Further to the cancellation of Düsseldorf qualifier, Frankfurt was confirmed as host of an FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier. The event will take place from15 to 18 December 2005 in the frame of the "Internationalen Festhallen Reitturnier Frankfurt"
(Frankfurt International Festival Hall Riding Competition).
Fifth event of the FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League, which comprises 8 qualifiers, Frankfurt will also play host to the first ever FEI Young Riders World Cup Dressage Final.
The Organising Committee together with Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and Michael von Zitzewitz, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt (Frankfurt Fairs), expressed their satisfaction at the allocation. "With this decision, we have clearly made one step further in positioning the "Festhallen Reitturnier" in the European top bracket. We shall make every effort to meet the expectations of the public, sponsors and riders", commented Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff.
"This gives the "Frankfurter Reitturnier" a lot more prestige", added Mayor Achim Vandreike. "With this top-quality event, we can further enhance our reputation as a great sporting city."
The CDI-W Frankfurt is straight after the fourth World Cup Qualifier at the Olympia Horse Show in London, Great Britain, December 13 - 24, 2005. With two W.C. qualifiers back to back, it will be detrimental for Olympia as it is going to lose potential competitors who now can stay on the continent to earn World Cup points. It would have been smarter to maintain a bigger time lapse between two qualifiers, as it is already extremely difficult for British Dressage to stimulate European riders to cross the Channel and compete in the U.K.
David Holmes, Chief Executive of British Dressage, expressed his malcontent to Horse and Hound about Frankfurt meddling with Olympia's schedule. "We think it is a fantastic idea [CDI-W Frankfurt and FEI Young Riders World Cup], but far too close to Olympia. It was dropped into the calendar without much consideration, an object example of how to make other organisers unhappy," Holmes stated.
Related Links
2004-2005 World Cup Qualifiers and Finals
Horse and Hound: New World Cup for Young Riders
Hamilton to Represent the U.S.A. at the FEI Young Rider World Cup
Back to the 2006 World Cup Finals Index