08.30.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:15 am by Thomas
The first World Equestrian Games were held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990 from July 24th to August 5th. There were 13 competions in the 6 disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Vaulting. 37 Nations competed, West Germany was 1st in the medal count with 12 total, the U.S. finished 6th with 3 total (1 Gold, 3 Bronze).
“1990 FEI World Equestrian Games.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 Jun 2009, 20:56 UTC. 23 Jun 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1990_FEI_World_Equestrian_Games&oldid=298200901>.
Permalink
08.29.09
Posted in Trivia, World Equestrian Games at 11:42 pm by Thomas
Rome, Italy
Aachen, Germany
Normandy, France
Lexington, Kentucky
Stockholm, Sweden
London, England
Stay tuned for the answer! KyWEGO
Permalink
08.27.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Parking, University of Kentucky at 5:57 am by Thomas
The World Games 2010 Foundation today announced the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus as a satellite parking location for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Shuttle transportation services will be provided to spectators at official 2010 Games satellite parking lots directly to the Kentucky Horse Park. Coldstream Research Campus is located five miles from the Kentucky Horse Park, and can hold 8,400 vehicles, providing a safe and efficient shuttle transport system to and from the grounds of the Games.
“We are very excited to be a part of the World Equestrian Games and work with the foundation staff to provide a major park and ride site for all of the visitors who will attend the Games,” said Tina Carpenter, UK Coldstream Research Campus executive director.
“The Coldstream Research Campus site provides an ideal location for satellite parking during the 2010 Games,” said Jamie Link, Foundation CEO. “The site will allow spectators to park as closely as possible to the Kentucky Horse Park, with easy and friendly transportation services to the Games.”
In addition to the primary parking location at Coldstream Research Campus, the World Games 2010 Foundation will be offering a limited number of premium spaces on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds for purchase online. More information about purchasing on-site parking will be available when tickets go on sale September 25, 2009.
More detailed information on parking and transportation systems for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be available in the spring of 2010.
About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Her Royal Highness Princess Haya is the current president of the FEI. The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.
The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc. and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.
About the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus
Business and research connect at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus, a premier location at the intersection of I-75/I-64 and just minutes from the University of Kentucky. Partnerships with UK feature strong R&D programs in ag biotech, equine research, biofuels and pharmaceutical development. Once a prominent Bluegrass horse farm, Coldstream is now the business home for more than 1,000 employees and 55 biotech, pharmaceutical and equine companies, IBM, HP, Embassy Suites Hotel and others. Contact: Coldstream@uky.edu, www.UKColdstream.com, 859.231.TECH (8324).
Permalink
08.12.09
Posted in 2010 Games at 9:53 pm by Thomas
Tickets for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games go on sale September 25, 2009. All ticket sales will be facilitated online at www.alltechfeigames.com. With eight world championships to be contested, more sessions of competition than ever before, and tickets prices as low as $25, there is something for everyone.
Permalink
Posted in 2010 Games at 9:49 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, KY— The World Games 2010 Foundation today announced that Kentucky-based Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment is now the Official Provider of Equine and Livestock Management Equipment of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
The World Games 2010 Foundation and Tarter will work together to meet many equipment needs for the 2010 Games, including exclusive use of certain products in the Driving and Endurance competitions, as well as other products being used throughout the Kentucky Horse Park.
For 64 years, the Tarter family has manufactured quality products that are built, used and trusted by professional farmers, hobby farmers, and equine enthusiasts throughout the country. As the nation’s largest manufacturer of animal management and feeding equipment, Tarter produces more than 600 products in over 1,000,000 square feet of production facilities in their Kentucky and Utah manufacturing facilities.
In addition to their equine equipment, they also have a full line of cattle equipment, goat and small animal management equipment, ATV equipment, 3-point equipment, and have become the one-stop shopping source for farm and ranch destinations throughout the country. They also are a large provider of OEM equipment for many companies throughout the country. Their branded products are carried in the nation’s best-known farm and ranch stores throughout the United States and Canada.
“The Kentucky Horse Park and the entire equine industry is being highlighted and augmented by the first ever World Equestrian Games being held in the United States,” said Josh Tarter, vice president of manufacturing for Tarter. “This is a special opportunity to show everyone why Kentucky truly is the horse capital of the world. Being a part of this great endeavor is a perfect fit for an equine equipment provider that is so close to the Games venue. We are excited to be a part of this event.”
“We are extremely excited to announce this partnership with Tarter,” said Terry Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Foundation. “Not only is Tarter a quality family-owned business, they are Kentucky-based, which makes this partnership all the more special for our event.”
Tarter joins the title sponsor Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International and a host of others as official sponsors of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. For more information on Tarter, visit their website at
www.tartergate.com.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Her Royal Highness Princess Haya is the current president of the FEI. The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.
The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.
Permalink
08.02.09
Posted in Disciplines, Vaulting at 8:13 pm by Thomas
Lexington, Ky., Aug. 2 – The Mt. Eden Vaulters, of Saratoga, Calif., finished the Kentucky Cup Vaulting on Sunday they way they started it on Thursday-by sweeping the first-placed awards. Megan Benjamin won the women’s division of the CVI2*, Kenny Geisler won the men’s division of the CVI2*, and the Mt. Eden Sun Team won the team division of the CVI2*.
The Kentucky Cup is the vaulting test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, on Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010. The World Championships for vaulting and reining will be held in the brand-new, 5,600-seat indoor arena used this weekend.
Benjamin, 21, of Saratoga, Calif., earned her division’s top scores in all but the first of the four phases and climaxed the Kentucky Cup in today’s freestyle with the competition’s highest score (8.127). Her overall score of 7.974 put her ahead of Mt. Eden teammate Mary McCormick (7.823) and Annalise van Vranken (7.562).
Benjamin won the individual gold medal at the 2006 World Championships, and she thought she’d left vaulting to pursue her studies at Cornell University (N.Y.). “I was kind of vaulting-obsessed earlier in my life, and my goal was to win the gold in 2010. But I did it four years early, and I wasn’t sure what to do. So I decided to go on, to go to school and do other things,” said Benjamin.
But her Mt. Eden teammates begged her to return, and now, after her victory here, she’s looking ahead to the 2010 WEG at the Kentucky Horse Park. “I’ve made the decision that if I can make the studying and the training work, I’d like to do it. Vaulting really is my sport,” she said.
McCormick, 26, of Woodside, Calif., was the only other vaulter to achieve an average score of 8 or more today (8.033). She didn’t use the same music that she used on Friday. For the Friday freestyle, she said she used a light and free-flowing instrumental called “Better In Time.” She chose a rather different musical genre today.
“I’m originally from Nashville, and my father works in the country music business, so I wanted to go back to my roots and honor the fact that we’re in the South and in Kentucky,” so she used a country song by Jason Aldean.
And she finished with a perfect back flip dismount, the result, she said, of her experience as a high school cheerleader.
Van Vranken, 27, of Mays Landing, N.J., wished her performance had been mistake-free, but she fell out of one handstand had a couple more slips to score 7.562. “It wasn’t quite as clean as I’d hoped, so I was a little upset,” said van Vranken, a member of Shooting Star Vaulters.
Geisler, 28, of Sunnyvale, Calif., won all four phases of the men’s competition to finish .525 points ahead of second-placed Mikkel Vandrup of Denmark. Geisler’s balletic freestyle was nearly flawless as he demonstrated strength and control.
“I had a great performance, and I couldn’t have done it without Hudson,” said Geisler.
Geisler’s regular mount was unable to compete, so he shared Hudson with third-placed Kristian Roberts, 16, of Moss Beach, Calif. Roberts is from the Pacific Coast Vaulters, owners of Hudson.
Vandrup, 23, improved his freestyle score by .347 points to overtake Roberts and finish second. “I was a little bit frustrated with my results on Friday, so I tried to keep it simple and remember to breathe while I was on the horse, because sometimes I forget to do that,” he said.
This time Vandrup also stayed on his feet while performing a forward aerial cartwheel over the longe line to land next to the horse’s head. On Friday, he fell forward on landing and did a somersault across the ground. “I was happy that I landed the dismount this time,” he said.
Geisler also played a key role in the Mt. Eden Sun Team’s victory over the Woodside Vaulters, reversing the standing’s from Saturday’s one-star team competition. In the two-star team division, Mt. Eden scored 6.512 to Woodside’s 6.154.
Geisler was the team’s alternate and stood on the sidelines as his teammates nipped Woodside on Friday. But during that performance, team member Ali Thrasher suffered a minor injury, so Geisler’s teammates spent Saturday fashioning a matching outfit for him. Geisler then played a key role as the base for several of their three-person poses, featuring flier Tasha Thorner.
The Mt. Eden Sun Team also included Geisler’s fiancée Kalyn Noan. They’re due to be married on Aug. 22.
The other Mt. Eden Sun Team members are: Lizzie Ioannou, Heidi Rothweiler and Makayia Clyne. Jessica Ballenger is the coach, and Jodi Rinhard longed Sampson. They were also the American Vaulting Association 2009 A team national champions.
The Woodside team members are: Patrick Stevens, Katherine Wick, Alyssa Bonora, Yvonne Greenen, Kathryn Jaggers, Janie Salsbury and Gabe Aniello. Their coach is Krista Mack, and Erik Martonovich longed Badger.
Cassidy Palmer, 16, of Half Moon Bay, Calif., and Marissa Hamar, 20, of Visalia, Calif., were the winners of the CVI2* pas de deux. Although they live several hours apart, they still put together an enjoyable performance to the Beach Boys’ classic song “Surfin’ USA.”
More than 2,200 people attended the Kentucky Cup Vaulting or watched the online streaming video. More than 300 volunteers helped the staff produce this competition, the second of seven test events planned to prepare for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
“This facility certainly has a very international feel, and we’re looking forward to 2010,” said Geisler. “We couldn’t ask for more to be fully prepared for next year.”
To see photos of the Kentucky Cup Vaulting, go to http://www.americanvaulting.org/kvc/pr/media.htm.
Permalink
Posted in Disciplines, Vaulting at 8:27 am by Thomas
Lexington, Ky., Aug. 1 – Rachel Bublitz, of Golden, Colo., emphatically won the CV1* women’s division at the Kentucky Cup Vaulting this afternoon, earning the top scores in both the morning’s compulsory round (7.073) and in the afternoon’s freestyle round (6.819).
Bublitz’ overall score of 6.895 kept Kyra McCarty of San Mateo, Calif., in second (6.573) and Kathryn Jaggers, of Portola Valley, Calif., in third (6.508).
Bublitz, 16, of the Golden Gate Vaulters, presented a strong but elegant performance, with some daring movements that outweighed a slight mistake on one pose and her horse, Oliver, breaking to the trot for several strides. She used music by Doris Day for her freestyle.
“I wasn’t sure I’d won by the time I finished, because of those bobbles,” admitted Bublitz.
Josef Martonovich, her longer, said that Bublitz’ personality overcame the minor mistakes. “It was her experience and her cool head that won. It was my mistake that the horse broke to the trot, but she just stayed quiet to let him canter again,” said Martonovich.
He also thought Bublitz performed a more difficult test than most of her competitors, meaning she earned high marks for degree of difficulty. “She’s pushing the edge, and I think that balances it out if there are little mistakes,” he added.
McCarty, 17, vaulted with Vermeer, a relatively new horse on the Mt. Eden Vaulting Team, longed by Jessica Ballenger. Her performance was bold and assured and earned the second-highest freestyle score (6.504). McCarty also earned the second-highest score in today’s compulsory round (6.947).
She said she chose a slow piece of classical music for her freestyle because “it gives me a chance to present myself well, and this time every single move worked. It was the best it’s been all year, so I didn’t really care about the score or the placing because of that.”
Jaggers, 15, a member of the Woodside Vaulters, used an instrumental version of the Rolling Stones classic “Brown Sugar.” Her mount was Pepper Jack, longed by Jennifer Arntsen. Pepper Jack also carried Yvonne Greenen to fourth place and Grace Koz to fifth place.
“I’d used Latin and other types of music before, and this year I decided to try something new, and it was really fun,” said Jaggers.
Joey Gadd, of the Mt. Eden Vaulters, easily held on to the lead he grabbed in the first round of compulsories, decisively winning the men’s one-star freestyle (5.893) to coast to the overall victory (5.843) over Shawn Ricci (5.524) and Clay Thomas (5.318).
To the heavy drumbeats from the theme of the movie “Waterworld,” Gadd, of Saratoga, Calif., turned in a dramatic and mistake-free performance.
“It’s strong music, and I think my horse, Lanson, and I work well with it,” he said.
Gadd, 14, added, “I’m going to go home to California and tell a lot of people how great the Kentucky Horse Park is and tell them to come watch the vaulting at the WEG next year.”
For the two one-star teams, this afternoon’s second and final freestyle was absolutely decisive. The seven-member teams, both from the San Francisco Bay Area, had traded the lead through the two previous rounds, with Mt. Eden winning the compulsory round and Woodside taking the lead after the first freestyle. This afternoon Woodside edged the Mt. Eden Eclipse by .2, leaving them just .013 points ahead in the final calculations.
The Mt. Eden Eclipse team-containing two girls in the top 10 of the one-star individual standings and the leader of the two-star individual competition-showed more sophisticated choreography and musical interpretation. Woodside relied largely on the daring poses of their two 11-year-old fliers (Tessa Divita and Siddhartha Kreaden) to soar high above the ground, and two of the three judges preferred their verve and excitement.
Grace Koz used to be one of the team’s fliers, but now she’s the base for Kreaden. She said that lifting Kreaden over her head is her favorite part of the routine. Kreaden agreed.
“It’s really fun, and I trust Grace a lot,” she said. “I’m going to go home with a smile on my face and remember all the good times we had on our team.”
The other Woodside team members are: Julia Plungy, Katrina Nibbi, Sarah Dunn and Christine Hermann.
The Mt. Eden Eclipse team members are: Megan Benjamin, Kyra McCarty, Laura Yelavich, Merina Rainville, Adna Revell, Stacey Burnett, Steffi Schade and Cate Thomas.
Anna Thomas, of Richmond, Va., and Elizabeth Brigham, of Potomac, Md., won the National Pas de Deux Competition today. They’ve been working together for abut three years and also won the American Vaulting Association national championship last month.
The CVI2* continued today with the technical program, in which vaulters must perform five specified moves within one minute, but they can perform them in any order and add additional moves to enhance their programs.
The two round 1 leaders-Megan Benjamin (7.927) and Kenny Geisler (7.046)-increased their leads with assured and nearly flawless performances.
Mary McCormick (7.753) and Anna Van Vranken (7.498) are trailing Benjamin. Kristian Roberts (6.406) and Mikkel Vandrup (6.405) are trailing Geisler.
The CVI2* competition climaxes on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m.
To see photos of the Kentucky Cup Vaulting, go to http://www.americanvaulting.org/kvc/pr/media.htm.
Permalink
08.01.09
Posted in Danville, Kentucky at 9:33 pm by Thomas
It has been made official, Danville, Kentucky and Carrickfergus, Nothern Ireland are now twins. What this means simply is that the two(2) cities will work hard to build connections between the two in all possible ways. These kind of relationships will benefit from the Games and create another channel for people in Europe to learn about our Wonderful Commonwealth and we look forward to hosting people from Carrickfergus during the Games.
Danville Advocate Messenger Story
More info on Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Thomas Demond
Founder KyWEGO®
Permalink
AbitaNet Corporation