The FEI has confirmed that Kristy Oatley-Nist will get a "Wild Card" entry to this year's World Cup Dressage Final at Düsseldorf, Germany, 01-04 April 2004.
Both the winner of the Pacific League Final, Ricky Macmillan, and the runner-up Mary Hanna were unable to go to this important event, due to its timing and the impact this would have on their preparations for Athens.
Kristy Oatley Nist will be showing her Hanoverian gelding Don Bolero in the World Cup Finals. Don Bolero is by Donnerhall x Bolera and was purchased by Oatley Nist from Peter John Weston and the Kapell couple in January 2003.
Oatley-Nist, who is based in Germany, has had an outstanding career in dressage. First successful as a member of the German Junior and Young Rider teams, Kristy "declared" for Australia in the lead-up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In Sydney, Kristy's performance helped Australia achieve 6th place in the Team competition, while Kristy herself gained a 9th place in the Individual competition, the best-ever performances of Australian Dressage riders.
The Western European League will conclude with the results of the FEI World Cup qualifier at Indoor Brabant, ës-Hertogenbosch (March 25-28).
Due to the exceptional high level shown during the Western European league in this nineteenth season of the World Cup dressage, it has been decided that in addition to the best eight in the points standings, an additional three riders will be granted starting places in the Final. This will however, take into account the rule of a maximum of three riders per nation.
All national federations have been informed of this decision in order for them to prepare riders for possible starting places. The full list will be announced directly after the final qualifier at Indoor Brabant, which promises to be an edge- of- seat, thrilling finale to the qualifying season and an exciting precursor to the Final, which takes place in Duesseldorf from 1-4 April.
FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League
Standings after 6 of 7 competitions
1. Heike Kemmer GER 72
2. Hubertus Schmidt GER 64
3. Isabell Werth GER 58
4. Emma Hindle GBR and Anky van Grunsven NED
6. Sven Rothenberger NED 46
7. Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff GER 41
8. Edward Gal NED 39
9. Louise Nathhorst SWE 37
10. Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig-Lehn DEN 35
11. Gina Capellmann-Luetkemeier (GER) and Tinne Vilhelmsson (SWE) 29
13. Antoinette Falandt (NED) 27
14. Kyra Kyrklund (FIN) 25
Image copyrighted: Dirk Caremans - no reproduction allowed
Related Link
Eurodressage On the Scene at the 2004 World Cup Finals