Belgian Grand Prix champion Larissa Pauluis has received a ticket to the 2024 World Cup Finals in Riyad (KSA) in April.
Starters' List Reshuffled
As some riders have chosen not to travel to Saudi Arabia for this high profile event, which the biggest purse ever for a World Cup Finals, the starters' list has been reshuffled a bit.
The allocation of the extra starting places initially go according to the ranking list of each league, but for some spots the FEI allocates thel to the athlete/horse combination(s) with the highest ranking (as a combination) on the February of the current year FEI Dressage World Ranking List (WDRL), and who have participated in at least two (2) CDI-W qualifiers.
Eurodressage believes Pauluis has obtained that spot through this rule as other riders have declined to go
Two Belgians in Riyadh
It will be a historic moment for Belgium with two riders representing the country at the World Cup Finals.
Flore de Winne got her spot as Emmelie Scholtens declined, and now Larissa Pauluis has received her according to the WDRL on which she is ranked 20th. Riders ranked above her who could have gone were Pauline Basquin (who wants to compete at the CDI 5* Fontainebleau) and Thamar Zweistra, who declined too.
“Because of the cancellations that happened in the top 8, especially because of the Olympic Games, there was hope among me and my team that something could happen, and look, it worked," Larissa stated. "I didn't hesitate for a moment to confirm my participation, the World Cup Final is very high on my bucket list and I am euphoric that I will soon be able to tick it off. I will go to Riyadh with First-Step Valentin. It will be his very first plane trip, but I am sure everything will go smoothly. He is very intelligent and level-headed.”
Also Charlotte Defalque (BEL) got invited to Riyadh - she is ranked 23rd on the WDRL - but she declined. This means another spot is available.
Provisional Entry List
Eurodressage has tried to compile the provisional entry list for Riyadh. This is NOT CONFIRMED by the FEI by made according to our data and information
Western European League - 9
- Isabell Werth - Emilio
- Charlotte Fry - Everdale
- Patrik Kittel - Touchdown
- Matthias Rath - Destacado
- Nanna Skodborg Merrald - Blue Hors Don Olymbrio
- Morgan Barbancon - Sir Donnerhall II
- Raphael Netz - Great Escape Camelot
- Borja Carrascosa - Sir Hubert
- Flore de Winne - Flynn (replacing for Emmelie Scholtens/Indian Rock)
Central European League 2
- Alisa Glinka (she reported to be pregnant, unsure if she's going - if not her spot will be reallocated, next in line would be Grete Ayache or Rotem Ibrahimzadeh)
- Justina Vanagaite - Nabab
Pacific League 1
- Melissa Galloway - Windermere J'Obei W
North American League 3
- Benjamin Ebeling - Indeed
- Anna Marek - Fayvel
- Kevin Kohmann - Dunensee
Non-League NFs 1
- ???
Title-Defender 1
- Larissa Pauluis - First Step Valentin (as Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is not going this became an FEI Extra Starting Place)
FEI extra starting place 1
- ???
The definite entry list will be known on 28 March 2024
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2024 World Cup Finals