THANKS to their second-place finish last weekend, Germany, on 670 points, won the 2017 FEI Nations’ Cup eventing series ahead of Britain (590) and France (390).

The three-star competition was contested over nine events throughout Europe, plus The Plains in the USA, with Boekelo hosting the only leg run under the CCI format. Ireland, one of 18 nations to take part in this year’s series, finished eighth on 200 points having competed at Tattersalls, Aachen and Boekelo.

Germany, which fielded a team at seven out of the nine legs, won at Strzegom (Poland), Houghton Hall (Britain), Wiener Neustadt (Austria), on home ground at Aachen and at Waregem (Belgium).

The team, which was also third at Haras du Pin in France, was winning the Nations’ Cup series for the fourth time since it began in 2012.

Britain, overall winners in 2013 and 2015, contested all nine legs with their seven counting scores including second-place finishes at Strzegom, Houghton Hall, Tattersalls, Haras du Pin and Waregem. They had a 10-point advantage over Germany going into the final leg but had a disappointing weekend at Boekelo where just one team member (Holly Woodhead) completed.

2018 SERIES

France, which contested five legs, won at both Tattersalls and at their home event in Haras du Pin.

There are eight legs scheduled for the 2018 FEI Nations’ Cup series which gets underway in April at the Italian venue of Vairano, Vidigulfo with Kilguilkey House hosting the Irish leg at the end of June.