The Belgian team clinched the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 title in the finest of style tonight with a fantastic performance in the final round at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP).
They threw down the gauntlet when topping Thursday’s opener in which they pinned Germany and Sweden into joint-second place. But it was the British who emerged to fill runner-up spot this evening, pinning the rampant Dutch back to third when the clock decided the final placings. USA, Ireland and Germany were next in line, also separated only by time when they also finished on an equal scoreline, while Sweden lined up seventh ahead of Switzerland in eighth.
The city of Barcelona certainly welcomed the world with open arms once again, and before tonight’s competition began FEI President, Ingmar de Vos, made a special presentation to Mr Carles Villarubi, Vice-President of FC Barcelona who provided access to the world-famous Camp Nou stadium for a special photo-shoot ahead of the Final.
Tonight’s competition more than lived up to expectations, with fortunes fluctuating wildly and the result once again decided by the very last rider into the arena. The crowd was spell-bound with spectacular jumping from many of the world’s greatest athletes and horses, but the Belgians were the shiniest stars of all, with Judy-Ann Melchior and Gregory Wathelet producing two of just six clear rounds on the night to clinch it.
Final result:
1. Belgium 4 faults: H&M Armstrong van de Kakpel (Olivier Philippaerts) 4, As Cold as Ice Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) 0, For Cento (Jos Lansink) 8, Conrad de Hus (Gregory Wathelet) 0.
2. Great Britain 8 faults in 223.14 seconds: Diva ll (Ben Maher) 4, Spirit T (Jessica Mendoza) 4, Bintang ll (Laura Renwick) 16, Utamaro D’Ecaussines (Joe Clee) 0.
3. Netherlands 8 faults in 226.80 seconds: SFN Zenith NOP (Jeroen Dubbeldam) 12, VDL Groep Verdi Tn NOP (Maikel van der Vleuten) 4, VDL Zirocco Blue NOP (Jur Vrieling) 4, Glock’s Cognac Champblanc (Gerco Schroder) 0.
4. USA 12 faults in 219.61 seconds: Nouvelle (Laura Kraut) 8, Cylana (Reed Kessler) 8, Ohlala (Lauren Hough) 4, Cortes C (Beezie Madden) 0.
5. Ireland 12 faults in 221.64 seconds: All Star (Denis Lynch) 8, MHS Going Global (Greg Broderick) 4, Molly Malone V (Bertram Allen) 8, Good Luck (Cian O’Connor) 0.
6. Germany 12 faults in 223.36 seconds: Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) 4, Fibonacci 17 (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) 0, Cornet D’Amour (Daniel Deusser) 8, Chiara (Ludger Beerbaum) 8.
7. Sweden 16 faults: H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) 8, Tinkabell (Angelie von Essen) 8, Unita Ask (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) 4, Cantinero (Henrik von Eckermann) 4.
8. Switzerland 20 faults: Quorida de Treho (Romain Duguet) 8, Clooney (Martin Fuchs) 4, Bonne Chance CW (Janika Sprunger) 12, Castlefield Eclipse (Paul Estermann) 8.
Full result click here
Photo Source: csiobarcelona on fb