The renown show jumping competition is the ideal setting to underline the importance of counteracting drug abuse, main mission in San Patrignano, while providing a unique opportunity to the best equestrians to challenge themselves before the London Olympics 2012. These are the main objectives of the 16° edition of the International Show Jumping Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge CSI 5* (according to FEI criteria), which is scheduled to be held in the premises of the Community for the next July 20-22.
The show is an important event for the community as a whole, which is in charge of the entire organization and takes care of every detail with passion and high professionalism: from the creation of the obstacles to the grass maintenance, welcoming the riders and organizing efficient registration, secretariat and settings.
“The Challenge is a unique opportunity to foster personal grow for the more than 1300 youngsters in the community- emphasizes Alessandro Rodino Dal Pozzo, President of the Challenge from this year on. During the event, the guys will be working with the best equestrians in the world. Thanks to the Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge, San Patrignano is hosting beautiful horses, talented animal champions, loved by our guys, which are also contributing to their recovery programme. Dealing with animals, in particular with horses, it offers an concrete chance to nurture human beings’ potential.
The historic show director Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani is sharing this view: the San Patrignano CSI5*- she says- is a show that comes from the heart. All the participants, both the riders and the audience, are like an extended family who loves the pure sport and the extraordinary show.
The Challenge Vincenzo Muccioli 2012 edition will present important riders such as the Canadian Eric Lamaze, holding the title of Olympic champion, individual gold medalist and team silver medalist in Beijing. Other Olympic champions will participate, such as Jerome Dubbeldam from the Netherlands, individual gold medalist in Sidney 2000; top names such as the Brazilian rider Rodrigo Pessoa, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and the multi-tiled Gerco Schroeder, alongside some new entries: United Kingdom’s lady rider Lauren Hough, the Brazilian Cassio Rivetti and the German Katharina Offel (both competing under the Ukrainian flag).
The show will also count on emerging young talents such as Germany’s Katrin Echermann, who participated also in last year edition and have been successful during the current season in Hamburg, Hagen and other competitions. Furthermore: Daniel Bluman from Colombia (winner of the 5* Challenge in Wellington, Florida) and Tiffany Foster from Canada, already part of her national Olympic team (in the first three placements in Calgary’s 5*).
San Patrignano is very proud to host all these talented and renown riders and to introduce Rolex as main sponsor of this year edition. The prestigious Maison from Geneva, has been associated with top equestrian riders since 1957 and has sponsored the most important worldwide show jumping competitions so far, among them the Rolex FEI Word Cup.
As in previous editions, this year the CSI 5* in San Patrignano will count on international renowned professionals supporting on technical and logistical issues. Along with the show director Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani, already mentioned above, Emile Hendrix, former international champion from the Netherlands, as Technical Advisor. As Course Designer we are proud to have for the third time, Louis Konickx, from the Netherlands, who designed also the "Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2012" in s’Hertogenbosch.
The Challenge Vincenzo Muccioli received the FEI Award as world’s best show-jumping event of 2010, and have been among the top five events in the international agenda since years. The main reason for these important recognitions is the unique atmosphere combined with the high quality of the San Patrignano premises, the ground, the awards and the organization.
Pressemitteilung vom 24.05.2012 (San Patrignano Press office)
