CLEAR WIN FOR GB IN ST GALLEN NATIONS CUP
Friday 30 May 2014
The British Team made it look easy today with their clear win at St Gallen, Switzerland in the fourth leg of the 2014 FEI Furusiyya Nations Cup series. Their victory made it the second year running that GB have claimed the title as their own; a victory that World Class Showjumping Performance Manager, Rob Hoekstra, couldn’t have looked any more pleased with when he walked his team into the arena for the prize giving.
For Great Britain, it was definitely a day to celebrate. As one of the non-point scoring competitions (league points are only competed for at four of the eight legs of the series), Rob had selected a team of horses which he felt would all gain from the experience of competing at this level. For them to have come out and claimed a clear victory by the time the third team rider had finished their second round would have surpassed his hopes and expectations which were very much to just give each of the horses added depth to their international careers.
From the outset the competition had provided excitement with the course designer, Gerard Lechat from Switzerland, having to extend the time allowed twice from its original limit after much deliberation. Initally setting it at 77 seconds, it was then announced a one second extension would be made. With time penalties still being notched up during the initial stages, an extra two seconds were given bringing the time allowed up to 80 seconds; a time which still seemed incredibly tight with many competitors gathering time penalties despite the changes.
The course was both imposing and technical with the water in particular looking vast with its 4.8m expanse and a small wall in front of it. Related distances, 1.60m verticals set on an angle along with oxers that looked so wide you could have walked through the middle of them with your arms outstretched made the competition a brilliant one to watch with spectators ignoring the wet weather and huddling under umbrellas refusing to miss any of the action.
Team Performances
At the end of the first half, Great Britain had secured themselves into the lead as a result of some brilliant performances. Pathfinder for the team was Dan Neilson from Chigwell, Essex with Stacy Willsone’s 12 year-old chestnut gelding Varo M. Their first round proved to be the discount score with three fences having been lowered and a 12 penalty score being added. This was only Varo M’s second experience at 5* Nations Cup Level with Dan also still being relatively new on Top Level teams.
Making their debut at 5* Nations Cup level was 21 year-old Spencer Roe from Lincoln with his mother Sally’s 11 year-old bay gelding Wonder Why. If they were feeling the pressure, it certainly wasn’t noticeable with them putting in a brilliant performance to return home with just the one time penalty having stopped the clock just outside the time allowed.
Robert Whitaker, from Sidcup, Kent with his parents (John & Clare) 11 year-old brown stallion Catwalk IV were third for the team. Having jumped double clear on their first appearance in a 5* team last year in Gijon, Robert was keen to achieve the same. Giving Catwalk the ride of his life and the horse absolutely jumping out of his skin over every fence they returned home clear, within the time allowed to return a zero penalty score.
Anchor for the team came in the form of experienced team rider Guy Williams from Canterbury, Kent. An established rider on Top Level Nations Cup teams, he was riding the 10 year-old bay gelding Zaire who is owned by Caroline Phillips. Zaire made his debut on a 5* team in Lummen earlier this year having gained International Grand Prix experience throughout the winter season. Knowing that a solid performance was imperative if GB were to have a chance of winning and using Dan’s round as the drop score, Guy looked elated when he broke the finish line clear and within the time allowed.
With the three best scores counting, the team finished on just the 1 penalty to take the lead at the halfway stage.
The second round was almost copy book and couldn’t have played out any better for GB. Varo M, certainly looked to have learnt from his experience in the first round and appeared to be a different horse in the second. Taking all the fences in his stride, he couldn’t have tried harder for Dan to return home clear, within the time allowed to finish on a zero penalty score. Spencer Roe, put in yet another brilliant performance to mirror his first. Deciding to keep on the steady pace that he had ridden in the first rather than rush Wonder Why and risk a mistaken returned home clear and just outside the time allowed.
Robert and Catwalk once again looked incredibly impressive navigating the course with easy, only narrowly missing out on achieving a double clear by stopping the clock just outside the time allowed to incur a penalty point. Their performance, despite the time penalty being added, was enough to secure a GB victory with no other nation able to catch them. Despite there not being a need for Zaire to jump again it was decided to give him the additional experience and bring him forward again. This time, it was an unlucky 9 penalties that were notched up with the lowering of two fences mid-course and a time penalty.
Final Scores
Finishing on just 3 penalties across both rounds GB managed to hold on to their lead despite Spain having been hot on their heels throughout the competition. Sweden took 3rd place on 10 penalties with home nation Switzerland finishing in 4th on 14 penalties.
Talking afterwards Rob Hoekstra commented “To say we are delighted would be an understatement. As a non-point scoring leg of the series for us we came out with a team of younger horses to give them experience of competing at this level along with some younger riders who are still very much cutting their teeth on senior teams. To win today, once again shows the world what tremendous talent we have across all levels within the sport. There wasn’t one horse or rider that wasn’t superb – they all put in brilliant performances and I am honoured to be here with them today”.
The Grand Prix at St Gallen takes place on Sunday afternoon and further information and full results can be found by visiting www.csio.ch. Full information in respect of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series can be found by visiting www.fei.org.
The British Showjumping Teams are supported by Exchequer and National Lottery funding via UK Sport.
RESULTS
1st Great Britain (3 penalties)
Dan Neilson / Varo M (12/0)
Spencer Roe / Wonder Why (1/1)
Robert Whitaker/Catwalk IV (0/1)
Guy Williams/Zaire (0/9)
2nd Spain (4 penalties)
3rd Sweden (10 penalties)
4th Switzerland (14 penalties)
5th Ukraine (16 penalties)
6th Belgium (19 penalties)
7th France (20 penalties)
8th Netherlands (31 penalties)
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
