The first edition of “Top Team”, created and sponsored by Scuderia 1918, was staged on Saturday November 6th at Fieracavalli
The pilot edition of the TOP TEAM challenge lived up to expectations regarding its spectacularity and the top-level competition between riders who are among the best in the world. It was a demonstrative competition that maintained the objective of transmitting the values of team sport, providing visibility to the patrons who support these teams and spreading passion for the world of horses thanks to the creation of the Scuderia 1918 Fan Club. The response from fans concerning the project presented at the fair was proof that the goal has been achieved. The Scuderia 1918 team is now ready to welcome all those who, filled with enthusiasm and excitement, wish to share its world.
The competition was held as planned in a very appealing scenario thanks to the 10 jumps, including two combinations and hence 12 efforts, all painted with the Scuderia 1918 colours. Lighting effects, music and projections of team logos created a backdrop for the ten riders introduced by the excellent voices of speakers Carlo Rotunno and Cristian Micheli. The suggestive arena in Pavilion 8 was therefore the theatre for this challenge between the five riders competing for Scuderia 1918 and the five for Jumping Verona. Each match between two riders gave the winner’s team one point and every jump cleared added 100 euros prizemoney for a maximum of 12,000 euros to be given to charity.
With a final result of 3-2 after a competition fought to the very end, the competition was won by the Jumping Verona team thanks to Jack Whitaker/Elucar V.E. beating Lorenzo De Luca/Naomi van het Keizershof, Olivier Philippaerts/Miro beating Jessica Springsteen/Tiger Lily and Luca Marziani/Don’t Worry B winning the all-Italian match against Giulia Martinengo Marquet/Quick and Easy. Scuderia 1918 instead won the last two duels thanks to Daniel Deusser/Scuderia 1918 Mr. Jones beating Sergio Alvarez Moya/Tirano and Kevin Staut /Lubie de l’Elan finishing faster than Marlon Modolo Zanotelli/Chili.
Jack Whitaker was the fastest of all (48”85) while Sergio Alvarez Moya was the only rider to not finish clear reducing the prizemoney by 100 euros.
The class therefore ended with a total of 119 out of 120 jumps cleared for a total of 11,900 euros given to charity.
The two projects voted for by spectators, one to support Paralympic rider Sara Morganti and the other the Saving Penguins association, saw 58% vote for Sara Morganti who won a total of 6,902 euro. The prize was presented to her officially by Scuderia 1918 on Sunday afternoon. “I am very moved and grateful for this important award which is an acknowledgement of the greatest importance,” said a moved Sara Morganti receiving the prize.
Moving towards a TOP TEAM ‘challenge’
The teams were represented by their respective patrons, Emanuele Anchisi for Scuderia 1918 and Armando Di Ruzza for Jumping Verona. This first edition of the TOP TEAM competition was held to pave the way for an international competition between teams and their patrons.
The objective is to create a ranking list of the teams and their patrons, with a TOP TEAM event marking the end of the season celebrating the strongest team in the world of international show jumping.
Scuderia 1918: ‘TEAM ALWAYS WIN’
During the four days of this show many fans visited the Scuderia 1918 stand, delighted to be able to see the great champions of international show jumping in real life. Other Team Scuderia 1918 athletes also arrived for this event, such as eventers Kevin McNab and Pietro Grandis, creating moments of great synergy and emotional feelings for everyone, with feelings of unity and of sharing this wonderful sport and its great star, the horse.
“We are delighted with the feedback experienced during Fieracavalli thanks to these moments when we, our riders and our fans all met up. Our objective is to create a strong and enterprising fan club that can actively participate in Team Scuderia 1918’s life”, said Emanuele Anchisi, not only the co-founder but also the creator and promoter of Scuderia 1918’s initiatives.