Meredith Michaels Beerbaum Clinches the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals
04/24/2005
Las Vegas, NV—April 24, 2005—Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, riding for Germany won her first world Cup in a breathtaking final round during the 2005 Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michaels Beerbaum, aboard the 12 year old Hannoverian gelding Shutterfly, led the competition going into Sunday’s final round. The pair was had a single rail down in the first round. A clear second round kept the duo narrowly on top. Michaels Beerbaum, who originally hailed from California is married to 11 th place finisher, teammate Marcus Beerbaum. Michaels Beerbaum commented, “Shutterfly jumped brilliantly. This is my biggest win, and it was a wonderful pleasure to win in Las Vegas.”
Great Britian’s Michael Whitaker on Portofino finished in the second spot. “I am very happy. My horse had only one fence down in the whole horse show.” Third place was a tie between Germany’s Lars Nieberg on Lucie 55 and his teammate Marcus Ehning on Gitania 8.
The highest ranking American, Kimberly Frey brilliantly held the fifth spot with a clear second round on Marlou. Frey remarked, “We went to Europe to the Super League shows last year, and I believe that it pushed our performance to a whole new level.”
FEI Secretary General Bo Helander stated, “I am thrilled and enthusiastic about presenting the World Cup in Las Vegas.”
The FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, are being held simultaneously for the first time in history.
More than 100,000 tickets have been sold with tickets purchased by individuals in 13 countries and all 50 of the United States. Better than 96% of the ticket sales have been to people who live outside Nevada.
The FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final will be televised on NBC on Sunday, May 8 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, will be televised on Monday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. EDT on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).
The FEI World Cup Jumping Final, started in 1979, is an annual showdown among the world’s best jumping horses and riders. This year’s Final features 33 riders from 17 countries. In the 26 finals held through 2004, United States riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times. This marks the sixth FEI World Cup Jumping Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore in 1980, Tampa in 1989, Del Mar, CA in 1992 and the two in Las Vegas in 2000 and 2003.
First held in 1986, the Dressage World Cup Final has been held in the U.S. only once, in 1995 in Los Angeles. Germany and The Netherlands have dominated the competition, winning six titles each through 2004. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald of Hailey, Idaho and the magnificent mare, Brentina, emerged as champions. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of 2005 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city has emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. In its 21-year history, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 200 events, which have driven more than 2.5 million visitors to the area, resulting in an economic impact of more than $700 million.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. is grateful for the generous support of its many sponsors, such as Budweiser, the title sponsor of the Jumping Final, Offield Farms, the presenting sponsor of the Dressage Final, and Breyer Animal Creations, the sponsor of the Riders’ Lounge. Other sponsors include: Bally’s and Paris Hotels; Bellagio Las Vegas and The Mirage Las Vegas; Creel Printing; Coast Hotels & Resorts; Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes; D.K. Saddlery; Equifit; Equisearch.com, the Official Online Partner of the World Cup; Hermès of Paris; Lake Las Vegas Resort; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino; Merial Limited; Mikmar Bit Company; NBC Television; Platinum Performance; Practical Horseman; Schleese Saddlery Service; Sidelines; Style-Wise; Summit Dynamics; Triple Crown Custom, the Official Custom Blanket of the FEI World Cup Finals; the U.S. Dressage Federation; the U.S. Eventing Association and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Also signed on as “Friends” of the FEI World Cup Finals 2005 in Las Vegas are the American Warmblood Society, “Brentina: From Idaho to Athens, Presented by Rolex,” Cornerstone Hunters & Jumpers, Devon Wood Equestrian Centre, Diamond Legacy Breeding, DressageArenas.com, Dressage un Ltd, HorseDeals.US, HorsesDaily.com, Las Vegas Magazine, Nevada Equestrian Association, Royal Oaks Farm, Tish Quirk/Horses USA and Valley Horse News.
For more information on the 2005 FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals, please call Las Vegas Events, Inc. at (702) 260-8605 or visit the official website at www.worldcuplasvegas.com .
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