THE Dutch claimed victory in the FEI Furusiyya Nations Cup on home soil for the first time in 13 years last Friday at CHIO Rotterdam, with all four riders leaving the rails in the cups over two rounds to secure the top spot on the league leaderboard.
Led by chef d’equipe Rob Ehrens, the Dutch team of Harrie Smolders, Jur Vrieling, Willem Greve and Maikel Van Der Vleuten laid down one clear round after another. Van Der Vleuten didn’t have to come back to jump again such was their winning margin.
Switzerland fought for a second place finish on a total of four faults, with Martin Fuchs on Cloony 51 and Steve Guerdat with Nino Des Buissonnets both scoring double clears. Janika Sprunger’s first round four faults with Bonne Chance CW was all Switzerland added to their total, despite Paul Estermann not having the day he wanted aboard the Irish-bred Castlefield Eclipse for the uncharacteristic drop score in both rounds.
Germany was just a rail behind to finish in 3rd place, despite a double clear from Marcus Ehning and Funky Fred, and a round two clear from Daniel Deusser with Equita van T Zorgvliet.
Peder Fredericson was his nation’s hero of the day with H&M All L - their double clear rounds pulled Sweden up the ranks to finish in fourth place. Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H & M Cue Channa 42 continued recent good form to jump strongly with no jumping faults and just one time fault in round one.
The Americans had no clear round in round one, which left them just ahead of the Belgiums going in to the second round where they improved to move up to fifth place. Kent Farrington and Voyeur, Laura Kraut and Zeremonie, and Beezie Madden with Cortes ‘C’ all jumped clear in round two, which left Callan Solem and VDL Wizard as the discard score in both rounds.
Belgium finished in sixth place while France and Britain filled out the bottom of the order. One bright spot was France’s Penelope Leprevost and Flora de Mariposa jumping double clear.
In the league overall standings, France and Britain are still in strong positions, holding second and third place. After Rotterdam, The Netherlands lead Europe Division 1 as the Nations Cup action moved to Falsterbo.
DINIZ SPARKLES
Portugal’s Luciana Diniz rode the 12-year-old chesnut mare Fit For Fun (For Pleasure x Fabriano) to a win in last Sunday’s $200,000 Longines Grand Prix Port of Rotterdam CHIO***** from a starting list of 50. There were 17 clears in round one over Dutch course designer’s Luis Knockx’s track, which caused some controversy in the jump-off with the positioning of fences near an unused water jump.
“I’m very, very proud of my horse, and everything is fantastic,” Diniz said after crossing the line in 41.49 seconds.
America’s Kent Farrington and Creedance lost by 0.46 of a second for the runner-up place. All eyes shifted to his teammate McLain Ward aboard the mare HH Azur, double clear in the Nations Cup rounds who crossed the finish timers in 42.89 - a time equal to that of Harrie Smolders with the stallion Emerald N.O.P. - the two shared third place in a rare tie.
France’s Penelope Leprevost and Flora de Mariposa took a fall through a fence which sent both crashing to the ground. Flora de Mariposa quickly scrambled to her feet and Leprevost walked away unhurt as well.
France’s Roger Yves-Bost and Sydney Une Prince took fifth place while Marc Houtzager finished in sixth. Schroder was seventh and Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum completed the top eight with Casello.