GREAT BRITAIN MOVE UP ON LEAGUE TABLE AFTER HICKSTEAD NATIONS CUP

 

The Irish produced the shock of the season winning the seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2012 series at Hickstead (GBR) this afternoon. 

 

Trailing at the bottom of the league table after a poor run that included a last-place finish in Falsterbo, Sweden just seven days' ago, Ireland appeared to have it all to do in this penultimate round of the eight-leg tournament. But they came out with all guns blazing to finish with just 4 penalties for a definitive victory over the French who completed with 8 penalties, while Germany slotted into third with 12 penalties. Great Britain finished in 4^th place on a total of 20 penalties with Sweden and Belgium sharing 5^th place with 24 penalties each. A first-round total of 20 put paid to Dutch chances and they concluded the day with 28 faults on the board for second-last spot ahead of the Swiss, whose 40-fault result left them last by a long margin.

 

As always, the Hickstead fences took their toll, but faults were spread all around the track set by Great Britain’s Bob Ellis - the man who will build the courses for the forthcoming London Olympic Games at Greenwich Park. 

 

In the opening round, the formidable open water, located early on the track at fence 4, took its toll, and the line of fences that included a triple bar to a double of verticals followed by a big, square oxer also proved influential. But it was the double at fence three that was a major trouble-spot in the second round, claiming many victims as did the gate towards the end of the course.

 

A 4^th place finish for Great Britain meant a rise up the league table of two places into 3^rd place where they now currently sit behind Germany and France by a respective 15 and 5 penalties.

 

For further information on the seventh leg of the 2012 FEI Nations Cup™ series at Hickstead (GBR) on Friday 20 July check out website at www.hickstead.co.uk or contact Press Officer Victoria Spicer at Email press@hickstead.co.uk , Tel: +4478 1111 3185. The eighth and last leg of the series takes place in Dublin, Ireland on Friday 17 August. For details of the Irish fixture please visit www.dublinhorseshow.com

 

The British Showjumping Teams are supported by Exchequer and National Lottery funding via UK Sport

 

Results

1. Ireland – 4

2. France – 8

3. Germany – 12

4. Great Britain – 20

    William Funnell / Billy Angelo owned by Julie Slade (4/4)

    Peter Charles with/ Murkas Nevada owned by Team Murka & Olga White 4/4

    Tina Fletcher / Hello Sailor owned by Lady Pauline Harris  ( 0/4)

    John Whitaker / Argento owned by Clare Whitaker ( 8/4)

5. Sweden 24

5. Belgium 24

7. Netherlands 28

8. Switzerland 40

 

FEI Nations Cup™ 2012 - Standings after Round 7 at Hickstead (GBR):

1.    Germany              -    47

2.    France                  -    37

3.    Great Britain        -    32

4.    Sweden                -    31.5

4.    Switzerland          -    31.5

6.    Netherlands        -    29.5

7.    Ireland            -    29

8.    Belgium            -    28.5    

 

FEI Nations Cup™ 2012 Calendar:

La Baule (FRA), 10-13 May; Rome (ITA), 24-27 May; St Gallen (SUI), 31 May – 2 June; Rotterdam (NED) 20-24 June; Aachen (GER) 3 - 8 July; Falsterbo (SWE) 12-15 July; Hickstead (GBR) 19-22 July; Dublin (IRE) 15-19 August.