THE ITALIANS
WILL RIDE FIRST!
thursday 6 may 2004 - 17:30
A much-awaited moment is the drawing of lots
for the starting order for the Samsung Nations’ Cup Super
League (Friday, starting at 3:00 p.m.) in the presence of team managers
representing eight nations: Tomy Wade (Ireland); Dereck Ricketts
(Great Britain) Marco Danese (Italy); Lucien Somers (Belgium), Mark
Leone (the United States), Kurt Gravemeier (Germany), Bert Romp
(Netherlands) and Jean-Maurice Bonneau (France).
«The luck of the draw for this heavy moral task fell jointly
to Rene Pasquier (President of the Official of France) and Michael
Stone (Technical Director of the FEI).
The starting order for the Samsung Nations’ Cup Super League:
1 - Italy
2 - Great Britain
3 - Netherlands
4 - Belgium
5 - France
6 - Germany
7 - Ireland
8 – United States
Taking pole position is inevitably no advantage, but it’s
the law of fate and sport.
Not to be disillusioned, Marco Danese, Italy’s team manager
said: “I do not take this as a huge handicap. My riders
are experienced. It doesn’t change anything much because
it will be necessary, in any event, to be without faults.”
Samsung Nations’ Cup Super League: Friday, 7 May
• Start of the first round – 3:00 p.m.
• Start of the second round – 4:45 p.m.