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Champions Return to San Patrignano

May 22, 2008

San Patrignano --- The world’s greatest riders return to San Patrignano for the 12th edition of the CSI5* “Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge” – the only such competition entirely organized and hosted by a therapeutic community, in this case Europe’s largest.

On July 18-20, many of the FEI’s top ranked riders, such as Ludger Beerbaum, Marco Kutscher, Markus Ehning and Jeroen Dubbledam, will partake in three exciting days of competition, culminating in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Three hundred and fifty thousand Euro in prize money are on offer, 200 of which will be awarded on the final night of competition.

Past winners of the Grand Prix at San Patrignano include Jos Lansink (1997), French rider Alexandra Ledermann (1999), Holland’s Emile Hendrix (2001), current technical advisor for the show John Whitaker (2006), German riders Otto Becker (2005) and Christian Ahlmann (2007), as well as Italians Juan Carlo Garcia (2002), Vincenzo Chimirri (2004) and the late Guido Dominici (1998).

As in past years, 2007 Italian champ Jerry Smit - for the past four years rider of horses born and raised at San Patrignano - will be at the starting gates. Jerry will compete with grey stallion Nadir and bay mare Poiana. As always, Jerry is sure to get an enthusiastic welcome and raucous applause from the young people of the Community.

The 2008 CSI has one important new feature: a symposium dedicated to the most important people behind the scenes of the world’s equestrian competitions, the course designers. What’s the best way to plan a course? How difficult is too difficult? What’s the best speed for a jump off? How to assure horse and rider safety? All the elements essential to building a winning show will be examined during the symposium.

The great expertise of the “Aachen School of Course Design” director Arno Grego, will be on hand to unveil the art of creating a beautiful and challenging course. Thirty “Chef de Piste” as well as judges and riders from Italy and abroad will gather to learn from some of the world’s best: Aachen’s Show Director Franl Kempermann and Olaf Petersen (who for many years designed San Patrignano’s courses as well as Olympic Games and World Championships).

“Organizing a show is like conducting an orchestra”, explains Eleonora Ottaviani, San Patrignano’s own Show Director. “The course designer is like a composer who writes the score. A great course is an essential component of a well run show”.

This year’s CSI5* will have a “score” by Rolf Lüdi and Heiner Fischer for the second year in a row. The team also designed the courses for Geneva’s “Top Ten” as well as the World Cup final in Goteborg, Sweden. According to many riders and trainers present at San Patrignano’s 2007 competition, their course was among the best in show history.

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