In a thrilling display of equestrian excellence, Israel Lopez of Puerto Rico emerged as the triumphant winner of the FEI Jumping World Challenge 2023, held at the Ranch Equestrian Centre in Polokwane, South Africa. Competing alongside the locally-bred Irish event horse Rivervales Rebel's Destiny, Lopez showcased exceptional skill and determination, securing victory as the sole competitor to maintain a flawless performance throughout all three rounds of the final.

Lopez’s Flawless Performance Shines Bright

Thursday’s rounds saw Lopez qualify in fifth place for Saturday’s final, but he felt his bond with his ride for the week get better with every day.  This was evident by a brief instant in the jump-off where Lopez momentarily lost sight of his track: “I had my first round in mind and I got a little bit lost, but then I figured it out and got him [Rivervales Rebel’s Destiny] under me again, and he really helped me out at that fence!”

Lopez’s plan for the jump-off was to just establish a rhythm and a pace and stay committed to put pressure on Latour, who was riding second. The plan worked perfectly, pressuring the previous winner of this series to chase his time - and hopefully a second victory - inadvertently taking two poles, despite having a fractionally faster time.

Lopez’s Triumph: A Beacon of Hope for Puerto Rican Equestrian Sport

This is Lopez’s first win in the Jumping World Challenge, after having taken the silver in both 2001 and 2002, and he emphasised how a win like this is exceptionally positive not only for the sport in Puerto Rico, but for the children and the development of smaller countries under the equestrian umbrella. 

A Celebration of Global Equestrian Unity

The event showcased international camaraderie, with riders from diverse backgrounds and nations coming together to compete. Valerio Baruzzo of Argentina, who secured the third position, highlighted the significance of such competitions, stating, “This competition is a huge opportunity to compete globally, meeting other passionate people from this sport, and getting to know other places and cultures doing what we all love.” There were 16 competitors from twelve countries, men and women, from ages 16 to 53, speaking to the wonderful equality that equestrian sport offers athletes, spectators, and sponsors. 

Empowering Young Talent: Learning Through Experience

The competition served as a valuable learning opportunity, especially for young athletes, with over half of the class being under the age of twenty. Despite the competitive atmosphere, the event fostered a spirit of learning and growth.

South African rider Mikaela Martin, the youngest rider of the week, reflected on her experience, saying, “It has been such an incredible opportunity to be here, and a great learning opportunity. I pride myself on my ‘big match temperament’ but the pressure of a big event like this really shows up what I still have to learn, where one moment of doubt resulted in an unnecessary pole on a super horse.”

FEI Solidarity: Bridging Gaps, Creating Opportunities

This competition is run under the Solidarity arm of FEI, offering athletes who are unable to participate in international competitions the opportunity to compete internationally. By qualifying competitors in their own countries, and then bringing them together in a central location to compete on borrowed local horses, makes international experience more accessible to the smaller nations under FEI. 

This creates a bridge between the National and first International  level of competition, helping national federations to develop various disciplines in their country; FEI World Challenges exist in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Vaulting, Driving and Para Dressage.

Praise for Host Venue: The Ranch 

The Ranch Equestrian Centre, nestled in the picturesque bushveld of Polokwane, South Africa, served as an exceptional and uniquely African host for this prestigious international event. The venue's top-notch equestrian facilities and convenient stabling ensured a memorable and enjoyable experience for all participants.

Future Prospects for South African Equestrian Sport

Mark White, President of SA Showjumping, expressed gratitude to the owners who provided quality horses for the event, as horse selector Barry Taylor said, “This event will only be as good as the horses we find.” White also expressed hope that the event’s success would pave the way for more global competitions in South Africa, showcasing the nation’s growth in equestrian excellence.

Get all the latest results and info here

Ahead of a six-horse jump-off for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Sacramento (USA), Robert Blanchette (IRL) strategized with his peers. While his fellow riders began to formulate complex plans, he decided to keep things a bit simpler.

"I said, 'I'm going to run like [heck] and see what happens,'" Blanchette said.

He and his longtime partner Chardonnay flew to an uncatchable victory Saturday night at the Murieta Equestrian Center, crossing the timers of Marina Azevedo's (BRA) short course in 38.42 seconds. Sophia Siegel (USA) finished second with A-Girl (45.63 seconds), with Cassio Rivetti (BRA) and Edesa's Vidal 8 third (4/39.46).

The win marked the first in World Cup competition for Blanchette, whose name has become synonymous with speed. His partner shares his affinity for jumping with pace. The pair positively tore around the short course: While other riders protected a final vertical that came at the end of a lengthy gallop lane, Blanchette instead shook the reins at his mare and put full trust in her ability to judge the fence. 

"She's basically perfect. She can go full speed, and then I can walk on a loose rein. She knows when it's time to jump and run, and she knows when it's time to relax."

Robert Blanchette (IRL)

Like a fine wine, Chardonnay has gotten better with age, and at 12 years old, the fiery chestnut mare has found her best stride. Blanchette said a turning point came over the summer, when Chardonnay built up strength and stamina jumping some challenging tracks in Calgary (CAN). Saturday night, the pair dared others to catch them, and when they did, rails fell. Siegel secured second by opting for a more conservative clear. 

"[Chardonnay] is physically stronger...and I think she's getting more confident. I think she's got more scope than I thought she had."

Robert Blanchette (IRL)

Blanchette claimed an early lead in the North American League standings with 20 points, followed by Siegel with 17 points and Rivetti with 15 points.

The NAL continues at Washington (USA) on 28 October 2023.

Full results.

In a creative one-two punch, the highly anticipated Longines League of Nations™ series unveils its brand alongside an all-new digital hub today - a website designed to reflect the fresh, vibrant blueprint of the new series that kicks off in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. 

The new series will mark a new chapter in the illustrious history of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, a competition steeped in tradition whose nation vs nation format dates back to 1909. The revamped series features a unique, unified and global format where the top ten teams compete at four qualifying events around the world, with the top eight making it through to the Final and the opportunity to secure the ultimate honour for their nation. 

Team competition is of the highest importance for the FEI and has played an invaluable role in the development of equestrian globally, as FEI President Ingmar De Vos recently said: 

“This series is about inspiring individuals and nations around the core values of our sport – camaraderie, team spirit, horsemanship and excellence - and for over a century it has played an invaluable role in the development of equestrian globally."

With this forward momentum comes a vibrant new look to the brand, which aims to epitomise the very best of team Jumping and a celebration of teamwork, excellence and unity, and a website that will be sure to make the series stand out visually, and enable fans from around the world to easily follow all the action.

New online hub

Accompanying the launch of the Longines League of Nations™ brand is an all new website that offers a modern, user-friendly experience. With a simple, elegant, and easily navigable design, fans can support their nations and get all the latest information around the series.

Speaking on its concept, FEI Commercial Director, Ralph Straus explained:

“We wanted to complement the launch of this new series with a website that offers a fresh and user-friendly experience and a design that is simple, elegant, and easy to navigate.

 

We are proud that we can now showcase the new Longines League of Nations™ series with this online hub, where everyone can follow their favourite teams, and find all the most up-to-date content across the 4 Qualifiers to the Final on one easy-to-use and mobile-first platform”.

 

On the website, one can find comprehensive information about the series' rules, live results, insights into the five prestigious destinations of the Qualifiers and Final, including ticket purchase options, and stay updated with the latest news, stories, and exclusive interviews from the series. 

As the series continues to evolve, the website will continue to augment and introduce innovative features, reflecting the modern and dynamic spirit of the Longines League of Nations™.

For more information, visit www.leagueofnations.fei.org and stay tuned for the reveal of the 10 qualified nations later this month!

Longines League of Nations™ 2024 Schedule

8 - 11 February:  Abu Dhabi (UAE)
19 - 23 March:  Ocala, FL (USA)
30 May - 2 June:  St. Gallen (SUI)
20 - 23 June:  Rotterdam (NED)
3 - 6 October:  Barcelona (ESP) - Final

Official Longines League of Nations™ Social Media Channels

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/longinesleagueofnations/ 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LonginesLeagueOfNations/ 
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@longinesleagueofnations 
Twitter https://twitter.com/LonginesNations 
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkGw_hjzc7XHuKMzzLxtrIA

South Africa is poised to become a centre of equestrian excellence as it proudly hosts the highly anticipated FEI Jumping World Challenge Final this week. This prestigious event marks the culmination of an exhilarating season, where 16 amateur Jumping athletes from 13 nations will vie for a place on the podium.

History has borne witness to the evolution of the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final since its inception in 2001. Over the years, it has travelled across continents to foster development and unity, and in 2014 it made a historic move to the African continent where it returns this week to the Ranch Equestrian Centre located in Polokwane, the capital of the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Global Hoofprints 

The FEI World Challenge series is an initiative designed to provide athletes with a unique opportunity to compete on an international stage without the usual barriers, such as travel costs and long distances. These "hybrid" competitions bridge the gap between national and international competition levels, enabling National Federations to foster the growth of various equestrian disciplines within their respective countries, promoting not only progress but international relations. 

A Level Playing (and Riding) Field

The road to qualification involves competing locally on identical courses, within the same arena dimensions (65 x 45 metres), meticulously designed by an FEI-appointed Course Designer, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors.

Competition in the FEI Jumping World Challenge is divided into geographical regions, with region host South Africa inviting contemporaries from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, and Iran who unfortunately could not attend.

The pinnacle of this thrilling journey is this, the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final. Featuring the top 16 riders who have qualified by being amongst the two best-placed Category A riders from their regional zone, competing over tracks of 1.20-1.30 metres high, they must now come together to see how they will fare against their counterparts.

A Platform for progress

In addition to its competitive aspect, the FEI Jumping World Challenge also serves an educational purpose, aligning competition with coaching. The technical aspects of the courses correlate with Levels 1 and 2 of the FEI Coach Education System, furthering the sport's development under the auspices of the FEI's Solidarity development portfolio, with a global vision.

Borrowed horses

What sets the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final apart is its competition formula. This exciting event takes place outdoors at The Ranch, featuring horses generously provided by local riders. Participants draw horses at random, with only a limited time to become acquainted with their new equine partners for the week of competition. 

The event is comprised of various stages, including the Welcome Competition, 1st Qualifying Competition, 2nd Qualifying Competition, Farewell Competition, and ultimately the Final Competition held on the 7 October. 

In a remarkable display of talent, Alireza Khoshdel of Iran emerged victorious among a formidable field of global riders at the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final in 2022, held in Bulgaria.

Unity through diversity 

It is worth noting that over 16 starters, four are men and 12 are women, speaking to the diversity of this sport which allows all genders to compete in the same category, and as highlighted by Dominican Republic rider and previous national champion, Giorgia Anna Ieromazzo: “Women can rule the horse world; we are strong, we are fast, we are competitive.”

But even more interesting is the age variance, with the youngest competitors being 16 year olds Mikaela Martin of South Africa and Moroccan U21 champion Melissa Charlier, riding against experienced athletes such as Gayrat Nazarov, representing Uzbekistan at 53 years old. 

When asked what this competition means to them, we repeatedly get the same feedback, whether they are a first-time international campaigner such as Argentinian Juana Ruiz Ocampo, or Christi Paige Nair from Singapore who finished 10th overall in this event last year - the honour of flying your country’s flag in a global event. 

What this format offers developing countries, however, transcends mere performance, and speaks to the underlying nature of sport: connection. As mentioned by Indonesian national champion and one-day Olympic hopeful Natasha Herjawan, as well as Argentinian Valerio Baruzzo, the opportunity to connect with riders from other countries and form relationships remains key to these events, Valerio said;

"For me this is a huge opportunity to compete globally, meeting other passionate people from this sport, and getting to know other places and cultures while doing what I love".

Valerio Baruzzo

Join us in celebrating the global spirit of equestrian excellence as the FEI World Challenge series reshapes the landscape of international competition, bringing the world closer to home from The Ranch Equestrian Centre, Polokwane, 5 - 7 October. 

Live streaming will be available via EquestrianLive on YouTube for 5 and 7 October.

No.	HN	Name of Horse	Owner	Rider	NF
1	120	Rotoflo Capital Harrison	Jade/Clive Robertson	Christina Padilla	PUR
2	104	Callaho Bogart	Barry Taylor	Mathias Cespedes Casal	BOL
3	103	Branic Bullet Proof	Samantha Lofts	Christie Paige Nair	SGP
4	114	NK Domino	Natalie Robertson	Louise de Coriolis	MRI
5	118	Roxstar Bourbon	Tania Davev-Smith	Giorgia Anna leromazzo Latour	DOM
6	107	Farnham For Gold	Barry Taylor	Melissa Charlier	MAR
7	105	Synopsis	Erin O'Dwyer	Mikaela Martin	RSA
8	108	First For Horses WS Seeis Datolya	Dianne Botes	Erin O'Dwyer	RSA
9	117	Rivervales Rebels Destiny	Catalaya Lurie	Israel Lopez	PUR
10	116	Ranch Caramba L C	Jaili Nicolaou	Souhaib Karim Mostefaoui	ALG
11	113	NK Bosporous	Natalie Robertson	Juana Ruiz Ocampo	ARG
12	110	KP Evergreen	Kathleen Allan	Lina Barreto Capelo Beltrao	BRA
13	109	Kondos Give Me A Break	Cathryn McFarlane	Nicholas Nicolle	ZIM
14	111	Locarno Fara Diba	Elinor Capostagno	Natasha Herjawan	INA
15	101	Alpha Nadya	(Tarryn Combrink	Valerio Baruzzo	ARG
16	123	The Ranch's Darc Dancer LC	Jaili Nicolaou	Gayrat Nazarov	UZB

The Asian Games’ Team Jumping competition concluded today, with Saudi Arabia winning gold, Qatar taking silver, and the UAE team in bronze medal position.

Defending champions Saudi Arabia put forward a strong team made up of Abdulrahman Alrajhi, Meshari Alharbi, Ramzy Al Duhami, and Abdullah Alsharbatly. Both Alsharbatly and Al Duhami were on the 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang) and 2010 (Guangzhou) winning teams, with Alsharbatly also being part of the 2006 (Doha) victory. This isn’t the first team appearance for Alrajhi either as he was part of the 2014 (Incheon) team that took silver, but it was Alharbi’s debut team appearance at an Asian Games- what a way to start!

“We came to do one mission, to win the gold, and we did it,” said Alrajhi. 

Al Duhami continued: "It's amazing. It's always nice to be gold and the problem was we had a lot of pressure because the gold was always expected from the Saudi team, so it's so difficult. Anything can go wrong and that was our worry.

"We had to keep our focus, keep our cool and that's the only thing we can do. We just did that and we took it one fence at a time and slowly, slowly we basically got it together and performed when it counted.”

Silver for 2014’s winning team

Previous winners, Qatar, took silver with an accomplished team made up of Bassem Mohammed, Rashid Al Marri, Khalifa Al Thani, and Faleh Al Ajami. Mohammed was part of the gold winning team in 2014 (Incheon) and the bronze winning team in 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang), and Al Ajami was part of the team in 2010 (Guangzhou), providing a mix of experience across the athletes. 

Faultless first and second rounds for UAE

Bronze went to the Team UAE, made up of Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Mohammed Al Hajri, with all four athletes providing faultless first and second rounds, but all horse and rider combinations picking up penalties in the jump off. Al Marri has competed in previous Asian Games in 2006 (Doha) and 2014 (Incheon) where the team took third and fourth respectively, but for the remaining team members, this was their first Asian Games.

The competition was made up of two rounds before the top-ranking teams completed a jump off. The main course measured 140cm with 12 obstacles made up of 15 jumps in all and provided plenty of challenges for the athletes with penalties and eliminations across the teams.

"We came to do one mission, to win the gold, and we did it"

Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA)

Team Saudi Arabia and UAE picked up zero penalty points in the first round with Qatar’s Al Thani adding four, but his score was later discarded due to elimination, meaning this didn’t impact on the overall ranking. In the second round, Saudi Arabia and UAE maintained zero penalties across all four athletes, giving them maximum opportunity to come home with a medal. 

Moving into round two, Japan and Kuwait were also on zero penalties with both teams adding jump faults to the team scores during the second phase, ruling them out of the final part of the competition.

Jump-off excitement

The jump-off was crucial in the final medal positions. Saudi Arabia’s Alrajhi added nine penalties to his total, but due to the other three athletes adding zero penalties in the final phase, the gold medal went to Saudi Arabia. Qatar’s Al Ajami and Al Marri added zero penalties to the team score with Mohammed picking up four. 

UAE picked up penalties across all athletes with Al Hajri adding 16 to his score, and Al Marri, Al Marzooqi and Al Suwaidi adding four each, a total of 12, moving the team into bronze position.

The Individual Jumping competition awaits

The final equestrian event, Individual Jumping, will see 54 athletes battle against each other for the gold medal. Defending champion, Kuwait’s Ali Al Khorafi, is due to compete, alongside 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang) bronze medal winner Ramzy Al Duhami, fresh from Team Saudi Arabia’s gold today. 

Individual athletes will be jumping from China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, UAE, and Uzbekistan.

The competition begins at 0900 local time on October 6 with the first round, before the concluding round takes place from 1500 hours. This follows the second horse inspection that will take place on October 5, to ensure all horses and fit and sound for competition the following day.

Results here

Boekelo has never failed to draw a high-calibre of international competitors through the gate,  but this year’s FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ entry list offers the cream of Eventing stars from across the world. The line-up includes the Olympic, World and European Champions, as well as five of the top ten riders in the FEI Eventing World Athlete rankings. In addition, the Dutch event has taken on extra significance as the final opportunity for nations to qualify their team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Boekelo is by many considered the crown jewels of Dutch Eventing, and has played host to the final leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ for several years. This year it has attracted over 110 riders from 15 nations and it is guaranteed to offer a masterclass of Eventing with leading riders from across the globe. Tokyo Olympic individual gold medalist Julia Krajewski is competing with her exciting Holsteiner stallion Nickel 21, the horse who helped the German team win the last Nations Cup leg which took place in Arville in August. Julia previously won Boekelo in 2018. World Champion Yasmin Ingham brings the ever-consistent Rehy DJ to the party, along with Olympic team gold medalist Laura Collett who won the prestigious Boekelo title in 2019. Then there is European Champion and current leader in the World rankings, Rosalind Canter who has two horses entered. The British team lifted the title last year and whilst the Nations Cup Team has not yet been finalised, Phil Surl, their Chef d’Equipe will have 19 combinations to choose from.

World No. 2 Tim Price, and his wife Jonelle Price are regulars and crowd favourites at Boekelo and it has been a happy hunting ground for Tim who won the individual title in 2017 and again last year. Australia is fielding an experienced group of riders including Kevin McNab, Megan Jones and William Levett. Whilst the Americans are flying over a strong contingent of riders, many of whom hope to prove their worth of Olympic selection, with Chef d’Equipe and former Olympic Champion Leslie Law at the helm. The team includes several rising stars such as Hallie Coon and Jennie Brannigan, as well as team stalwart 60 year old Phillip Dutton, a previous Olympic champion in Atlanta (1996). 

The entry list from France shows the strength and depth that the Olympic host nation offers in the discipline of Eventing, with a number of medal winning riders amongst the group, such as Nicolas Touzaint, Maxime Livio and Christopher Six. Dutch National coach Andrew Heffernen has thirteen Dutch combinations entered, who will undoubtedly delight their home crowd at this popular event. 

In terms of the Olympic ticket, the highest placed team according to the final team classification of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series 2023, who have not already qualified, will be allocated a place. Italy is the only team entered here, who have not already qualified, and are currently sitting in second place in the Series behind Belgium.

It was perhaps a surprise not to see Spain on the entries list, as they have not yet qualified a team for Paris and are currently lying fourth in the Series. Belgium are already qualified, after success at the FEI European Championships this year, but they will certainly not be resting on their laurels. They go into the final with 600 points so are almost certain of overall victory. 

This is the eighth and final fixture in the popular FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, which saw 16 nations compete for the prestigious title over eight fixtures. There will be one final chance of Olympic qualification later this month for some nations including Brazil and Argentina. This will be at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile which takes place from 26-29 October.

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a human anti-doping case.  

A sample taken from the Brazilian athlete Pedro Stefani Marino (FEI ID 10017829) on 5 December 2021 during the CEI3* 160 Punta del Este (URU), returned positive for the Prohibited Substance Carboxy-THC. Carboxy-THC is a metabolite of THC (Cannabis) and is included in the Class “S8 Cannabinoids” of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List 2021. The athlete was notified of the violation of the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) on 2 February 2022.  

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal decided to suspend the athlete for a period of two years, starting from the date of the Final Decision (2 October 2023). Additionally, all competitive results of the Athlete obtained at the Event and from the date of the hearing onwards (15 May 2023) were disqualified with all the relevant consequences (forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes, etc.). Any competitive results from the conclusion of the Event up until the date of the hearing remained valid. Finally, the Athlete was imposed a fine of CHF 7,500 and ordered to pay costs of CHF 5,000.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.

The full text of the FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision is available here.

Notes to Editors:

FEI Clean Sport - human athletes

The FEI is part of the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of this movement is to protect fair competition as well as athlete health and welfare.

WADA’s Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods prohibited in- and out-of-competition, and in particular sports. The substances and methods on the List are classified by different categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping).

As a WADA Code Signatory, the FEI runs a testing programme for human athletes based on WADA’s List of Prohibited List of Substances and Methods and on the Code-compliant FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).

For further information, please consult the Clean Sport section of the FEI website here.

Team China made history for Chinese equestrian sport as the eventing competition at the 19^th Asian Games concluded by winning gold in both the individual and team events. This is the first time that the Chinese team or an individual has won a gold since equestrian sport was introduced at the Asian Games in 1982 (New Delhi), marking a significant step in Chinese equestrian sport.

Making history

Team China put in brilliant jumping rounds with none of the team members adding to the overall score of 86.80 following yesterday’s cross country phase. The running order meant that Team China were some of the last to enter the ring, building the suspense as the competition progressed, particularly as Team Japan put in faultless jumping rounds, finishing on the team cross country score of 92.70, meaning less than two fences between them.

Three combinations from the team entered the jumping phase Yingfeng Bao with Newmarket Ritz, Huadong Sun with Lady Chin V’t Moerven Z, and Alex Hua Tian with Poseidons Admiral. Bao jumped in position 11, Sun in 13, and Hua Tian was the last to jump keeping everyone on the edge of their seats as both team and individual gold was on the line for Hua Tian. The fourth member of Team China, Ruiji Liang with Kiriaantje, withdrew before the final phase after failing to pass the horse inspection following cross country.

“It’s taken a lifetime to get here,” said Hua Tian. “We all started riding when we were young, we have a professional career as well. We have years to build a network of horse owners and a team. It’s not just one rider and one horse, there’s a huge network behind each of us to get here. In terms of this championships, the goal has been set… this is very much part of the onward journey.”

Team Japan stays on cross country score

Silver was won by Team Japan with Kazuhiro Yoshizawa and Penny Grans, Yusuke Nakajima and Credit Krunch, and Shoto Kusumoto and Vick Du Gisors Jra entering the arena to jump following Kenta Hiranaga and Duke of Sussex’s elimination on the cross country course yesterday.  The team stayed on the combined total of 92.70 following cross country.

Faultless jumping from Team Thailand

Team Thailand maintained bronze medal position delivering four faultless jumping rounds from all four team members: Supap Khaw-Ngam with Canadian Club M, Weerapat Pitakanonda with Carnival March, Preecha Khunjan with Clair De Lune Blanc Rw, and Korntawat Samran with Billy Elmy. Team Hong Kong finished in fourth.

Double gold for China’s Hua Tian

Moving onto the Individual Eventing, China’s Alex Hua Tian won on his dressage score of 27.00, adding no faults in the cross country or jumping phases. This is Hua Tian’s third Asian Games but his best finish with him taking silver in 2014 (Incheon) and bronze in 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang).

“Competing for the first time in mainland China is extremely special,” said Hua Tian, “As soon as Hangzhou was announced as the host city for these championships, it’s been a huge goal for me and my team to be here and do as well as possible. In the past Asian Games, I’ve used it as a stepping stone for young horses… it’s always been very important to me, but this one even more so. I wanted to bring a horse that could be as competitive as possible this week. It’s very special and very rare for me to compete in front of a home crowd. I’ve always been extremely proud to represent my home country, China, but I made the decision to do this intentionally and fly the flag around the world, so to be able to come back home and do it here is very special.”

Thailand’s Korntawat Samran took silver, also finishing on his dressage score of 27.90. This is Samran’s second Asian Games with him finishing in 9^th in the individual competition in 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang). The bronze medal was won by Japan’s Kazuhiro Yoshizawa who also finished on his dressage score of 28.60. Overnight bronze position was held by Hong Kong’s Annie Ho, but four jumping faults picked up in the final phase meant she dropped down to scoreboard, finishing in eighth individually.

Ho wasn’t the only athlete to pick up faults in the jumping phase with two of her teammates, Daniella Lin and Patrick Lam also adding to their cross country score. India’s Apurva Dabhade picked up both jumping and time penalties, adding to his final score.

This concludes the eventing competition at the 19^th Asian Games in Hangzhou, with the final equestrian event, jumping, due to start on October 3. This begins with the first horse inspection before October 4 sees a packed day of competition. The schedule features two individual qualifier rounds and two team rounds, including the final team round which is a medal winning event. The final equestrian event will take place on October 6 with the individual jumping competition.

Dominating from start to finish, reigning World Champion Martin Hölle (HUN) left no doubt that the World Pairs title was going to be his for the 4th consecutive time in France.  And as a team, the Hungarians left no doubt that they were going to win their 6th consecutive and record breaking 10th title, one they first won 1989.  

Towards the end of two days of Dressage on Friday afternoon, a hush descended on the crowd as Martin entered the arena and presented a sublime test to score 36.92. His stunning grey KWPN gelding, Eppie, who is now 14 and has been the secret to much of Martin’s success, was paired with the black KWPN 9 year old, Juventus.  

The closest rival was Franck Grimonprez (FRA), for the host nation, who drove a fine test to finish second on 41.25; in 3rd was Martin’s teammate Kristóf Osztertág (HUN) with 48.46.  Germany’s Anna Sandmann, recently a member of the silver medal team at the European Four-in-Hand Championship in Exloo (NED), produced an on-form test to finish 4th on 48.82.

The Marathon had the new format warm-up Section A followed by Section B with eight obstacles designed by Hungarian Gabor Fintha, who also designed the course for the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final earlier in the year in Bordeaux (FRA).  There were options for both tight and longer routes, but the presence of plenty of penalty balls proved to be expensive for some athletes.

Throughout the day, fans gathered round the corralled enclosures surrounding each obstacle, especially the two waters at numbers five and six, set against the backdrop of the iconic Chateau.

Most athletes take three horses to a pairs competition so to use different combinations for the phases is normal.  Martin gave Eppie a day off on Saturday and used a new horse he had purchased at the start of the summer from Dutch driver Theo Timmerman after being impressed with its Marathon performance.  

To use such a new horse at a World Championship is a gamble, and Martin had only driven King’s Gambit at two events leading up to the Worlds.  However, the 13 year old paired well with Juventus and they flew through the obstacles, clocking up some of the fastest times of the day, ending in 3rd place on 101.03, a score which also counted towards team success. 

Beating him on the Marathon were his teammate György Fekete Jr. (HUN) with 100.90 and Marcel Luder (SUI) who won the phase with the only sub-100 total of the day of 99.14.  Driving his Swiss Freiburger horses, Marcel impressed throughout the event and kept his cool to also win the Cones on Sunday, which sealed his first individual silver medal.

With all attention on Hungary for the golds, as the Swiss squad arrived in Le Pin the word was that they were going to be particularly strong on the Marathon phase.  Their veteran team member, Werner Ulrich, who also drives a Four-in-Hand, has been a multiple medallist for nearly 30 years and was joined on the team by his son Stefan.  

Like Marcel, the father and son drove consistently well over the three phases, and they all finished in the top ten to take team silver medal.  It was the first time the Swiss had won a team medal since their bronze in Poznan (POL) in 1995.

The Dutch had set their sights on a podium place in Le Pin and while it wasn’t to be for the team as they ended in 4th, Erik Evers (NED) sealed his individual bronze by finishing 2nd in the Cones behind Marcel’s winning 0.37 score.

Sitting in 8th place after the first two phases, Erik drove a superb round with only 2.39 time penalties and could sit back and watch as those after him amassed the faults, while he climbed up the order.  

Going into the final phase, the French team were in silver position with Frank Dutilloy also in silver individually, keeping hopes alive after Franck Grimonprez’s disappointing Marathon.  However, the pressure told as he clocked up the penalties during the Cones to slip down the ranks, as did Australia’s Tor Van Den Berge who was lying in bronze after the Marathon.  
The Germans held their heads high by taking team bronze and fending off the Dutch and French.  Despite coming into the Cones with chances of individual medals, they didn’t produce the low-fault rounds that were needed.  

There were no double clears as the repeated turns throughout the course meant that if the pace was picked up to get near to the time, there was more risk of the balls rolling.  In spite of the strong Swiss challenge, they were held at bay by the individual brilliance of Martin and the flair of the Hungarians on the Marathon, a phase they have long specialised in with Horse Pairs.

It was a triumphant event at the revamped Haras du Pin. The facilities, in particular the 300 stables which housed the 270 horses during the event, were spectacular.  The surface for the Dressage and Cones in the main sand arena was ideal, as it was in the warm-up zones away from the main competition.  The beautiful Parc du Hautbois provided a bucolic setting and the grass held up well during the Marathon for the 91 athletes from 25 nations who gathered for a world class event in Normandy.   

FULL RESULTS

Team Germany posted a convincing victory on the last day of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today with their zero scoreline giving them a two-fence advantage over their nearest rivals from France, Belgium and Brazil who filled the next three placings.

But it was a difficult day for Team USA when their finishing score of nine saw them slot into fifth place and miss out on the much-sought-after qualifying spot on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which instead went to Brazil. 

Switzerland and Great Britain finished sixth and seventh with 12 faults apiece, again separated by the combined times of their team members, while Team Ireland finished eighth and last when putting 13 faults on the board.

It was a very satisfying victory for the Germans who last won in Barcelona in 2016. “I’m a lucky guy as Chef d’Equipe of this team, I’m super happy and super proud of them, they rode very well”, said Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker this evening.

Imposing

Spanish course designer Santiago Varela presented an imposing 14-fence track with multiple forward and holding distances along with a total of 18 jumping efforts that finished with a massive final line of a triple combination to a liverpool vertical standing at 1.63m, located right next to the in-gate.

The Germans didn’t get off to the best start when pathfinder Jana Wargers and the 14-year-old mare Dorette hit both the second element of the rustic double at fence 11 and the middle element of the triple combination one fence from home. But Christian Kukuk and the 13-year-old gelding Checker 47 were rock solid when next to go for their side, and when Hans-Dieter Dreher and the fabulous grey Elysium also left the course intact despite some tricky moments, then it came down to Richard Vogel to seal it with the always-extravagant United Touch S. And they didn’t disappoint.

The 11-year-old stallion very nearly jumped his rider out of the saddle over the first fence, but Vogel held on to produce a magnificent round to leave his side well ahead of the rest of the opposition at the end of the day.

Olivier Perreau and GL Events Doral D’Aiguilly produced the only clear for France while Simon Delestre (I Amelusina R 51), Francois Xavier Boudant (Brazyl du Mezel) and recently crowned European individual bronze medallist Julien Epaillard (Dubai du Cedre) all picked up four faults to leave them on a tally of eight when the best three scores were counted. And their faster combined times of 249.74 gave them the edge over the third-placed Belgian side of Koen Vereecke (Lector VD Bisschop), Niels Bruynseels (Delux van T&L), Wilm Vermeir (IQ Van het Steentje) and Gregory Wathelet (Bond Jamesbond de Hay). 

Other business

The Brazilians had other business to attend to, with the Olympic qualification undecided until almost the very end of today’s competition. It was wide open after four faults from Pedro Veniss (Nimrod de Muze Z) and 10 from Stephan de Freitas Barcha (Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio), but the new addition to the team, former Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz, pulled it back with a spectacular clear round from Vertigo du Desert. So when Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom) returned with just four faults, they could count just eight in total at the end of the day and that would do the trick.

The Americans looked to have the situation under control after just single errors from both McLain Ward (Callas) and Karl Cook (Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet), but the addition of eight from Devin Ryan (Eddie Blue) left them vulnerable. So although she left all the timber intact, it was the single time fault from their anchor partnership of multiple champion Laura Kraut and Dorado 212 that would cost them dearly, dropping them a single penalty point behind the Brazilians and leaving them facing into yet another Olympic qualification battle in four weeks’ time at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

The excitement in the Brazilian camp was palpable, and Diniz was thrilled to have contributed to their success today. “It’s 18 years since I last rode for Brazil and this was my first show after nearly a two years break. To be in the official team of Brazil in the final of the Nations Cup and to have to qualify for the Olympic Games was so much pressure in a way, but I was just so grateful to be here and now we have this amazing result!”, she said of her horse.

Reflected

Meanwhile Germany’s Christian Kukuk reflected on how the competition played out for his side today.

“There was a bit of pressure on me after Jana started with eight but I think also I need it a little bit! I came here with a very good feeling, I knew we had a really strong team, all five of us during the whole season. I was disappointed with one down on Thursday and I really wanted to do better today and it was good it went well. I was fighting all the way around, my horse jumped good again and I’m really, really happy to sit here as a winner now!”, he said.

He took up the ride on Checker from his boss, Ludger Beerbaum, only two months ago and the pair have already gelled into a great partnership. “I started with a couple of second places at 4-Star shows and then he did great at a 5-Star show and I won a class in Rome and I came here with a very good feeling. I was a bit disappointed with one down (on Thursday) but then we brought it on point today and that made me very happy. But I would be nothing without the other three sitting here and don’t forget Jörne (Sprehe) our back-up. She was a good colleague here, a part of the team and we had a lot of fun here which is very important for the team spirit. So we are very happy tonight!”, he added.

There was a €100,000 bonus on offer to riders who completed double-clears between Thursday and today and it was shared between Hans Dieter Dreher, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir.

Dreher admitted he was lucky to leave the first element of the double at fence five in place this afternoon, but was thrilled with how his eye-catching grey performed all week. “Elysium has had a really good season!”, he said.

Sitting on a tiger

As for Vogel, although he found himself sitting on a tiger because United Touch was so fresh, he was bursting with pride for the performance he produced today that left his team in a league of their own and on the top step of the podium. 

“I was hoping I could do something for the team because until this afternoon I felt like someone who was watching the show but not taking part in it!”, he said with a laugh this evening. He didn’t have to jump as anchorman in Thursday’s first round because his team were already qualified for today’s second and deciding round without calling him up. 

He said when he walked today’s course he wasn’t a big fan of it “because my horse has a huge stride and always the combinations are difficult for him. We had two doubles and one triple combination, and I said to Otto that gives me a headache, but he just said “take an aspirin!”

Talking about nearly getting dislodged from the stallion over the first fence he explained, “always when he starts, especially at fence number one, he likes to do a spectacular jump and maybe I was a bit rusty because I was only a visitor for the rest of the week! It’s pure energy with him, he’s so strong and has so much scope!” he pointed out.

Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker thanked everyone at the Real Club de Polo for a great week at this week’s event. “We are here for ten years for the Longines Final and I’m really happy that it will come back here again, it’s the perfect place for it. All week there has been a beautiful atmosphere and that’s how we want to see the sport”, he said.

Results here