London Olympic gold medalists Steve Guerdat (CH), Ben Maher (GB) and Nick Skelton (GB) amongst dream line-up competing in Lausanne September 13 – 16, 2012

Lausanne, August 28, 2012 – The Lausanne International Horse Show today revealed the starting list for the Global Champions Tour competition, one of the most prestigious show jumping circuits in the world, taking place in Lausanne on Saturday, September 15. Recently crowned Swiss individual gold medalist, Steve Guerdat will be amongst the world’s top riders, including the London Olympics British team gold medalists Nick Skelton and Ben Maher, competing in the Olympic Capital for a total of € 416,500 from the 13 – 16, September 2012.

The three London gold medalists will face tough competition from current circuit leader Edwina Tops-Alexander from Australia and her closest rival Christian Ahlmann from Germany. Fellow countryman Ludger Beerbaum, multiple gold medalist and winner of the last Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Valkenswaard, will be out to repeat his success in Lausanne. Spectators will also be able to admire current European Champion and world number one, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson from Sweden, British showjumping legend Michael Whitaker, as well as, Pius Schwizer, Swiss team bronze gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa, individual gold medalist at the Athens Olympics in 2004. A very strong French delegation including Kevin Staut, Pénélope Leprevost, Roger-Yves Bost, Patrice Delaveau and Simon Delestre will be riding for victory.

“What a fantastic début! For our first edition of the Lausanne International Horse Show and the first-ever Swiss Global Champions Tour, I am so proud to have three London Olympic gold medalists alongside the world’s showjumping stars here in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital and home of international sport,” said Stéphane Allio, President of the Lausanne International Horse Show. “The fact that Steve is Swiss, and will be competing here in front of his fans, will make the show even more special. We’re all looking forward to giving Steve a really warm welcome.”

Offering the highest prize money in show jumping world, the Global Champions Tour is made up of 12 competitions in spectacular locations. Bringing together the top 30 riders across the globe, each Global Champion’s Tour Grand Prix is broadcast live on Eurosport, the most watched sport’s channel in the world, reaching 123 million households across 59 countries.

In partnership with the main sponsor, the Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Lausanne International Horse Show will be taking place on the edge of Lake Geneva at Place de Bellerive, Lausanne. As well as the world class Concours de Saut International (CSI) 5* competitions, more than 50 riders will be competing in the CSI 2*, with a strong Swiss delegation.

Committed to organizing an eco-responsible event, the Lausanne International Horse Show has partnered with Nissan to provide a fleet of all-electric Nissan LEAF cars for the transportation of VIPs and riders to and from the show ground. The Nissan LEAF will also be available for visitors and spectators to test drive at the showground during the 4-day competition – a great way of celebrating Mobility Week in Lausanne and in the Canton of Vaud.

In addition to the show jumping classes, the world renowned Cadre Noir de Saumur will give three stunning evening performances. The Cadre Noir is the French National Horse Riding School, one of the most impressive horsemanship schools on Earth. The equestrian display team was founded in 1828, and gets its name from the black uniforms that are still worn today.

The four day show expects to attract more than 15,000 people. Tickets are available at www.fnac.ch and www.ticketportal.com. For more information on booking your tickets, please go to http://www.lausannehorseshow.com/en/book-your-tickets

Riders participating in the CSI 5* (in alphabetical order of country):


AUS Edwina Tops-Alexander
AZE Jamal Rahimov
BEL Cindy van der Straten-Marie
Gregory Wathelet
BRA Alvaro De Miranda
Rodrigo Pessoa
DEN Emilie Martinsen
Andreas Schou
ESP Sergio Alvarez Moya
Manuel Añon
FRA Roger-Yves Bost
Patrice Delaveau
Simon Delestre
Romain Duguet
Pénélope Leprevost
Kevin Staut
GBR Ben Maher
Nick Skelton
Michael Whitaker
GER Christian Ahlmann
Ludger Beerbaum
Hans-Dieter Dreher
Marcus Ehning
Marco Kutscher
Philipp Weishaupt
GRE Athina de Miranda
IRL Denis Lynch
Mark McAuley
Billy Twomey
ITA Emanuele Gaudiano
Luca Moneta
KSA Kamal Bahamdan
NED Mark Houtzager
Gerco Schroder
Harrie Smolders
Maikel van der Vleuten
POL Jan Chranowski
POR Luciana Diniz
QAT Faleh Al Adjmi
Sheik Ali Al Thani
SUI Clarissa Crotta
Steve Guerdat
Béat Mändli
Werner Muff
Pius Schwizer
Janika Sprunger
SWE Rolf-Goran Bengtsson
SYR Saber Hamsho
UAE Sheikh Shakboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan
UKR Katharina Offel
USA Saer Coulter
Laura Kraut
Richard Spooner
Jessica Springsteen

Swiss riders participating in the CSI 2* Swiss Riders (in alphabetical order by surname):

Marina Balmelli
Mathilde Balmelli
Simon Broillet
Florence Conti
Mathilde Cruchet
Maurice Dabbah
Yves Dietrich
Christiana Duguet
Caroline Firmenich
Alain Juffer
Patricia Köller
Jennifer Meylan
Emilie Paillot
Manuel Pinto
Fanny Queloz
Rachel Sandoz
Faye Schoch
Florence Seydoux
Flaminia Straumann
Roger Umnus
Anina Zueger

Lausanne International Horse Show 2012
From 13 to 16 September 2012, the City of Lausanne and Canton of Vaud will host a top-tier event, combining a high-level jumping competition with state-of-the art equestrian show. At the heart of the Olympic Capital, home of the International Equestrian Federation, the best riders in the world will be present.

The 2012 Lausanne International Horse Show (LIHS) is the first of its kind in Switzerland. This showcase of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) will be a substantial addition to the 2012 calendar, including 12 dates in 10 countries. The LIHS will also present three performances of Saumur’s Cadre Noir, one of the most prestigious horsemanship schools in the world, founded in 1828 in France. The exhibitor’s village offers various refreshment stands, as well as latest equestrian products and services.

Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre
A major player in watchmaking history since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre is the first Manufacture to have been established in the Vallee de Joux, Switzerland. It played a pioneering role by uniting the full range of technical and artistic professions under one roof and made an indelible imprint on the watchmaking development of the entire region. The Manufacture has an impressive range of world firsts, superlative creations and legendary models to its credit, including the Reverso, the Duoplan, the Master Control, the Memovox Polaris, the Gyrotourbillon and the Atmos. Guided by time-honored know-how and a constant quest for technical enhancements, the master-watchmakers, engineers and technicians craft each watch in harmony with the same passion. Each masterpiece, heir to 179 years of expertise, benefits from cutting-edge technologies while being crafted in harmony with the noblest traditions of the Vallée de Joux. Building on a vast heritage encompassing 1,231 calibres and 398 registered patents, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains the reference in high-end watchmaking.

Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.1 million vehicles in 2010, generating revenue of 8.77 trillion yen ($102.37 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan, 2012 RJC Car of the Year, 2011 European Car of the Year, and 2011 World Car of the Year awards. For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com/ch

Media Information
Lausanne International Horse Show – www.lausannehorseshow.com
Heidi Salon – +41 22 593 69 24 – heidi.salon@bm.com

Jaeger-LeCoultre – www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
Christine Giotto – +41 21 845 05 19 – christine.giotto@jaeger-lecoultre.com

Nissan – www.nissan.ch
Madeleine Baumann – +41 44 736 56 91 – madeleine.baumann@nissan.ch