GREAT BRITAIN FINISH JOINT 5th IN ROME FURUSIYYA 5* NATIONS CUP
Friday 24 May 2013
The absolutely stunning arena of the Piaza di Siena was full to brimming with spectators coming out in force to watch the Furusiyya FEI 5* Nations Cup played out before them. With eight teams coming forward to compete across the 1.60m course designed by Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani.
The Italian home team were drawn first to go with Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain and the Ukraine following respectively in this, the third of the Europe Division 1 qualifiers.
First Round
Warwickshire based Nick Skelton OBE and Beverley Widdowson’s 10 year-old bay stallion Big Star with whom he won a Team Gold at the London 2012 Olympics showed exactly why they are the world champions that they are by putting in a stylish and penalty free round. Producing the first clear round of the competition they were met with rapturous applause as they went through the finish line within the 80 seconds allowed.
Next to go for Great Britain was Scott Brash MBE from Peebleshire with the 13 year-old bay gelding Hello Sanctos owned by Lord & Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham whom he partnered on the gold medal winning team at the London Olympics. Touching two fences across the course which was made up of twelve fences requiring fifteen jumping efforts they broke the finish line with a total of 8 penalties to carry forward.
Tina Fletcher, from Faringdon, Oxfordshire making her first appearance for 2013 on a 5* Nations Cup team partnered Hello Sailor, a 14 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Lady Pauline Harris. Producing a faultless round within the time allowed, the team watching from their vantage point looked thrilled as she finished on a zero penalty score to add alongside the previous one achieved by Nick.
Last to go for the team in the role of anchor was Hertfordshire based, London 2012 Team Gold medallist Ben Maher MBE with Jane F Clark’s 11 year-old grey mare Cella. Having made their debut on a 5* Nations Cup team, they incurred an uncharacteristic 8 penalties having lowered two fences on the course.
Second Round
At the halfway stage, Great Britain were in 4th place on 8 penalties, sitting behind Germany, France and the Ukraine who were all on 4 penalties apiece. Italy and Switzerland were both on 16 penalties, Sweden and 20 penalties and Spain the outsiders on 24 penalties.
Entering the arena as fresh and confident as he looked in the first round, Nick Skelton and Big Star, once again, thrilled spectators by producing another clear round. Last week saw them produce a double clear in the 5* Nations Cup in La Baule, a double clear in the Grand Prix and to do it again today is a testament to the outstanding combination they make.
Scott Brash, determined to put in a better round than his previous one looked set to do so. However a foot in the water saw 4 penalties being allotted to them despite all the fences standing and their returning within the time allowed.
Tina Fletcher, hoping to replicate her first round and give Great Britain a much needed clear rolled a pole early on in the course. Unfortunately, Hello Sailor didn’t appear to settle after this and incurred penalties at a further three fences coming home on a total of 16 penalties.
With a lot of pressure on Ben Maher to jump clear and give a much needed boost to the overall penalty score, an out of character refusal from Cella at the first fence brought an audible groan from of disappointment from the GB contingent. Ben in his usual unperturbed style continued to give Cella the best ride he could, however she didn’t seem at ease after this and incurred a further 12 penalties and a time fault giving them a finish score of 17 penalties.
Finishing on a total score of 28 penalties Great Britain were out of the frame for a high placing and it was France, Germany and the Ukraine, all on 8 penalties left to fight it out for first place in a third and final jump off. With the remaining teams all having jumped their fourth riders, Great Britain finished on equal 5th with Sweden. It was Ukraine who eventually triumped by producing the only clear in the jump off with Germany and France taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively on 4 penalties.
Results
1 Ukraine
2 Germany
3 France
4 Italy
5 Great Britain
6 Sweden
7 Switzerland
8 Spain
The Grand Prix of Rome takes place on Sunday and further information on the show and results can be found by visiting www.piazzadisiena.com
FEI TV will be showing live footage from the event. To access this please visit www.feitv.org The programme will also be shown at a later date on Eurosport and Horse & Country TV. Please visit www.britishshowjumping.co.ukand click on ‘whats on tv’ for broadcast times.
The British Showjumping Teams are supported by Exchequer and National Lottery funding via UK Sport.
12v5d1inxqeyb.JPG "Royal Highland Show Set to Deliver Spectacular Showjumping Programme with Over £60,000 Prize Fund")