Eyes on the 2016 edition of the International Show Jumping Competition (CSIO), now in its 84th edition, held in Piazza di Siena and which will open its doors on May 25th. At the presentation press conference held yesterday in Rome, at the Ara Pacis, in the presence of Prefect Tronca, the names of the riders who will take part in the prestigious competition were announced.
For them, the Gotha of world equestrianism, the competition in Piazza di Siena this year represents a good visiting card in view of the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics which will be held in August. Eight riders from the top ten of the "Longines Fei Ranking" one of the most prestigious international show jumping competitions will challenge each other in the 'magic' ring of Villa Borghese, but there will also be three Olympic champions and various athletes who have entered the World Cup Finals.
Among the most famous world riders who will compete in Rome we can mention Simon Delestre, a French rider who needs no introduction being currently number one in the world at the top of the Longines Ranking, the German Christian Ahlmann number 2 in the world was who started 2016 with a series of important international successes and therefore represents a dangerous rival for Delestre; the American Mailain Ward, world number 4, and a French rider Penelope le Prevost , world number 5, who has already won the Grands Prix of Bordeaux, Antwerp and Le Mans.
Followed by Kent Farrington (USA) Kevin Staut (France), Bertram Allen (Ireland) Beezie Madden (USA). 19 blue knights have been summoned for Italy to bear the flag in pectore, Emilio Bicocchi is rightfully present at the May competition thanks to the third title won at the Italian Championships in Arezzo. Likewise, the pass for Piazza di Siena was also earned on the occasion by Antonio Alfonso and Gianni Govoni in the order of silver medal.
Among those called up, the 22-year-old debutant Matilde Giorgia Bianchi stands out. Much awaited is the top blue rider, first in the Longines Six International Ranking with his nineteenth place: Emanuele Gaudiano. But there will also be, with 62 years carried admirably, a star of the first magnitude of the Italian equestrian Filippo Moyersoen.
Among the most eagerly awaited competitions that will see the big names in world jumping on the field are the “Coppa delle Nazioni Furusiyya Fei Nations Cup presented by Longines” on May 27, the “Piccolo Gran Premio Engel&Volkers Palm Beach Florida Intesa San Paolo” on Saturday 28; the spectacular “Loro Piana six barriers prize” again on Saturday 28th and finally the eagerly awaited “Loro Piana city of Rome Grand Prix” on Sunday 29th May. The day will end with the traditional Carousel of the 4th Carabinieri Regiment on horseback.
The jackpot of this edition is substantial, amounting to 600.000 euros. In addition to Italy, the teams of Germany, France, Holland, Great Britain, the United States, Canada and Sweden will be present on the field. The individual appearances of riders from Russia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Greece, Ireland and Switzerland must also be added to the team appearances. In total, the nations represented in the Capitoline horse show will be 15.
For the record, the roll of honor of the Nations Cup, Rome's most prestigious race, recorded the victories of Great Britain in 2015, Belgium in 2014, Ukraine in 2013, Germany in 2012, Holland in 2011.
To get to Italy you have to go back to 1985 when Graziano Mancinelli Giorgio Nuti, Bruno Scolari and Emilio Puricelli climbed onto the highest podium of Villa Borghese. Always for the record it should also be remembered that Italy, since the year of the first edition of the Nations Cup which dates back to 1926, has collected 27 victories. In the roll of honor of the winning nations, France follows with 19 first places, Germany and Great Britain with 10, the United States with five.
Great news for the 2016 Piazza di Siena Competition is the decision to allow free access to the area to all the public who will be able to enjoy the spectacle of the competitions from the Prato area on the Casina di Raffaello side or from the natural balcony on the Casino side of the clock .
Finally, the connection of this edition of the competition with the Olympics should be underlined: Piazza di Siena is an Olympic site in the candidacy of Rome 2024 and the organizational success of this edition will help strengthen Rome's race towards the coveted assignment.
Among other things, since 2014 the competition has become Master Fratelli D'Inzeo precisely in memory of one of the most beautiful pages written in the Olympic history of equestrianism: the 1960 gold-silver double that saw two legendary athletes, Piero and Raimondo D'Inzeo.
