GREAT BRITAIN SHARE THIRD PLACE & FRANCE SCORE AT HOME IN LA BAULE
Friday 14 May 2010
It was a home win for France in the first round of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup in the seaside resort of La Baule this afternoon, Friday 14th May. With grandstands absolutely packed to the gunnels the stadium erupted when current European Champion, Kevin Staut with the twelve year old bay stallion Kraque Boom jumped the crucial clear to secure their win.
The entire competition proved to be one that kept the thousands of spectators present glued to their seats with everything left to play for until the last with Great Britain alongside France and the United States in joint first place after the first round.
With the United States taking second place with a team total of eight faults, it was Great Britain with Germany who shared third place on twelve faults.
For Britain, it was anchorman Peter Charles with Olga White’s consistent eleven year old bay gelding Murka’s Pom d’Ami who produced a foot perfect double clear in both rounds ensuring Britain’s third place.
Clear rounds were also produced by Michael Whitaker and Beatrice Mertens bay gelding GIG Amai in addition to Scott Brash making his debut at this level of competition with the black gelding Intertoy Z. Mark Armstrong with his own bay mare Thesaura also produced an impressive first round, but an unfortunate error in the second round really showed what an extremely honest and scopey mare she is when she jumped herself out of trouble in a particularly short striding treble.
Speaking from La Baule, World Class Showjumping Performance Manager and Chef d’equipe Rob Hoekstra commented “I am highly delighted with the Team today, not only in their performance but also in the way they have pulled together as a team of five out here in La Baule. The four riders competing were a true mixture of experience and youth, I consider it a great start to the season and we now look forward to Rome.
The next leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup takes place in Rome at the Piazza Di Sienna during the CSIO 5* show, 27-30th May 2010. Further information on the series can be found by visiting www.meydanfeinationscup.org
The British Showjumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme.
Results
Rank Country Penalties
1 France 4
2 USA 8
3 Great Britain 12
3 Germany 12
5 Spain 14
6 Ireland 16
7 Switzerland 17
8 Sweden 25
Rank Country Penalties
1 France 4
2 USA 8
3 Great Britain 12
3 Germany 12
5 Spain 14
6 Ireland 16
7 Switzerland 17
8 Sweden 25