The first important confirmations arrive for San Patrignano’s CSI 5*

Two months to go until the important show jumping competition dedicated to the memory of Vincenzo Muccioli.

Which this year is rightly proud of the title of the world’s best show-jumping event of 2010 The world’s best 2010 show jumping event. It is with this important award to its credit, assigned by “L’Année Hippique”, the world’s most prestigious equestrian publication, and by the International Jumping Riders Club, that San Patrignano’s CSI 5* presents its 15th edition, being held from 29th to 31st July and dedicated by the 1,500 boys and girls of the community to its founder, Vincenzo Muccioli. “It is a reward for the extraordinary commitment of the boys and girls of the community,” emphasizes the head of San Patrignano, Andrea Muccioli. “They’re the ones that, thanks to the relationship created between a person and a horse, find a way to stop using drugs, as my father realized many years ago.”

In line with the winning standards achieved by the event, the first confirmations have already arrived from riders. The participation of eight of the world’s top thirty riders is already certain, starting with Canada’s Eric Lamaze, at present second in world ratings, Sweden’s Rolf Goran Bengston (6th), Australian lady rider Edwina Alexander (10th), Germany’s Marco Kutcher (11th) and Meredith Beerbaum (19th) and Swiss rider Steve Guerdat (22nd), winner of the Top10 in Geneva, organized by the International Jumping Riders Club. As well as them, there will also be Ludger Beerbaum (27th), the only champion in the world to have won a gold medal in all most important competitions: Olympics, World Championship and European Championship. From Holland, there will be Gerco Schroeder and Jeroen Dubbeldam (17th), from Switzerland Cristina Liebherr, silver medallist at the San Patrignano European championships in 2005, and from the United States Richard Spooner who, with his Cristallo, promises to form one of the fastest combinations.

As at the previous editions, alongside the community’s youngsters there will be long-standing show director Eleonora Ottaviani Moroni and Emile Hendrix, the competition’s technical advisor since 2002, whereas the courses will be designed by Dutch course designer Louis Koninckx, as they were last year. “Our competition has reached maximum level and is one of the top international events,” stresses show director Ottaviani, “thanks to the support of important companies such as Rolex, which has renewed its
collaboration with the community and also shares the human and social objectives that are at the core of this competition, unique worldwide.”