DressageDaily: Judges Named for the 2005 World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas

Sunday February 27, 2005

Judges Named for the 2005 World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas

Uwe Mechlem The official panel of judges that will be judging the 2005 World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas, United States, has been named. FEI Dressage Committee Chairwoman Mariette Withages announced the names to Eurodressage.com.

German international judge Uwe Mechlem will be head of the jury, and he will be assisted by Stephen Clarke (GBR), Hanne Valentin (DEN), Jean Michel Roudier (FRA), Ghislaine Fourage (NED), Axel Steiner (USA) and Mariette Withages (BEL).

The FEI World Cup Dressage Final will come to the United States in 2005 for only the second time when it joins the Jumping Final in an unprecedented co-hosting of two of the world’s most prestigious and glamorous equine events.

First held in 1986, the FEI World Cup Dressage Final was previously held in the U.S. 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, ID, and the magnificent mare, Brentina, owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas, emerged as champions. The Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the FEI World Cup Finals, was named for Parry Thomas.

Source: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage.com