McLain Ward embraces HH Azur seconds after jumping clear to win the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Ph. ©Erin Gilmore for NF
In less than three months, the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final — one of the major events of the French international sports season, will take place between April 11-15,2018, at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France.
Since the events creation in 1979, the upcoming edition will mark the third time in history that France hosts the prestigious competition. To attend the final, riders must first qualify through fourteen regional leagues, each comprising of several legs.
In the Western European league, considered to be the most difficult division, riders Kevin Staut (FRA), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Germany’s Daniel Deusser (winner of 2014 Final in Lyon), Germany’s Christian Ahlmann (winner of 2011 Final in Leipzig), and three-time Final winner Steve Guerdat of Switzerland (2003, 2006, 2010) are amongst the first set of riders to qualify.
“I love this circuit. For me, this is what real sport is; we can surpass ourselves in these types of situations,” said Staut, first in the Western European provisional rankings with 65 points. “I was 7th in my first Final, then 6th, then 5th, then 3rd, but I haven’t progressed since then. However, each time I am qualified for the Final I still go back with the same motivation. There are many [French riders] who are trying to qualify; it’s really important to have this Final in Paris.”
USA’s McLain Ward, winner of the 2017 World Cup Final Omaha, is currently 2nd in the Longines FEI World Cup™, North American Eastern Sub-League standings. Ward sits on an automatic qualification as the current titleholder. USA’s Alison Robitaille, currently 1st in the standings with 52 points, has also earned her spot in Paris.
Two legs remain in both the North American Eastern & Western Sub-League.
To see the overall standings in each division, follow the links below:
| SEASON 2017 – 2018 STANDINGS | |
| Longines FEI World Cup™, Western European League | Current Standings |
| Arab League | Current Standings |
| Australian League | Final Standings |
| Caucasus League | Final Standings |
| Central Asian League | Final Standings |
| Central European League, Northern Sub-League | Current Standings |
| Central European League, Southern Sub-League | Current Standings |
| Longines FEI World Cup™, China League | Final Standings |
| Japan League | Final Standings |
| New Zealand League | Final Standings |
| Longines FEI World Cup™, North American Eastern Sub-League | Current Standings |
| Longines FEI World Cup™, North American Western Sub-League | Current Standings |
| South African League | Final Standings |
| South America North League | Final Standings |
| South America South League | Final Standings |
| South East Asian League | Final Standings |