FEI Delegation's Visito to Athens Greece

Source :  FEI

Western European League of the FEI World Cup started with three Scandinavian events.

The 2002 / 2003 season of the Western European League of the FEI World Cup Jumping started on 13 October 2002 in Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena. Toni Hassmann on Goldika, already the winner in Helsinki last year, beat 37 other competitors to take the early lead in the point standings. In the 13 rider jump-off Hassmann and his 10 year old Holstein mare beat Thomas Velin on Equest Carnute and Norman dello Joio on Glasgow. The young Austrian Tatiana Freytag, who had made a disappointing debut with Pialotta in Friday’s qualifier, finished 4th on her WEG horse Time Kiss.

15 events are on the calendar for the Western European League in the season 2002 / 2003. After Helskinki the series continues in Oslo (NOR) (20 October), Aarhus (DEN) (26 October), Verona (ITA) (10 November), Berlin (GER) (17 November), Geneva (SUI) (15 December), London (GBR) 21 December and Mechelen (BEL) (29 December). Seven more event follows in the spring: Leipzig (GER), Bordeaux (FRA), Vigo (ESP), Paris (FRA), Dortmund (GER), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) and Göteborg (SWE). The Final, the 25th since 1979, is scheduled for 16 - 20 April 2003 in Las Vegas.

After four years with a World Cup starting field of 18 on Saturday, the new season will have maximum 38 starters in each World Cup competition. Maximum 33 riders, based on an elaborate invitation scheme, are pre-qualified. All the other riders at the event must qualify for the World Cup in a Friday qualifying competition, which also serves to establish the starting order for the World Cup.

The top 18 riders in the final standings of the Western European League qualify for the Final in Las Vegas in April 2003. The defending World Cup Champion, Otto Becker is automatically qualified.