and work and have to come up with innovative ideas and solutions, which is a great challenge. Hopefully my non-professional status is an advantage and I can help inspire all the parties involved to work together for the good of the horses and the sport. I keep all my equestrian involvement strictly on an amateur basis. For me, any professional and financial ties within the horse world would take the magic away. FOCUS 41 Fashion Horses & High Heels Dresses from the Fall 2011 collection created by Reem Acra, title sponsor of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series, recently made a brief trip to northern Italy, where a top Italian fashion photographer and his team worked their magic, with a little help from some horses. 42 FOCUS 43 Italian fashion photographer Gianguido Rossi had a challenging day ahead of him. Working on a photo shoot with a professional model and crew is one matter but involving horses with no experience of patiently posing until the perfect image has been captured was going to be more complicated. “I know the horses aren’t going to listen to me and look at the camera when I tell them to!” he joked. Added to that, the photographer who believes that “beautiful alone is boring” intended to use smoke and wind machines to create a magical, dreamlike atmosphere. Reem Acra’s glamorous dresses, inspired by nature, would emerge from ethereal fog and contrast with the rustic stables setting Gianguido had chosen. Try explaining that to a horse! In the sunshine outside the stables, Gianguido briefed Macedonian model Elena Trajanovska. Stylist Anika Esposito, whose clients includes Italian rock star Gianna Nannini, toured the stables with Carlo Mascheroni, the owner of the horses that would feature in the shoot, selecting those whose colours would set off Reem Acra’s creations. The manes of the equine “models” were braided, while make-up artist Francesca Angelone set to work on Elena. Freedom, a nine-year-old gelding that regularly competes with Carlo at Driving events, was led into a box. He stepped back as Elena approached in her vertiginous high heels and a shimmering emerald-green dress, then stared at her quizzically. Carlo showed Elena how to put the horse at ease. Standing in the glare of the photographer’s lights, Freedom seemed unperturbed by the artificial smoke and wind and eyed the crew with interest. As the shoot progressed, each beautiful dress from Reem Acra’s autumn collection was replaced by another and more horses were led into the soaring-ceilinged stone building that housed the boxes. Fingers were clicked and objects were shaken to make the horses lift their heads and look in the right direction. At one point, Carlo even lay down on the floor of the box to distract a horse Elena was posing with. Incas, an eight-year-old gelding, was uncooperative at first, refusing to stand still and pulling Elena, precariously perched on her heels, in circles 44 Left page, bottom: Preparing for the photo on this FEI Focus cover This page, top: Carlo Mascheroni with two equine “models” Bottom: Gianguido Rossi explains his concept to model Elena Trajanovska around the box. Late in the afternoon, Carlo and his groom led four of the horses into the stables building. They shifted excitedly, neighing and stamping their hooves, while Carlo shouted instructions. The crew scurried about in front of them trying to balance the wind and smoke in a way that would not only create the right atmosphere but also camouflage the two men holding the horses. Wary at first, the equine models now seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their novelty situation and all the attention focused on them. Nudging each other, they pushed forwards, three of them observing Gianguido’s acrobatics as he moved around with his camera, while another, more interested in the intricacy of Elena’s dress, plunged his muzzle into the fabric. It was early evening – mosquito rush hour – when Gianguido announced that the shoot was finished. Everyone applauded. Elena kicked off her heels and walked away to change. The Reem Acra dresses were wrapped, equipment was packed and it was time for some two-in-hand Driving. The horses were harnessed to a carriage with Carlo and Elena in front and a first set of passengers behind. In a huge field scattered with cones, Carlo was noisily encouraged as he steered the cantering horses around the course. Later, Elena enthusiastically took the reins, looking far more relaxed with the horses without her high heels. Gianguido Rossi’s Reem Acra portfolio is published in the Autumn 2011 issue of the Italian, French and Swiss editions of Equestrio magazine and on Reem Acra’s website. www.reemacra.com. FOCUS 45 HSBC Profile Giles Morgan tells his children, aged nine and seven, that he works in the “colouring in department “of HSBC, a charming and very modest description of a job that involves developing and managing the organisation’s sponsorship portfolio of sport and cultural programmes worldwide. Giles Morgan Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings “Sponsorship is about aligning passions with a brand. It is a sound investment for the growth and development of a business” Giles Morgan joined HSBC in 2005, despite vowing he would never be involved in banking. “My father was in banking and like all children who rebel, I didn’t want to do the same,” he says. Yet he knew from an early age that he wanted to work in sponsorship; his family was involved in sport, he practiced rugby, cricket, tennis, water polo, golf and skiing, and he was aware of its commercial nature. By the time he arrived at HSBC, he had garnered more than 15 years’ experience as a sponsorship marketing consultant to a broad international clientele and seen sponsorship evolve considerably. “Years ago, it was more about media relations and badging – getting a logo out there through purchased media rights, media relations and incidental campaigns,” he explains. “Today it involves having to think more broadly about strategy, not just activation. Strategy is a 360° activation now.” Morgan says the online digital revolution has changed and is continuing to change the way sport is consumed and how people follow their passion. “Sponsorship is about aligning passions with a brand,” he says. “It is a sound investment for the growth and development of a business.” To measure the effectiveness of HSBC sponsorships and set objectives for new ones, Morgan created a bespoke system. It is based on seven criteria, which include client engagement, staff engagement, brand awareness, media coverage and brand reputation. “It is a rigorous objective-setting and reviewing system, which I’m very proud of,” he says. HSBC ventured into sports sponsorship in 1980 with the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tournament. Over the following years, its portfolio grew to encompass 15 different sports in 30 countries and territories. It now concentrates on golf, rugby and Eventing at a global level and tennis in the UK (through its partnership with the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the Wimbledon Championships). The bank has been involved in equestrian sport since 2008 through its sponsorship of the FEI Classics and FEI European Championships, a partnership that was renewed for 46 another three years in February 2011. Morgan believes the FEI is a natural partner for HSBC, which aligns with the strong heritage and principles of Eventing. He knows the discipline well, having “given it a go” with friends in his early twenties. “I ride badly and, at six foot four and weighing 17 stone, I’m not a good passenger for a horse,” he says wryly, adding that he continues to be impressed by the bravery and skill of Eventing riders and the whole community of people involved. Golf and rugby were reinstated as Olympic sports at the International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen in 2009 and will be included in the 2016 Summer Olympics. HSBC was vocally supportive of the Olympic bid for both sports. Golf’s last inclusion in the Summer Olympic Games dates back to 1904. Rugby union was played at five Summer Olympic Games but was dropped after 1936. It is rugby sevens – the seven-a-side, faster-paced variant of the game – that will feature on the programme of the 2016 Olympics in Rio. HSBC’s rugby portfolio includes its title sponsorship of the IRB Sevens World Series, which comprises tournaments in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Hong Kong, England and Scotland. “The sport is growing and reaching out to new communities. It has values of teamwork, fairplay and camaraderie, and where it is being played and who is watching are interesting to us in terms of demographics.” The bank has also helped to develop the sport through its sponsorship of the Asian 5 Nations and the Asian Sevens Series. Asia is the fastest-growing region in world rugby and membership of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) has nearly tripled since 1998. HSBC’s partnerships in high level sport are coupled with a strong involvement at grassroots level. Morgan has set up youth and education schemes, such as the free tuition HSBC offers to all branches of Britain’s Pony Club and youth rugby coaching and coach education FOCUS 47 Who’s got a ticket for London 2012? Ticketing explained by Adam Szreter Germany’s Julia Krajewski riding After The Battle at the HSBC FEI during the British & Irish Lion’s Tour European Eventing Championships difficult as their demands are such to South Africa in 2009. “It follows in Luhmühlen (GER) that I don’t know where my Black that if we are involved in sport that is © Henry Browne/Action Images Berry is!” he says. He indulges his inlearned at a young age, it is important terest in history (which he studied for the bank to be involved in development, to get at university) by reading on planes and sometimes kids involved, not just in sport, but in lessons in life,” finds time to play tennis or the piano. explains Morgan. “When you are involved in elite sport and then see kids learning, it is humbling. It is His dream weekend would be spent at a deserted good to know that we are making a small difference.” clifftop hotel on the West Devon coast with “a good library of history books and no BlackBerry Morgan’s time is currently split between the Far connection, having long walks, big lunches, massive East, in the UK, where he is based, and the rest of dinners and being able to collapse in a heap at 10pm Europe. He admits that he is not as good at work- and sleep without interruption”. He may have to wait life balance as he should be. “At weekends, when I’m for that. In the meantime, there is a lot to be done with the kids, I switch off my BlackBerry - that’s not in HSBC’s colouring in department. 48 When tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games went on sale earlier this year many people around the world experienced unbridled joy at the news that their application had, at least in part, been suc- work? “There are approximately 8.8 million tickets cessful. But such was the unprecedented demand up for sale across the whole Olympic Games,” exfor tickets for these Games that some applicants, plained Tim Hadaway, Equestrian Manager in the particularly in the United Kingdom, were left dis- LOCOG Sport Department. “Around 75 per cent of appointed. Many fans of equestrian sport have those will be made available to the UK public via the contacted the FEI to ask about the ticketing pro- process which began earlier this year, but because of European Union trading laws cess, but the FEI, like all the other internationthey were also available to everyal sports federations, is within the EU. A further 12 per “There are approximately one not involved in the discent, or approximately one mil8.8 million tickets up for lion tickets, were made available tribution of tickets. to the NOCs. It’s then up to the sale across the whole The application proNOCs how they distribute their Olympic Games” allocation, but some of their tickcess was a complicated one – there were 26 ets may well end up with nationsports, 650 sessions and al equestrian federations and each 2,500 price categories to choose NOC can also appoint an authorised ticket re-seller in from – and there was surprise that their particular country to sell to sports fans in their also been able to market. The number of tickets going to each NOC is non-UK residents had apply at the same time. “A lot of people in determined by factors such as the numbers that have the UK are disappointed about the bidding been ordered for previous Games, the success that a process for Olympic tickets and many people got noth- particular nation has had in a particular sport, the size ing at all,” said Chris Eastwood, an unlucky appli- of its team and also, to an extent, that NOC’s proximcant from London. So how exactly did the process ity to the host city.” FOCUS 49 As everyone should know by now, the Equestrian and Para-Equestrian events will all take place in Greenwich Park, where a special arena will be erected for Dressage and Jumping. In all, there will be 12 days of Equestrian competition, starting with Eventing, making for an approximate total of 270,000 tickets available to the public. “All of the Dressage and Jumping elements, including those of the Eventing competition, take place in the main arena,” said Hadaway. “The arena is planned to have around 20,000 seats, with an extra 2,000 or so set aside for the various accredited groups such as the media, athletes and other members of the Olympic family. We’re still working to finalise the details of the seating system and until we do that we don’t know the exact final capacity, so we hold 50 back a certain number of tickets until those final plans are determined. Those tickets will go on sale to UK and EU residents on our website on a first-come first-served basis next year, so it may be closer to 21,000, or it may be closer to 20,000. There are 11 days of competition in the main arena, and the 12th day is the cross-country of the Eventing competition which obviously takes place around the wider park. Our capacity for that at the moment is set at 50,000 but we are working with all of our stakeholders and partners across the project on confirming venue capacities at the moment.” The Paralympic Games also provide a wonderful opportunity to get involved. For the FEI this means ParaEquestrian Dressage, and while hopes are high that London 2012 will produce record attendances there should be enough space for those who want to come along and see some high-class equestrian sport. The first round of tickets for the Paralympics went on sale in September. “We have six days of competition in Greenwich Park, in a country where Para-Equestrian Dressage was pretty much born really,” says Hadaway. “Great Britain has won gold every time since it was introduced to the Paralympic programme in 1996 so we’re expecting good crowds for that. It’s a big venue, so we’re starting off with the release of 6,000 tickets per session, but we have the capacity to increase that if the demand materialises. It would be great to think we might end up much higher than that, and even if we get 6,000 people every day, which we’re confident of doing, it would be unheard of for ParaEquestrian Dressage. It would be more than have ever watched that sport before.” “We have six days of competition in Greenwich Park, in a country where ParaEquestrian Dressage was pretty much born really” © Getty Images for LOCOG For those successful in purchasing tickets, Pay Your Age is a scheme LOCOG created whereby at more than 220 sessions young people aged 16 or under when the Games start could literally pay their age (eg a nineyear-old would pay £9). People aged 60 or over when the Games start will pay just £16 at those sessions. Furthermore, all host boroughs have the opportunity to purchase up to 200 tickets for the Games and distribute them how they choose. “There are no free tickets at these Games,” Hadaway added. “My family have had to apply for tickets just like everyone else, and in fact they have been unsuccessful in their application for equestrian tickets and I’ve had my head buried in this project for four years! It is a process that is random, but it is fair across the board. There is a scheme that has made tickets available to schoolchildren across London and the UK, and there are several schools in Greenwich that have benefited from that. We also ran the Olympic and Paralympic test event earlier this year and made 3,000 tickets for that available to the local community so that they could come along and experience it, enjoy it and learn more about our plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events.” T h e l a s t wo rd o n Olympic ticketing goes to Lord Sebastian Coe, LOCOG’s chairman. “Both domestically and internationally the demand for tickets has been phenomenal,” he said back in July. “I would actually say it has been unprecedented. A total of 1.9 million people applied for 22 million tickets, and we have sold out in 23 out of 26 sports. That’s an extraordinary vote of confidence in Olympic sport, not just in Britain but around the globe.” Equestrian ticket distribution for London 2012 Olympic Games Eventing total dressage cross-country jumping Dressage total Jumping total Equestrian total 110,000 40,000 50,000 20,000 80,000 80,000 270,000 *Figures based on arena capacity of 20,000 and cross-country capacity of 50,000 (both of which may increase) FOCUS 51 cent of the park will remain open until the beginning of July and then the park will be closed to the public because we need to develop the cross-country course for the Eventing competition. That course is used on the third day of the Games, 30 July, and we’re planning to re-open large parts of the park as early as 5 August. So there’s only about a month when the majority of the park is closed to the public. GREEN WICH CLEAN TIME With the Olympic Equestrian events taking place in London’s Greenwich Park, many people have expressed concern over this World Heritage Site being closed for long periods and ruined. Focus asked Tim Hadaway, LOCOG’s Equestrian Manager, to explain what measures are being taken to protect it. Focus How long will the park be closed and to what extent? 52 Tim Hadaway That was a very hot topic in the early days. There were rumours at one point that it was going to be closed for 18 months but that was never the case. The area where we’re going to develop, the main arena, will be cordoned off from April through until October next year (following the Paralympic Games), but that’s a very small part of the park. Then we move into the training and stabling areas in May and June but again, these are relatively small areas. In excess of 75 per What assurances can you give that none of the park’s listed buildings or historical landscape will be damaged by the Games? We’ve worked with all of the organisations who are responsible for maintaining the landscape and the integrity of the park including the Royal Parks, who are the park’s custodians, Natural England, with whom we’ve worked to protect some rare acid grassland, English Heritage, with whom we’ve worked to protect the archaeological site of a Roman temple, among other things, the National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Naval College. At every turn in our planning we’ve been tested, checked, balanced and quizzed and we’ve had everything signed off by the relevant organisation and we have planning permission for all the work that needs to be carried out next year. We work with tree specialists, we have plans to make sure our contractors don’t drive across root protection zones, and every piece of trimming has to be signed off through the planning process, but that’s all very minor and we haven’t removed one tree. How did the park stand up to the Olympic Equestrian test event in mid-July? We started work in the middle of May and over a six-week period we put in a 2,000-seat arena, 70-odd stables and a 60x40m training arena. Two months later, you would hardly know an event had been there. Inevitably where we had the main arena in place for a couple of months the ground had browned off, so we put some fresh grass-seed down, protected the area, irrigated it and now it hardly looks any different. Post-Games, what will you do to restore the park to its pre-Games condition? We’ll pull out the infrastructure as quickly as we can so that we can begin to open areas of the park. So we’ll remove the tents, the cabins, the stable and the arenas. Then it’s a question of re-seeding, returfing and temporarily protecting that ground while it recovers and gets back to how it was. We’ve agreed a reinstatement plan with the Royal Parks and we’ve committed funding to them, so we’re not suddenly going to run off after the Olympic Games and leave them to it. What will be the legacy of the Olympic Games for Greenwich Park? Because we needed to create perfect ground conditions for the cross country course, we’ve been working on the turf now for 18 months and that work is improving the quality of the grass around the whole park, so we’re creating a legacy in that respect off the back of the work that we’re doing. Also, through the Games we secured some additional funding to improve the children’s play area because we’ve got a crosscountry jump that’s related to that playground. We thought it would be fun to develop that jump in the context of the playground so that will be left afterwards for the children. FOCUS 53 Selected episodes of FEI Equestrian World are available online, exclusively to subscribers of the FEI’s official high quality video website FEI TV (www.feitv.org). Users can watch features whenever and wherever it suits them on their computers. FEI Equestrian World, supported by Rolex, is the FEI’s TV magazine programme that brings together enthralling stories from all FEI disciplines, as well as a news and results round-up. It takes you behind the scenes at major international events, profiles superstars (human and equine) and new talents and investigates horse welfare and development. Safety, course building, breeding, event logistics and equipment are discussed with experts; the role of the horse in different societies is explored and equestrian-related jobs, traditions and skills are examined. FEI Equestrian World is currently broadcast by channels in approximately 100 territories and is for anyone interested in what’s happening in the world of horses around the globe. Please check your TV broadcast schedules for details. Here are just three of the features that are currently available. Ben Asselin & Magic Man at Spruce Meadows ©Spruce Meadows Media Services Coming up on FEI Equestrian World The FEI Equestrian World team recently travelled to Spruce Meadows to meet Ben Asselin, a 17-year-old Canadian rising star of the Jumping world who was named Canada’s Junior Equestrian of the Year in 2010. Following his gold medal at the Lexingtonhosted North American Junior Championships in 2010, Ben secured 54 second place at the sixbar competition at Spruce Meadows in September of this year, beaten only by the very experienced Tim Stockdale (GBR). Ben talks about what it is like to work with his father Jonathan, who has represented Canada to Olympic level, and why he thinks there are so many families in the Jumping discipline. Pa r a ly m p ia n G r a c e Bowman will speak to FEI Equestrian World in Adelaide, Australia. Grace was 12 in 2002 when she had a riding accident that dislocated her spine and severed her spinal cord. A year later, she was already competing in state and national riding for disabled championships, winning each state title and two national titles over the next four years. Grace went on to be the youngest Australian Para-Equestrian selected onto a Paralympic team. She competed at the 2008 Paralympic Games, where the Australian equestrian team finished sixth and Grace came 15th in her Individual championship and 12th in the Freestyle competition. At the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010, her Individual performance earned her fourth place. She now hopes to compete at the London 2012 Paralympics.In her spare time, this courageous psychology graduate gives public talks to inspire and motivate others with her story. @Liz Gregg @Kit Houghton/FEI @Kit Houghton/FEI FEI Equestrian World on Megan Jones Patrick Looser Angelika Trabert Meet leading Australian Eventing rider Megan Jones in the stunning setting of her home in Hahndorf, near Adelaide. Unlike many of her equestrian compatriots, Megan has never felt tempted to move, despite the long journeys she has to make to events. Megan picked up the silver Team honours at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Aachen in 2006 and at the Hong Kong Olympic Games in 2008. She talks to FEI Equestrian World about her trips to Europe and why there’s no place like home. FEI Equestrian World caught up with Swiss Vaulter Patrick Looser at last season’s FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Final in Leipzig (GER). Patrick, who moved to Germany several years ago, talks about the qualities a horse competing in his discipline requires and looks back over his career and achievements, including his gold medal win at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 in Kentucky. Multi gold-winning German Para-Equestrian Dressage rider Angelika Trabert was the deserving winner of the FEI’s Against All Odds Award in 2010. She talks to FEI Equestrian World about growing up with horses and how they gave her the freedom to enjoy nature in a way she was not able to with her artificial legs. Communication with a horse is vital in competition and Angelika is proud of the way the sport has enabled her to compete with and perform better than some able-bodied riders. FOCUS 55 WATCH LIVE ! WATCH ONLINE ! Live Broadcast Schedule 2011 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2011 15-16 October HSBC FEI Classics Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA) 23 October Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Odense (DEN) 23 October Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Helsinki (FIN) TM TM TM 28 October Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Lyon (FRA) 30 October Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Lyon (FRA) 06 November Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Verona (ITA) 14 November FEI General Assembly Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 19-20 November HSBC FEI Classics (tbc) Adelaide (AUS) 20 November Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Stuttgart (GER) 27 November Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Stockholm (SWE) 11 December Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Geneva (SUI) TM TM TM TM TM TM TM 14 December Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Olympia (GBR) 18 December Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Frankfurt (GER) 18 December Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Olympia (GBR) 27 December Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Mechelen (BEL) 30 December Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Mechelen (BEL) TM TM TM TM TM All 2012 broadcasts to be announced. Extended highlights of all the above competitions will be available as video on demand. The FEI TV team also plans to add to the live schedule coverage from this season’s FEI World Cup TM Driving and FEI World Cup TM Vaulting series. Please check the live schedule regularly for updates: www.feitv.org 56 www.feitv.org The official video website of the Fédération Equestre Internationale the perfect gift for the equestrian fan SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS FEI TV is the FEI’s new official video website and your ticket to the world’s most prestigious competitions. Sign-up to FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and get instant access to all the live broadcasts, the extensive video-on-demand library, all the highlights, the behind the scenes reports, the interviews and so much more. Be at the heart of horsesport. Join us ! TV A4 “Don’t accept drinks from a stranger.” Armchair travel journalist 8° N – Kerala, South India Are you living a life without boundaries? Some well-meant advice is best ignored, but it’s still good to know you’re covered when you’re away. With HSBC Premier, your family can be protected with both Travel Insurance and dedicated assistance when you’re abroad. Which is reassuring to know when you’re making the most of life. HSBC Premier is subject to financial eligibility criteria and is available in over 40 countries and territories. Premier Travel Insurance covers you and your partner up to age 70, and your children travelling with you up to age 18. www.hsbcpremier.com Issued by HSBC Holdings plc. Approved for use in UK by HSBC Bank plc. Premier Travel Insurance is provided by Aviva Insurance UK Limited. Customer Information Service: PO Box 757, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4SS. Registered in England number 14259. Registered Office: 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ. AC18770