The Ground Juries for Dressage at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final 2012 have been announced following blind draws at the FEI’s headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) today (23 September).
Leif Törnblad (DEN), Maribel Alonso (MEX), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA), Gary Rockwell (USA), Wim Ernes (NED) and Evi Eisenhardt (GER) will form the Dressage Ground Jury at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Stephen Clarke, who as a host country judge was already appointed President of the Ground Jury.
The Ground Jury for Paralympic Equestrian at the London 2012 Paralympics has been confirmed: Lilian Iannone (ARG), Freddy Leyman (BEL), Anne Prain (FRA), Gudrun Hofinga (GER), Sarah Rodger (GBR) and Carlos Lopes (POR) will join President of the Ground Jury Kjell Myhre (NOR).
The Ground Jury for the World Cup™ Final 2012 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) 18-22 April 2012 will also be seven-strong: Ghislain Fouarge (NED) will serve as President of the Ground Jury with Stephen Clarke (GBR), Gary Rockwell (USA), Katrina Wüst (GER), Isabelle Judet (FRA), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS) and Leif Törnblad (DEN).
Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, explained:
“The international judges representing the Ground Juries for London 2012 and the World Cup™ Final 2012 are extremely happy about their appointments. The FEI will be marking 100 years of equestrian sport in the Olympic movement at London 2012, and the stunning location of Greenwich Park means that we will be at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The World Cup™ 2011/2012 series will see riders from four different leagues aiming to qualify for the Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch next April and we expect to see brilliant performances as always at the finale of the indoor season.”
London 2012 longs lists & draw process
The FEI’s Dressage Committee proposed a long list of judges for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games according to FEI rules, which state that there can be up to 12 5* judges, a maximum of two per country and from a minimum of eight countries.
There can only be one judge per nation and a total of seven judges on the Ground Juries for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so the first names to be drawn - providing there is not more than one from any nation - are appointed to the Ground Jury.
The blind draw took place at FEI headquarters overseen by the FEI's legal team.
A total of 11 5* judges from eight nations were on the long list for the London 2012 Olympic Games, including Stephen Clarke who as a host country judge has already been appointed as President of the Ground Jury.
Ten judges from the long list were therefore included in the blind draw: Ghislain Fouarge (NED); Katrina Wüst (GER); Leif Törnblad (DEN); Mary Seefried (AUS); Maribel Alonso (MEX); Isabelle Judet (FRA); Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA); Gary Rockwell (USA); Wim Ernes (NED); Evi Eisenhardt (GER).
Nine judges were on the long list for the London 2012 Paralympic Games: Lilian Iannone (ARG); Anne Prain (FRA); Freddy Leyman (BEL); Gudrun Hofinga (GER); Tarja Huttunen (FIN); Inga Holdt-Mencke (GER); Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA); Sarah Rodger (GBR); Carlos Lopes (POR).
London 2012 - Dressage Chief Stewards & Technical Delegates
Jacques Van Daele (BEL) will take on the role of Chief Steward and Wojtek Markowski (POL) is Foreign Technical Delegate at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Chris Porterfield (GBR) is Chief Steward and Hanneke Gerritsen (NED) is Technical Delegate at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
World Cup™ 2011/2012 long list & draw
The same rules apply for the long list and draw process.
There were 12 5* judges on the long list: Dietrich Plewa (GER); Isabelle Judet (FRA); Stephen Clarke (GBR); Ghislain Fouarge (NED); Gary Rockwell (USA); Susanne Baarup (DEN); Andrew Gardner (GBR); Leif Törnblad (DEN); Katrina Wüst (GER); Wojtek Markowski (POL); Francis Verbeek (NED); Susan Hoevenaars (AUS). Jacques van Daele (BEL) is Foreign Technical Delegate at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final 2012.
Related Links
Stephen Clarke Appointed President of Ground Jury for 2012 Olympic Games
London 2012 Dressage Judges' Long List Announced