Michael Whitaker

Michael Whitaker was born and raised in his parents’ farm in Yorkshire.He has a bigger brother John Whitaker. Their mother taught them how to ride in their farm. Michael soon started competing on ponies when he was seven years old. He became quickly a very experienced rider and started competing on big horses where he earned a reputation as a strong and determined rider. Michael Whitaker became the youngest ever winner of the famous Hickstead Derby when he was 20. In September 1993 Michael took over from his brother John as the world’s Number One for the first time in his career. Later in 1999 Michael was the highest placed British rider in the World Cup. He beat his own record in 2001. Michael Whitaker is one of the leading british showjumping riders of all time and he has competed in The Olympic games four times as well as 10 European Championships and 3 World Championships. He won many medals along the way. Michael Whitaker has also won many championships each year like the King Cup and the Hickstead Derby 4 times.

Alvaro de Miranda proves that winners are not born but made

Alvaro de Miranda from Brazil managed to achieve maximum points and get himself a place in the series Final with an amazing victory riding AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan in the sixth round of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League at Geneva, Switzerland on Dec. 11th 2011. The second round of the competition was breath-taking because of the constant changing lead in the competition with the time among the best 16 horses and riders. Alvaro de Miranda had the advantage to go last and be aware of the time he had to beat and together with a superb round combined with a little luck, the old rider of 38 and his 13 year old gelding succeded in winning the tournament.With that win Miranda sets himself on the 18th place in the world ranking list. Now the Brazilian hero is making his new game-plan for the rest of the indoor competitions rest from the season. His aim is to earn a spot at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 final in Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands which is going to be organised next April.

BEERBAUM's VICTORY IN STUTTGART

Ludger Beerbaum won a title for Germany yesterday 20th Nov 2011 in the fifth round of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League series on his home terrain at Stuttgart. Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 10-year-old mare, Gotha, was becoming stronger and stronger in the hands of the five-time champion of the Olympics for a ceratin period of time, and made an excellent jump-off round to win maximum points for the 48 year-old rider who won this title 18 years ago.
It was not an easy afternoon for the world’s top competitors and riders, with only six of the 39 beginning in the competition could pass the hard round track with 13 fences set by the designer Christa Jung. The German course designer made it hard for them from the first fence to the last and this difficulty is proven by the eight retirements during the course“It was not too technical but it was quite big - Christa did a good job,” says Beerbaum after the round. “There were mistakes at all the fences, except, I think, the first - it was selective".

Marcus Ehning

Marcus started riding when he was seven. He took riding lessons in the riding club of Borken. Marcus was very ambitious and as a result, he once received a special award although he had fallen off the horse three times. The pony “Narmit” brought Marcus safely to success. Marcus’ first adult horse was "Lord" and he made him the confident to compete. Marcus then rode “Metaxa,” who was very special to him but also for sale. When she was good for selling, Marcus lit a candle for her every night and was sitting often next to her in the stable. Marcus' father then didn't sell her.

Marcus won the Gold Medal in the European Championships in both 1990/91 with the pony "Starlight". With “Starlight” and “Queen” he triumphed in several medium level shows. He finally won the German Championships in 1991 with his third pony “Bright Ruby.”
With “Cygan” Marcus competed for the first time in high level competition. When he was sixteen, Marcus started riding adult horses. Marcus won the Gold Medal in the European Championships four times with these three horses. “Sandro Boy”, "Sabrina", "Vulkano", "Leconte" and "Plot Blue" belong to Marcus’ top level horses as well as “Nolte"s Küchengirl”. In his spare time, Marcus plays soccer and basketball.

AHLMANN CLAIMS ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP IN THRILLING FINALE

Christian Ahlmann from Germany won the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2010/2011 title in an amazing finale in Leipzig on first of
May 2011 with excellent jumping from his stallion, Taloubet Z. His compatriot Marco Kutscher finished second although Christian, the 36-year-old rider made just four faults and made a briliant jump-off performance and finish with less faults from the Olympic champion Eric Lamaze from Canada. The Netherlands' Jeroen Dubbeldam on the other hand climved up from 11th place to finish third and go to the hall of fame on the final. There was huge disappointment for Kutscher because his luck ran out at the very end. "Today's jumping was about scope, speed, courage, accuracy and, most importantly, the rideability of the horses." In the end Ahlmann's 11-year-old Taloubet Z presented all of those qualities to win the title.