GREAT BRITAIN LEAD FROM THE START AND TAKE THE LA BAULE NATIONS CUP AS THEIR OWN
Friday 15 May 2015
The second leg of the European Division 1 League of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup this afternoon saw Great Britain lead from the start showing once again why they are the current Olympic Team Gold medallists.
With each and every one of the team riders putting in some terrific performances, World Class Performance Manager Di Lampard, couldn’t have selected her team any better. Leading at the halfway stage having finished with just one time penalty, the team held onto this lead right through to the end despite it looking like there may be a possibility of a third and final jump off against home nation France for the title. But it was Michael Whitaker who was the hero of the day after having a bit of a rocky first round. He came out and delivered to near perfection a second round that ensured it was the Union Flag being raised on the flag pole and the British Team on the podium!
For Great Britain it has been a tremendous start to the series. Second in Lummen earlier this month followed by a win today bodes well as they look ahead to Rome which is the first of the four competitions within this Division at which Great Britain are eligible to obtain qualifying league points. Also, for Di Lampard it must be extremely reassuring as she focuses on the putting together of a team for the European Championships at Aachen with a view of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
GB Performances
Belgium based Joe Clee and Utamaro d’Ecaussines, the 11 year-old bay stallion owned by Ludwig Criel, took the role of pathfinder for the team. This proved to be a perfect choice by Di Lampard as they delivered a text book double clear within the time allowed of 75 seconds ensuring the rest of the team had extremely strong footings to build on. This performance was even more notable when you consider that only three other riders managed to achieve the same throughout the competition and if you look at their performance to date in this series, they have jumped three of their four rounds clear.
Spencer Roe, from Lincolnshire, with his mother Sally’s 12 year-old bay gelding Wonder Why mirrored Joe’s performance in the first round by producing an outstanding clear in a time of 72.84 seconds. Looking set to do the same in the second round; it was a loud groan that went up from the crowds when a hind toe touched the top rail of the penultimate fence – a vertical – to accrue 4 penalties.
Guy Williams, who is based in France, on the 15 year-old chestnut gelding Titus II whom he jointly owns with Charlotte Baines ensured the building blocks continued being laid down solidly by leaving all the fences standing. Breaking the finish line just 0.7 seconds over the time allowed saw the GB support team staring at the clock in disbelief at the misfortune of Guy being awarded a time penalty after such a great performance. The second round saw them touch the same fence as Spencer as they turned for the home straight to gain 4 penalties as they came through the finish line.
Michael Whitaker, from Nottinghamshire, with Beverly Widdowson’s 10 year-old grey stallion Cassionato had the packed grandstands on their feet in awe as he finished both rounds and for totally different reasons each time. Cassionato, still very much at the start of his international career at this level, certainly had a good look at some of the fences with the open water in particular seeing Michael drive so hard at it that he ended up riding into the second oxer with contact only on his left rein! In a way that only Michael can, they both came through the finish line clear with just a time penalty being accrued.
With just Michael left to jump, as the final rider of the competition, Great Britain had a fence in hand over France. If he touched a fence we would be pushed into a jump off position for first place, if he left the fences standing and accrued no more than three time penalties we would be outright winners. The pressure on him as he entered the arena must have been tremendous, but such is Michael’s talent and the superb relationship that he and Cassionato have built together that the flamboyant grey came took on the course like an old hand they put in a brilliant clear to finish just outside the time allowed and give Great Britain and outright win. The fact that the home crowd, who as a result were relegated to 2nd place, couldn’t suppress their delight with Michael’s performance only serves to show the exceptional riding skills that he showed today and the talent and promise that Cassionato showed. In Steve Hadley’s words, he was commentating live at the event, “Michael has brought us drama, his rounds were sheer brilliance and he gave us a masterclass.”
Reflection and the next stage
Talking afterwards Michael commented “I knew I had to go in and have less than 4 penalties so the time really mattered. The first round was a bit difficult but the second round was great, he really went well and gave a good ride. I’m very happy, for the horse, his owners and for the team.”
Di Lampard commented “I couldn’t be happier than I am today. Everyone was exceptional and for Michael to pull it out the bag in the way he did made it spectacular. Joe’s two rounds were superb, Spencer delivered two great rounds and so did Guy. Cassionato puts his faith in Michael, has great talent and we all saw this in the second round. I am over the moon, what more can I say.”
The next competition takes place in Rome next week, which will be the first leg at which Great Britain are eligible to obtain qualifying league points at. A total of ten nations compete in Europe Division 1 throughout the season which makes its way across Europe with seven of them qualifying for the Final which takes place in Barcelona, Spain between 24 – 27th September.
RESULTS
1. Great Britain - 7 penalties
Joe Clee / Utamaro D'Ecaussines 0/0
Spencer Roe / Wonder Why 0/4
Guy Williams / Titus 1/5
Michael Whitaker / Cassionato 1/2
2. France - 9 penalties
3. Ireland - 12 penalties
4. Spain - 13 penalties
. Belgium - 13 penalties
6. Brazil - 20 penalties
Switzerland - 20 penalties
7. Netherlands - 32 penalties
Further information on the show and full results can be found by visiting www.labaule-cheval.com. Full information in respect of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series can be found by visiting www.fei.org.
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 Horse & Country TV (Sky 253) Please visit www.britishshowjumping.co.uk and click on ‘What’s on TV’ for broadcast times.
The British Showjumping Teams are supported by the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme.
The World Class Development Programme underpins World Class Performance and, together with the Equine Pathway, they comprise the Equestrian World Class Programme, incorporating the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, showjumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.
vdvw0jmmoc3n.jpg "Bumper weekend of Nupafeed Senior Discovery Second Rounds")
16s3l0yrqmjv4.jpg "Timothy Craggs and Chloe Thomas are victorious in the NAF Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers at Port Royal")
