BRITS REMAIN SECOND ON THE LEADERBOARD AFTER FALSTERBO

Great Britain still sit Second on the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup League Table following the fifth leg of the series which took place in Falsterbo this afternoon in the very south-western tip of Sweden.

 

This series of eight competitions see’s Great Britain compete with a total of nine other nations for their position in the Top Level Nations Cup League which will result in four nations relegated at the end of the series.

 

Finding themselves in joint fourth place with the Netherlands and Ireland after the first round having finished on a total score of eight penalities it was home team Sweden who were in pole position on a penalty score of Zero with both USA and France in joint second with four penalities.

 

First to go for Great Britain in the jump off was William Funnell with his nine year old British Bred stallion Billy Congo who was making his debut at this tier of competition.   Having an unfortunate four penalties in the first round, a further two poles rolled in the second incurring eight penalties.

 

Next to go was Mark Armstrong with his and wife Emma’s fourteen year old bay mare Thesaura. Having  finished on a a total of sixteen penalties in the first round to become the discount score, the combination had a much better second round finishing on a penalty score of eight.

 

Tina Fletcher following with Lady Pauline Harris’ in-form eleven year old chestnut gelding Hello Sailor having jumped a foot perfect clear in the first round produced another immaculate round but an extremely unfortunate time fault was incurred when they came through the finish just a fraction over the time allowed.

 

Last to go, Tim Stockdale with Colin Garratt’s nine year old bay gelding Fresh Direct Kalico Bay - another young horse making his debut, carried forward four penalties into the second round in which an unlucky eight penalties incurred.   Adding the scores together Britain were therefore left on a total score of 25 penalties and in seventh position within the competition.

 

Rob Hoekstra, World Class Showjumping Performance Manager commented from Falsterbo “We came out here to give some of our talented young horses the experience of competing at this level. When you consider that three of the horses were competing for the first time within this series and only went out on their first Promotional League Nations Cup earlier this year it just shows what superb talent we have coming through. As far as I’m concerned, and I’m sure you will agree this is a tremendous result for us”.

 

The British Showjumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme.

 

 

 

 

1st       Sweden – 9 penalties

2nd      Netherlands – 12 penalities

4th       Spain – 21 penalities

France – 21 penalities

            William Funnell / Billy Congo – 4/8

            Mark Armstrong / Thesaura – 16/8

Tina Fletcher / Hello Sailor – 0/1

Tim Stockdale / Fresh Direct Kalico Bay – 4/8

 

 

Full results can be viewed at www.falsterbohorseshow.se