Omaha Omaha, Nebraska – April 03, 2023 – Definite entries have been finalized for the 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha CSI 5*-W, taking place from April 4-8, 2023, at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. The annual indoor championships will feature the world’s best athletes in Jumping, Dressage, and Vaulting competing in front of more than 15,000 fans of equestrian sport.
Jumping riders from around the globe have qualified for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final with top results throughout the 2022-2023 season. Headlining the final line-up of Jumping stars is the number-one ranked rider in the world, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), and his Olympic and World Championship gold medal mount, King Edward. Von Eckermann will try to improve upon his last trip to Omaha for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in 2017, where he claimed the bronze medal.
Other European contenders include 2014 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final champion Daniel Deusser (GER), riding Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, 2006 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final champion Marcus Ehning (GER) with Priam du Roset, as well as defending champion, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, this time aboard Leone Jei.
The United States will be well represented in Omaha. Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final Omaha 2017 champion McLain Ward (USA) will try to duplicate his success, this time riding Callas. Joining him in representing the stars and stripes is a mix of rising stars and experienced veterans. Simonne Berg (USA) riding Cooper, Elisa Broz (USA) with Kardenta van’t Meerhof, Ailish Cunniffe (USA) riding Vivaldi du Theil, Natalie Dean (USA) aboard Acota M, and Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) with Cornet’s Cambridge are all making their FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final debuts. Rounding out the U.S. contingent is Hunter Holloway (USA) with Pepita Con Spita in their second Final appearance together, Devin Ryan (USA) and Eddie Blue, who finished second in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Final Paris 2018, and Aaron Vale (USA), who is riding for the second time in Longines FEI World Cup™ Final competition with Prescott.
The training session for Jumping competitors takes place on Tuesday, April 4, followed by the opening round on Wednesday, April 5. Round 2 will be held on Thursday, April 6, with the Final closing out competition on Saturday, April 8.
Source: Press Release from Jump Media (edited) for Omaha Equestrian Foundation
Photos: © FEI
Categories: Jumper News USA, Preview
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