Great Britain Team NAF take third in Longines Division 1 Nations Cup in St Gallen
Monday 06 June 2022
Great Britain have had a tremendous start to the Longines Europe Division 1 League for 2022 taking third place this afternoon in St Gallen. The team, riding under the Team NAF banner, headed into the second round in the lead but it was the home nation, Switzerland who took the victory after their much improved second round. The weather conditions were testing as rain had fallen over recent days, but this did not seem to faze the British team who achieved individual scores of no more than four faults in every round jumped of the twelve fence 1.60m track designed by Gérard Lachat (SUI) Reto Ruflin (SUI) and team.
Pathfinder Harry Charles gave the team the best possible start with a clear in the first round aboard the 12-year-old bay gelding Casquo Blue, owned by Stall Zet. It was just four faults to add to the board in the second round as they lowered the first part of the double.
Next up for Great Britain was Joe Stockdale with the 11-year-old bay mare Equine America Cacharel owned by Joy Cocklin and Laura Stockdale. The pairing just rolled the middle element of the combination in the first round but produced a foot perfect clear in round two.
Jack Whitaker delivered two fantastic performances, just rubbing the very tall plank following the open water in both rounds with the 13-year-old grey stallion Equine America Valmy De La Lande, owned by his father, Michael Whitaker.
Anchor rider John Whitaker MBE produced an effortless clear round in the first round with the 14-year-old bay gelding Equine America Unick Du Francport owned by himself and his wife, Clare Whitaker. The pressure was on as John entered the arena in the second round. A clear would keep Great Britain in contention for a win as they level-pegged with Switzerland and a jump off would be on the cards. A late falling pole at the last element of the combination at fence ten secured Great Britain third place overall – a great start to the Longines Europe Division 1 League for 2022, giving them 80 points on the board. Find out more about the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™.
Victory went to Switzerland who completed on 8 faults. The Netherlands took second place with a total of 12 faults in a time of 217.73 seconds collectively and Great Britain were third with 12 faults in a time of 220.12 second collectively.
Full results can be found here.
