GREAT BRITAIN FINISH FIFTH IN AACHEN NATIONS CUP

Thursday 05 July 2012

The fifth leg of the Top Level Nations Cup which is contested across eight of the finest venues in Europe saw some superb competition in the stunning Aachen arena in Germany. The arena first played host to a horse show in 1924 with the first Nations Cup taking place in 1929 and the arena is kept now for just six days of showjumping per year ensuring that the arena offers as perfect going as is possible.

It was France who led the competition with some outstanding performances to take the lead over home nation Germany by just 2penalties. Ireland and Switzerland slotted into 3^rd and 4^th place respectively with Great Britain finishing in 5^th place.

The Leaderboard after the 5^th leg of the series remained unchanged with Germany at the helm. But at the end of the competition there was some movement with Belgium sliding down the table and both Switzerland and France moving upwards.

First Round
Warwickshire Nick Skelton, with Beverley Widdowson’s 11 year-old grey gelding Carlo took the role of pathfinder. Carlo, jumping effortlessly with his usual style and panache meant the crowded grandstands gasped in disbelief when the last fence fell. Literally brushing the back pole jumping out of a combination it was incredibly bad luck that it fell. Nick who was recently awarded an OBE and also announced as one of the Team GBR riders for London 2012 will be heading to Greenwich with his other top ride Big Star whom is also owned by Beverley Widdowson. Beverley Widdowson was awarded and recognised as the Leading International Owner for 2011 by the FEI, an award that has only been won by a British owner once before.

Guy Williams from Kent with the 12 year-old bay gelding Titus II, a combination that were a member of the Bronze medal winning team at the European Championships last year incurred 16faults and a time penalty making them the drop score of the team for Round 1. Titus II whom was sold at the end of last year has recently been reunited with Guy and this was their Team debut since Titus’ return .

Scott Brash from Peebleshire with his father’s 13 year-old bay gelding Intertoy Z had an uncharacteristic foot in the water and two down finishing on 12 faults. Scott has recently been announced as one of the team riders selected to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics. Scott will be competing his other top ride Hello Sanctos who is owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris.

Nottinghamshire based Michael Whitaker with Beatrice Mertens 12 year-old bay gelding GIG Amai made a welcome return to Top Level Team competition by producing a stylish round leaving all the fences standing. But coming through the finish just slightly after the time allowed meant a time penalty being accrued.

At the end of the first round Great Britain were in 8^th place on a total of 17faults

Second Round
An early pole down at an oxer for Nick Skelton and Carlo saw them finish on four faults and a time penalty so a total of 5faults. Guy Williams and Titus although improving on their first round incurred 12faults with three fences falling, two of them during the last combination

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z incurred just another 4 faults in the second round having had one fence down. Michael Whitaker and GIG Amai produced another great round but replicating Nicks first round an unfortunate 4faults at the last and a time fault saw them finish on 5faults.

With Guy Williams and Titus again being the drop score, Great Britain then finished on a total of 31faults moving them up the leaderboard above Sweden and Belgium who finished on 36faults and 40faults respectively.

Commenting after the event Rob Hoekstra, World Class Showjumping Performance Manager commented ““ We had a little bit of a come back in the second round. We made a decision not to bring our Olympic horses out for the Nations Cup. When you are competing against other nations Olympic horses without your s it will always be difficult and when you consider this I feel that we have held our own. The Olympic Games has always been our priority and that focus is the way we have campaigned the Nations Cup series through 2012”.

RESULTS

1^st   France – 10faults
2^nd Germany – 12faults
3^rd Ireland – 20faults
4^th Switzerland – 21 faults
5^th Great Britain - 31faults
     Nick Skelton/Carlo    (4/5)
     Guy Williams/Titus II    (17/12)
     Scott Brash/Intertoy Z    (12/4)
     Michael Whitaker/GIG Amai - (1/5)
6^th Netherlands – 32faults
7^th Sweden – 36faults
8^th Belgium – 38faults

Standings after Leg 5 of the 2012 series
1^st.        Germany      (37)
2^nd        Netherlands (25.5)
            Switzerland (25.5)
4^th        France         (24)
5^th           Belgium   (22)
6^th        Great Britain (20)
7^th         Sweden         (18)
             Ireland           (18)
*the numbers in brackets denote total league points

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