A record number of fans are expected to attend the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships as they return to Luhmühlen for the fifth time (previously in 1975, 1979, 1987 and 1999) to mark the 30th edition of the Championships. Luhmühlen also hosts an annual CCI4*/CIC3*, making it one of only six 4* events on the international Eventing calendar, and part of the prestigious HSBC FEI Classics™ series.

The FEI European Eventing Championships take place every two years, in the middle of the Olympic cycle, and have been held since 1953.

 Please find below the 2011 Champions names and access to the championships online results:

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION
The 2 best ranked nations from Groups A, B & C at the 2011 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships (excluding the teams already qualified at WEG) will be qualified to take part with a team consisting of 3 athletes & 3 horses.

The venue This year, Luhmühlen has invested time and money into renovating, redesigning and rebuilding some of the existing infrastructures as part of their ongoing commitment to delivering top sport. The recently renovated showground, includes three Dressage and two Jumping arenas, a tribune able to seat 850 spectators with spectacular views as well as a newly designed entrance including six ticket box facilities and fully catered trade stands . The showground also boasts an open air stage with space for up to 15,000 spectators.

“I am confident that the investment in the infrastructure will be of great benefit to all involved whether you are a volunteer, a groom, an athlete – both the horses and the riders - as well as for the sponsors, guests, spectators and the fans. We are really looking forward to great competitions this year at both the CCI4*/CIC3* in June and at the Europeans in August and hope many will join us to witness this historic moment.” Julia Otto, Event Director Luhmühlen.

FAMILY MATTERS…
Princess Anne and Zara Phillips are the only mother-daughter combination to win European titles (1971 and 2005); Harry and Virginia Freeman-Jackson (IRL) are the only father-daughter combination to ride on a team together, in 1959 and 1962; Ireland also fielded the first brother-sister team, with John and Jessica Fowler in 1967 and then Jeremy and Jill Spring in 1991; Mandy and Eddy Stibbe were the first husband and wife combination (1989-91) and Jean-Yves and Thierry Touzaint, the first brothers (1975).

HSBC
HSBC has renewed their sponsorship for a further three-year term as global sponsor of FEI Eventing to include title sponsorships of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in both 2011 and 2013 and the HSBC FEI Classics™ until the end of 2013.

OFFICIAL TIMEPIECE
Rolex, the leading name in luxury wrist watches, will be the Official Timekeeper for the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011.
               
BELIEVE IT OR NOT...

• Ginny Elliot (born Holgate), the only rider to win three successive individual titles, and Ian Stark hold the joint record for European gold medals won – seven each, but Lucinda Green still has the most medals (10).
• Supreme Rock, ridden by Pippa Funnell (GBR), is the only horse to win back-to-back titles (in 1999 and 2001); he has four European gold medals in total, equaling the record of Kilbarry, The Poacher and Over To You, who won a record four consecutive European team golds (1999-2005).
  
• Great Britain have held the European title for the past 8 consecutive Championships (since 1995)! And of the 29 editions to date (starting in 1953) the team have won a whopping 21.