Wellington, FL—With seven World Cup slots hanging just out of reach, and the possibility of two wild cards factoring in, East Coast League riders hold a collective breath as the latest round of qualifying points is tallied. After eight rounds of competition, the rivalry stays ever close, with McLain Ward emerging the new leader as the group takes a short recess for the Winter months.

Closely following Ward’s 92 points are Kimberly Frey with 81, Laura Kraut with 72, and Lauren Hough with 70. Other top-seven contenders include Candice King with 62 points, Georgina Bloomberg with 54, and Schuyler Riley, with 52. 2004 Olympic Team Silver Medalist Beezie Madden waits to make her come-from-behind move out of eighth place in the standings—at present, she is just shy of the top-seven contenders, holding fast at 51 qualifying points.

A first place finish atop Quickstar II Z (Bay Zangersheide mare; Quito De Baussy—Ophelie d’Afgand—Double H Farm) at the $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship December 3, earned Ward the additional 20 World Cup qualifying points that boosted the 2004 Olympic Team Silver Medalist into the first place position in the League. But as the pros will tell you, it’s anyone’s game at this point, and for most riders, the final four qualifiers will be worth their weight in World Cup gold. Riding Riviera (Black German bred gelding; Gotham Enterprizes, Inc.), Georgina Bloomberg was close behind Ward in weekend competition, missing the first place finish by less than four seconds in the final jump-off. Bloomberg added 17 qualifying points to her total, bringing her up to the sixth spot in the League standings.

Previous East Coast League leader Kimberly Frey didn’t compete in this latest qualifier, but maintains a top spot regardless, and looks ahead to the next leg of the race to the World Cup Finals.

These standings will remain unchanged for the duration of 2004, as the World Cup qualifiers go into a short recess for the winter months. Well over halfway through the qualifiers, only four remain for the East Coast, starting with the Florida Classic on February 16. Points amassed at these final four qualifiers will help to determine the seven East Coast League riders who will be invited to compete in the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, April 20-24. These riders will join the three chosen from the West Coast League, and two other undetermined wild card riders afforded to the host country.


Top Finishers at the $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship
With World Cup Qualifying Points
FEI Table A, Article 238.1.2
*World Cup Rider

Rider, Country, Horse, Faults, Time (if applicable), World Cup Qualifying Points (if applicable)

1.*McLain Ward, USA, Quickstar II Z, 0-0 faults, 38.85 seconds, 20 points
2.*Georgina Bloomberg, USA, Riviera, 0-0 faults, 42.48 seconds, 17 points
3.*Alison Firestone, USA, Casanova, 1 fault, 15 points
4.*David Jennings, USA, Costa Sur, 4 faults, 9 points
*Jimmy Torano, USA, Capitano, 4 faults, 9 points
*Candice King, USA, Glenn CH, 4 faults, 9 points
*Ken Berkley, USA, Maestro, 4 faults, 9 points
*Molly Ashe, USA, Cocu, 4 faults, 9 points
*Schuyler Riley, USA, Ilian, 4 faults, 9 points
*Laura Kraut, USA, Anthem, 4 faults, 9 points
*Kate Levy, USA, Lagretto 5, 4 faults, 9 points
*Lauren Hough, USA, Clasiko, 4 faults, 9 points

*Jeffery Welles, USA, Medici, 5 faults, 4 points
*Kent Farrington, USA, Madison, 5 faults, 4 points
*Margie Engle, USA, Animagus, 8 faults, 1 point
*Christine Tribble, USA, Promised Land, 8 faults, 1 point
*Nona Garson, USA, Languster, 8 faults, 1 point
Joie