With three more weeks to go until the 2011 World Cup Finals in Leipzig, the field of competitors is slowly shaping up. It has been confirmed that both Belgian Jeroen Devroe and Swedish Nina Hofmann will be competing at the Finals, which take place 27 April - 1 May 2011.
Belgian Jeroen Devroe is filling up the spot of Tinne Vilhelmson as he is the highest ranked Western European League qualificant who just missed out on the cut of 9 riders for the WE League. However with the Swede dropping out, Devroe can prepare his Belgian warmblood gelding Apollo van het Vijverhof (by Welt Hit II x Ritmeister) for another highlight in his career.
The 23-year old Swedish Nina Hofmann and her Danish warmblood Leo af Magnushoj (by Rohdiamant x Leonardo II) have also been confirmed participants by the Swedish Equestrian Federation. The German based rider, who trains with Portuguese Nuno Palma e Santos at Gut Haidehof, is ecstatic about her ticket.
"Of course I had hoped to ride," she said, adding that "there are many who have counted and counted, but I didn't dare to believe that it would become a reality."
Though the 2011 World Cup Finals are a seasonal apex, all European riders have their mind set on the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam in August, where they can obtain Olympic qualification.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2011 World Cup Finals
The Netherlands Best Represented at the 2011 World Cup Finals
Final Standing of the Western European League (see bottom of the page)