British Showjumping finish second at the CSIO5* Abu Dhabi Nations Cup
Sunday 22 January 2023
On Sunday, 22 January 2023, the British Showjumping Team finished second in the first CSIO5* Nations Cup of the year, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of the United Arab Emirates.
Six teams came forward for this Nations Cup competition, and Great Britain were drawn first to go. Austria and Great Britain matched each other stride for stride through every round, but it was Austria who took the victory, producing the all-important clear round in the jump off. Great Britain finished second with Ireland finishing third.
William Funnell from Dorking, Surrey took the pathfinder position aboard the 11-year-old Billy Stud owned bay mare Billy Picador. A shaky start saw two poles hit the sand as well as a refusal in the first round to finish on 18 faults, but they made sure they wouldn’t make the same error in the second round to post a fantastic clear round, finishing on a total of 18 faults.
Tim Gredley from Newmarket, Suffolk was second to jump with the 11-year-old bay gelding Medoc De Toxandria, owned by Unex Competition Yard. The combination posted a flawless clear in the first round, but a slight rub of the first part of the triple combination resulted in a late falling pole in the second round, meant they finished on a total of four faults.
Donald Whitaker from Barnsley, South Yorkshire was third to jump, riding the 10-year-old grey mare Millfield Colette, owned by Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & CO.KG. They had the first part of the triple combination down in the first round but went on to produce a superb clear in the second round, finishing on four faults overall and keeping Great Britain in the hunt for a first place finish.
Joe Whitaker from Barnsley, South Yorkshire took the anchor rider position with his own 11-year-old chestnut gelding Hulahupe JR. The combination rode a foot-perfect clear in the first round and were unlucky to have the final fence hit the sand in the second round, finishing on a total of four faults.
With Austria and Great Britain both finishing on a team score of 4 faults after the second round, the competition for first place would be decided by a jump off. Joe Whitaker was the British rider selected to go head-to-head against Austria’s Christoph Obernauer. With Austria producing a quick clear round, the pressure was on. However, Joe Whitaker and Hulahupe coudln't quite maych it, with a pole at the final fence hitting the ground, it meant Great Britain would finish in second place overall. 2022 winners Ireland finished in third place, with a final team score of 12 faults.
For full results visit: longinestiming.com/equestrian/2023/the-president-of-the-uae-showjumping-cup-abu-dhabi
Image: Equisportif
The GBR showjumping teams are supported by the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme, funded by UK Sport through the National Lottery. The Programme focuses on identifying talent, developing potential and maximising medal-winning performances on the world stage. The teams are further supported by LeMieux, who supply the teams with saddlepads and rugs.
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