With only two more FEI World Cup™ qualifiers to run in the 2008 season, Australia’s Kevin McNab has sensationally swept into a huge lead in the FEI World Cup™ rankings, after scoring a one-two at his local qualifier at Warwick, Australia.
A popular member of the local Queensland Eventing Committee, McNab, 30, now has 220 points, 60 clear of his nearest rival, Clark Montgomery (USA) with 160.
McNab won at Warwick on Hufflepuff, his Melbourne runner-up, and finished second on Game Play. He is now planning a trip across the world to challenge for the HSBC FEI World Cup Final at Deauville in France, September 18-21.
Two riders from South Australia were third and fourth, Kerrie Bowman on Foxhill Aphrodite and Melbourne winner and Atlanta Olympic Gold medalist Wendy Schaeffer with Koyuna Sun Dancer.
As a result, Schaeffer has also moved dramatically up the leaderboard and is in third place behind Montgomery with 130 points.
On the same weekend in the U.S., Tory Smith of Camarillo, CA, won the Kalispell qualifier, held at Rebecca Farm in Montana, on her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Bantry Bay V.
Smith, 21, went into the final stadium phase with a massive 16-penalty lead after the withdrawal of the overnight leader, Jolie Sexon on Killian O’Connor, but did not need the luxury of this leeway, finishing with a foot-perfect clear.
“He has springs in his feet and hates to touch a rail,” said an elated Smith.
Her long-time trainer, Debbie Rosen, was second on the Alchemist, and Chelan Kozak of Canada was third on her new ride Tasman Sea.
Nine riders started the dressage, judged by Eric Smiley, Janis Linnan, and former U.S. team rider Jim Graham, who unanimously placed Sexon first with 44.1 penalties. Smith was second at this stage with 49.4.
Five horses jumped clear over the cross-country course designed by Mark Phillips. Nicholas Cwick, lying third after dressage on Asterix, drifted slightly off line and missed the skinny out of the Trout Pond. Sexon was fastest, home with 2.8 time penalties, ahead of Smith with 2.8.
With just two European qualifiers left in the 2008 FEI World Cup™ series, in Martinvast, France, August 21-24 and Schenefeld, Germany, August 28-31, British riders Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell, both of whom have missed out on the Olympics, have a chance to further their status in the rankings. They share equal fourth place on 115 points, ahead of Irish Olympic rider Geoff Curran, fifth with 112, and British Olympic team member William Fox-Pitt, sixth with 110. All with a chance to be crowned FEI World Cup™ Champion at the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final to be held in Deauville, France, September 12-21.
Results—Warwick
1. Kevin McNab, Hufflepuff - 53.3
2. Kevin McNab, Game Play - 54.8
3. Kerrie Bowman, Foxhhill Aphrodite - 70.1
4. Wendy Schaeffer, Koyuna Sun Dancer - 85.6
5. Natalie Siiankoski, Kolora Stud Archie - 86.7
6. Robert Palm, He’s the One - 111.8
Results—Kalispell
1. Tory Smith (Bantry Bay V, USA) 49.4 + 5.6 + 0 = 55
2. Debbie Rosen (The Alchemist, USA) 59.1 + 12 + 8 = 79.1
3. Chelan Kozak (Tasman Sea, CAN) 73.3 + 7.6 + 16 = 96.9
4. Barbara Crabo (Eveready, USA) 63.7 + 20/16 + 16 = 115.7