Launch of Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League in Miami….
Horsepower! Jessica Springsteen arrived in style for the launch of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping™ North American League at SPORTELAmerica in Miami (USA). (FEI/Mark Serota/AP)
The brand new Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League was launched in Miami (USA) today by three of the biggest names in the sport – Beezie Madden, the most decorated US female equestrian athlete of all time and currently the only woman in the top 10 of the Longines world rider rankings, American Gold Cup winner and FEI Solidarity Ambassador Jessica Springsteen, team and individual gold medallist at young rider level.
The trio, who all started riding almost as soon as they could walk, are already gearing up for the new league, which kicks off in August 2015 across seven East and seven West Coast venues in three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The North American League boasts a minimum of US $2.4 million prize money across the series, and offers the best Jumping athletes from North America and around the world the chance to qualify for the jackpot of more than US $1.4 million (€1.3 million) on offer annually at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final.
“Longines’ motto is ‘elegance is an attitude.’ It’s true of their core business but it also rings true for equestrian sport”, Beezie Madden said. “Our sport is about elegance and the harmony we achieve with our horses is essential to success. Longines is the perfect partner for equestrian sport.”
“We are part of an exceptional sport because we get to rely on a very special partner: the horse,” Jessica Springsteen said. “Our horses are so much more than an animal. They are hard-working talented athletes with their own personalities. It’s an awesome sport and I’m so excited to share my passion for it with you today.”
The 14 events* that will host legs of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping™ North American League were selected after a rigorous screening process from a long list of 25 applicants. Impressively, 11 of the events featured in the recently published North American Riders Group Top 25 rankings.
The Longines FEI World Cup Jumping™ North American League will be showcased on a broad range of global platforms, from live TV broadcasts to streaming on digital outlets and mobile, focusing on the drama of equestrian sport with fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary-style coverage.
“The Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League is a massive boost to our sport and will dominate the headlines in 2015,” FEI 1st Vice-President and Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee John Madden (USA) said. “The new league is a huge opportunity for our athletes to shine on a North American stage and showcase top-level equestrian sport to fans across North America and the world.
“This league is also ideally suited to wide-ranging global brands that want to reach out to North American and international audiences, drawing very clear affinities with their own visions and values alongside Longines.”
Source: FEI Communications
Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League calendar*
East Coast
August 2015
Bromont, QC (CAN) – International Bromont
September 2015
New York, North Salem (USA)
October 2015
Washington, DC (USA) – Washington International Horse Show
Lexington, KY (USA) – National Horse Show
November 2015
Toronto, ON (CAN) – Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
February 2016
Wellington, FL (USA)
Ocala, FL (USA) – Live Oak International
West Coast
August 2015
Langley, BC (CAN) – Thunderbird
September 2015
Rancho Murieta, CA (USA) – Sacramento International Horse Show
October 2015
Del Mar, CA (USA) – Del Mar International
Calgary, AB (CAN)
November 2015
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Las Vegas National
February 2016
Valle de Bravo (MEX)
Thermal, CA (USA) –HITS Thermal
Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League
- A total of 14 athletes from the new North American league will qualify for next year’s prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will take place in Gothenburg (SWE) on 23-28 March 2016.
- The top seven athletes from the East Coast US, top three from West Coast US, and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for next year’s Final, alongside winners of 15 leagues around the world.