6th World University Equestrian Championship
Tokyo, Japan - December 2nd to 5th, 2004
Irish Domination
"Although it’s a student competition the athletes approach their sport very serious. They are here to compete and they want to win a medal." Mary Seefield, FIE Dressage Judge
The 6th World University Equestrian Championship took place in Tokyo, Japan from December 2nd to 5th, 2004. It was the first time in FISU history that the WUC Equestrian was organized outside Europe. The venue for the event was the JRA Bajikoen (Equestrian Park of Japan Racing Association) in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. Bajikoen is the venue that was used for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and has been used for many equestrian competitions ever since. The indoor arena that was used for the WUC measures 95 x 42 m, making it the largest indoor arena in Japan.
FIE Chairwoman of the Dressage Committee Mariette Withages (BEL)
Distinguished Judges
Excellent Championship!’, said dressage judge Mrs. Mariette Withages (BEL). And she is the person to know. She is the Chairwoman of the FIE Dressage Committee and was the President of the Dressage Commission at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. ‘It’s is the first time that we had such prominent international judges at a WUEC’, Sven van Damme, President of the 2002 WUEC said. ‘Many international championship organizers will envy us.’ This shows the importance FIE gives to the FISU championship.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi
VIP Guests
The championship was honoured by the presence of Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi. Other VIP’s attending the ceremonies were Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Saburo Matsushita, President of the Japanese University Sports Board and Atsushi Ogawa, President of the Japanese University Equestrian Federation.
Culture
Besides a strong and well organized competition the participants were invited to a genuine Japanese tea ceremony, an important part of Japanese tradition.
Irish Domination
The semi-finals and finals of the dressage and show jumping competitions were dominated by the Irish riders who all together amassed seven medals. Gerald Bloomer (IRL) won the dressage competition leaving the silver medal to Martin Hauptmann (AUT). Joëlle Wegner (LUX), who won the gold at the 5th WUC Equestrian in Mechelen, Belgium, had to settle for the bronze.
Mrs. Mary Seefried (AUS), FIE Dressage judge commented: "The judges were all impressed by the level of the riders and of course the competition here is rider against rider, which depended also on the quality of the horses, but I think the OC did a marvellous job providing experienced horses. In a FIE competition you would judge the combination horse and rider, but here we had to judge the riders and their skills to master horses they do not know, which is a really big challenge to them. Although it’s a student competition the athletes approach their sport very serious. They are here to compete and they want to win a medal".
The 'Drinking Ceremony'
The afternoon of the finals started with a moment of leisure when the traditional ‘Friendship Competition’ was held. Mixed teams of riders from different countries participated in a show jumping competition in a friendly atmosphere and wildly cheered by their team mates. After the competition they were awarded with a plate by the President of the Asian Equestrian Federation Mr. Douk Kee Ahn (KOR). After changing the obstacle course, the semi-finals and finals of the show jumping competition started. The semi-finals ended with an amazing feat as Lee Murphy and Andrew Bourns, two Irishmen, would compete against each other for the gold medal. Before starting the last stretch in their competition, both riders performed the ‘Drinking Ceremony’, a custom among riders. This time, according to Japanese tradition they both had to finish a bowl of sake.
In the actual final it was Lee Murphy who prevailed and won the gold medal, leaving the silver to his team mate Andrew Bourns. The bronze medal went to Shingo Hayashi from Japan. The medal ceremony was followed by the Closing Ceremony. The FISU flag passed hands from the Japanese OC to Mr. Campana, FISU Secretary-General, who passed it on the representative of the next OC. The 7th edition of the WUC Equestrian will take place in La Rochelle, France.
A big 'thank you' to the volunteers!
Organizing Committee
Japan University Equestrian Federation Baji Chikusan Kaikan 1-2 kandasurugadai, Chiyodaku TOKYO 101-0062 phone: (81.3)3297-5611 fax: (81.3)3297-5617 E-mail: info@juef.jp URL: www.juef.jp
Medals
Medallists Dressage
Dressage 1. Gerald Bloomer (IRL) 2. Martin Hauptman (AUT) 3. Joelle Wenger (LUX)
Medallists Show Jumping Competition
Show Jumping 1. Lee Murphy (IRL) 2. Andrew Bourns (IRL) 3. Shingo Hayashi (JPN)
Medallists of the Combined Competition
Combined 1. Natalie McGoldrick (GBR) 2. Lee Murphy (IRL) 3. SHingo Hayashi (JPN)
Medallists team Competition
Team Ranking 1. JPN - 30.542 Points Yuki Usami, Kazuma Tomoto, Shingo Hayashi 2. NOR - 38.208 Points Annicken Jegersberg, Camilla Broch-Pedersen, Susanne Nielsen 3. IRL - 40.708 Points Lee Murphy , Andrew Bourns , Gerald Bloomer
Complete Results
You can download the complete results by clicking on the hyperlinks below.
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 1Round Dressage
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 2Round Dressage
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 1Round Show Jumping
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 2Round Show Jumping
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 3Round Dressage
Results 2004 WUC Equestrian 3Round Show Jumping
