A strong international field descends on the stylish French seaside town of Deauville, France, this week to contest the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final in what should be the most competitive finale yet. It all starts on September 18 with the first horse inspection.

The 2008 FEI World Cup™ eventing standings leader Kevin McNab of Australia, will be making his first competitive visit to Europe, and has earned the right to pole position, while the Australian challenge is completed by two of the best horses in the world.

Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks of Australia, fresh from their Team Silver medal-winning Olympic debuts, bring their Hong Kong horses, the brave little mare Headley Britannia, a winner of Badminton and Burghley, and the quality Irish-bred gelding Ben Along Time, current holder of the world Silver medal and a winner of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The reigning FEI World Cup™ Eventing Champion, Nicolas Touzaint, could keep the home crowd happy with a win on his Badminton champion, Hildago de l’Ile, and surely no one would begrudge him compensation for his Olympic disappointment when Galan de Sauvagère was injured before the start of the competition.

Martinvast winners Cedric Lyard and Jessy Mail are also members of the strong French team at Deauville.

Germany is represented by three FEI World Cup™ Eventing qualifier winners, Michael Jung and La Biothetique’s Sam FBW, who triumphed at Fontainebleau in France, Elmar Lesch and Finch Hatton, winners of Malmo in Sweden, and the Schenefeld winners, Olympic Gold medalist Frank Ostholt with the experienced Air Jordan.

Britain fields the ever-popular Pippa Funnell, one of the most consistent riders in the 2008 series, on Ensign, plus Olympic Bronze medalist and Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt, on new ride Kaleidescope, a horse he has taken over while owner Jessica Thomas is expecting a baby. Fox-Pitt rode him into third place in the Chatsworth qualifier in Great Britain.

The British contingent also includes Polly Stockton on the 2007 Burghley runner-up, Regulus, and rising star Laura Collett, 19, on her 2006 Junior European Champion, Fernhill Sox.

Clark Montgomery of the United States, who won the first qualifier of the year in Tallahassee, makes his European debut as the sole American representative on Up Spirit.

The New Zealand flag will be flown by the stalwart Andrew Nicholson on the part Irish Draught Henry Tankerville, who is returning from an injury. The pair won Bramham CCI*** in Great Britain in 2006.

Belgium, Italy, Poland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Lithuania and Sweden, represented by Sara Algotsson, whose older sister Linda is a former dual winner of the final, all have riders entered.

The dressage phase takes place on Friday, September 19, followed by cross-country on Saturday, September 20, and the jumping climax on Sunday, September 21.

Previous FEI World Cup Winners
2003, Pau, France: Linda Algotsson/Stand By Me (SWE)
2004, Pau, France: Linda Algotsson/My Fair Lady (SWE)
2005, Malmo, Sweden: Clayton Fredericks/Ben Along Time (AUS)
2006, Malmo, Sweden: Nicolas Touzaint/Galan de Sauvagere (FRA)
2007, awarded on points: Nicolas Touzaint (FRA)

Further details on the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final are available on the FEI website and the official website of RIDE Normandie.