Next Sunday’s opening leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Oslo (NOR) looks set to be a cracker with two former series champions and five of the top-10 riders in the world rankings, including the man in the number one slot, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, in the star-studded field.

The new season is a busy one, visiting 14 CSI5*-W fixtures in 11 countries between October 2022 and the end of February 2023. Oslo will be followed by Helsinki (FIN) and Lyon (FRA) later this month, and then it will be on to Verona (ITA), Stuttgart (GER) and Madrid (ESP) in November.

La Coruña (ESP) leads the way into the December action which will continue with the British leg at the London-ExCel arena, while the popular Belgian event in Mechelen will bring 2022 to a close.

There will be five qualifying rounds still to run when 2023 gets underway with a visit to Basel, St Jakobshalle (SUI) in early January swiftly followed by legs in Leipzig (GER) and Amsterdam (NED). The last two will take place in Bordeaux (FRA) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February by which time all eyes will be turning to Omaha (USA) where the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 will take place from 4 to 8 April.

Eleventh time

This will be the eleventh time for the Final to return to the USA since the inaugural finale in 1979, and the second time for it to be held in Omaha.

US riders have only taken the title twice on home soil - first when Conrad Homfeld won through with Balbuco at the second edition in Baltimore in 1980 and then in Omaha 37 years later where McLain Ward realised a long-held ambition when coming out on top with HH Azur in 2017.

However America holds the record for most victories down the years with a total of 11 from the 42 editions, while Germany is next best with 10.

With the seven best results counting for each rider, and the top 18 earning a ticket to the 2023 Final, early points on the Western European League table are always an asset. But they won’t be going cheap this weekend because so many of the biggest names in the sport will be chasing down the maximum 20.

On fire

Since taking team gold and individual fourth place with King Edward at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, world number one Henrik von Eckermann has been on fire. This summer the pair clinched double-gold at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) and the 41-year-old rider arrives in Norway this week fresh from recent wins in Spruce Meadows (CAN) and New York (USA) so is clearly still on top form.

However Dutchmen Harrie Smolders (ranked 4th) and Maikel van der Vleuten (8th), Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli (7th) and French star Kevin Staut (10th) are also in the mix along with two members of the Belgian team that won the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022 title just eight days ago - rising star Gilles Thomas and veteran Gregory Wathelet.

The 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final podium was an all-European affair headed up by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, and for the second time in his career Harrie Smolders finished second while Sweden’s Jens Fredricson finished third.

Listed

Currently ranked 99th, Fredricson is listed for Oslo with Markan Cosmopolit, the horse with which, alongside von Eckermann, he helped clinch that team gold for Sweden with brilliant performances at the World Championship this summer where the pair also finished individually tenth. This horse/athlete combination are always a force to be reckoned with.

Add in 2014 series champion Daniel Deusser and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat who has three FEI Jumping World Cup™ titles on his impressive resume and it’s clear that this opening round of the new season will be no walk-in-the-park.

Norway’s Geir Gulliksen is back in the saddle after recovering from a fall that left him out of commission for several months, so the home side will also be coming out with all guns blazing when the action gets underway next Sunday at 15.30 local time.

So don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

For all the latest information about the LONGINES FEI Jumping World Cup™ season 2022/2023 check out the new Series Hub HERE 

Stay up-to-date with results, articles, interviews, videos and much more while following the action all the way to the Final.

Oslo website here 

FEI Jumping World Cup™ here

An all-female team from Great Britain led throughout the three phases of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™, which was held in Boekelo (NED) this weekend. The team consisted of seasoned campaigners Laura Collett, who won team gold at the Tokyo Olympics, former World Champion Rosalind Canter, together with Sarah Bullimore and Kirsty Chabert. Their three-phase team total of 95.7 was enough to put them ahead of New Zealand on 101.1 and France on 110.1. Germany  wound up fourth in Boekelo but finished as overall Champions of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series on a final point score of 450, with Italy in overall second on 415 points, and Sweden in third place on 375.

Phillip Surl is Chef d’Equipe of the British Nations Cup team and was delighted with his team’s performance in Boekelo. “There have been some challenges this week. With a change of personnel after the trot-up on Wednesday. Yasmin (Ingham) was meant to be in the team but her horse had a little accident on the walk back from the trot-up and as she was due to run first for the British team on Thursday, we thought it best to let her run individually and do her dressage on Friday instead.  So that meant Kirsty (Chabert) came into the team last minute.”

“The dressage was very solid and they performed well in the cross-country. The course has had a facelift and is always tricky because it runs over so many different landowners.  I believe there are over 20 landowners involved in making Boekelo run so that is not without its challenges. Everyone felt it was beefed up and it certainly got the riders’ attention. It was a proper four-star and the difference is the crowds at this event. It is unique- there are a lot of spectators and they are very close to the course and that’s all part of the experience. The main arena is a proper championship experience and the young horses definitely have to grow up.”

Boekelo proved as popular as ever with around 60,000 spectators arriving to watch some of the best riders in the world. This included the recently crowned FEI Eventing World Champion, Yasmin Ingham and the current World Number One and Two in the FEI standings, Tim and Jonelle Price who were part of the second placed New Zealand team. Tim Price also wound up in first place individually in this long format competition, finishing on his dressage score. Laura Collett led throughout but after dislodging a pole in the final jumping phase, she slipped to third place behind Tim and her fellow Tokyo teammate Tom McEwen, who was riding as an individual. 

“Laura was unlucky to have a pole,” says Surl. “She had a very solid week otherwise and Sarah (Bullimore) had a very challenging time in the jumping which is not normal for that horse but that’s how it rolls sometimes. We used a few lives up to stay in pole position but that’s the name of the game.”

Surl believes the The Nations Cup is valuable in giving riders and horses match-practice in being part of a team and the extra pressure that comes with that.  “If you take it back to its early years, there are a lot of riders who have cut their teeth in the Series. Next year will be a golden ticket year as it was in 2019, so there will be a lot of teams chasing qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024. 

“A lot of nations use the Series in different ways. We are lucky with the strength and depth that we are able to be fairly competitive at every one we go to, but over the years there are riders and also horses now at top level who have started out competing internationally through this system. We have certainly used it for the young horses coming through, and if they cope with this and grow from the experience, it's always going to be useful later on in their careers”

This year’s Nations Cup Series has proved popular, attracting nations from around the world to compete at a total of eight events staged in Europe and Canada. It will begin again next season, where several nations still not qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be looking for good results and riders will be looking to impress selectors.

FULL RESULTS

FINAL FEI EVENTING NATIONS CUP STANDINGS

Swail picks up where he left off in Sacramento

Heading into the opening leg of the 2022-2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League season in Sacramento (USA), the expectations of Conor Swail (IRL) were high. Swail not only won Sacramento's World Cup leg a year ago, but he also led the NAL in points at season's end.

He picked up right where he left off, defending his Sacramento title with Vital Chance de la Roque and jumping into a familiar place at the top of the NAL standings Saturday night before a sold-out crowd at the Murieta Equestrian Center.

"[Vital Chance] has had an incredible year. Every time I ride him, I know he's going to give me a good shot [to win]. The two of us just seem to have a good partnership. Today, he jumped so well."

-Conor Swail (IRL)

Olaf Petersen, Jr.'s (GER) course proved tough to navigate, and a clear round was not produced until Swail cracked the code 19 riders into the starting order. The jump-off field would ultimately consist of three, and Swail put his competitors away with a second clear effort in a sharp time of 38.19 seconds, impressing with two bold inside turns. No one could match him, but a duo of rising talent followed him on the podium, with 20-year-old Sophia Siegel and A-Girl second (4/50.02 seconds) and Natalie Dean (USA) third with Chance Ste Hermelle (8/43.65).

"When you go first [in a jump-off of this size], you're either first, second or third. I'd prefer to be first, and I wanted to try to put it away early," Swail said. "I was going to do what my strengths are. My plan was to be fast [and not] leave the door open."

Swail accrued 20 points for his victory and has taken an early lead in the NAL standings. Siegel sits second with 17 points, and Dean is third with 15 points. Seven legs remain through March; the North American League continues at the Washington International Horse Show in Upper Marlboro (USA) on 29 October 2022. 

FULL RESULTS

STANDINGS

Three and a half years after taking the top spot of the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, Tim Price (NZL) claims it once again, replacing Olympic gold medallist Oliver Townend (GBR), who held the position for the last 3 years.

The 2019 World Champion won the bronze medal at the FEI Eventing World Championship held in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) a few weeks ago. Thanks to his consistency, Price has topped the world ranking with a total of 610 points.

But there’s more joy for the Price family as Tim’s wife - Jonelle Price (NZL) - has climbed to the second position of the rankings, with 569 points. To round out the celebrations, the Price’s groom, Kerryn Edmans, has also just been nominated in the Cavalor FEI Best Groom category of this year’s FEI Awards.

Former number one, Oliver Townend, has dropped to number three with 559 points, while his fellow countrywoman Rosalind Canter is now fourth on 503 points. William Coleman (USA) closes the Top 5 of the rankings with 469 points.

The new FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings reflect some other solid points-earning performances, with Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham moving up to eighth place after claiming the Individual gold medal at the FEI Eventing World Championship 2022 in Italy. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Lauren Nicholson (USA) have reached the top ten with 402 and 399 points

The last time Tim Price was at the top of the World Rankings was back in August 2019. Since then, Price has been able to perform at the highest level, which has allowed him to maintain a position in the Top 10 of the FEI Eventing World Championship Rankings ever since.

The full FEI Eventing World Championship Rankings list is published here

Photo Caption: Tim Price (NZL) during the Cross Country competition at the FEI Eventing World Championship 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA)

Photo Credit: FEI/ Massimo Argenziano

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.

FEI Contacts:
Paul Stretton
Senior Manager, Sport Communications and Media Relations
paul.stretton@fei.org
+41 78 661 66 53

Didier Montes Kienle
Manager, Sport Communications and Media Relations
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21

The nominations for the FEI Awards 2022 are as impressive as ever, with the online voting opening today for the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, Longines FEI Rising Star, Cavalor FEI Best Groom, FEI Against All Odds and FEI Solidarity Awards.

The 20 shortlisted candidates from 15 countries include World Champions, highly accomplished up-and-coming young athletes, grooms, inspirational equestrians, judges and charities.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, who took home two individual Dressage gold medals at the Ecco FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN), is one of four nominees for the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award. Her peers include Vaulting World Champion and former Longines FEI Rising Star Award winner Lambert Leclezio from France, Para Dressage multi World Champion and Paralympic gold medallist Sanne Voets from the Netherlands, and Swedish Jumping legend, Henrik von Eckermann, current World number one, reigning World Champion and veteran of both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the latter being where he helped bring home team gold.

Once again, this year the FEI received hugely diverse nominations from all over the globe, highlighting individuals and organisations going above and beyond in their dedication to equestrian sports and horse welfare. The ultimate accolades will go to the winners at the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines on 13 November in Cape Town (RSA).
 
The Longines FEI Rising Star category is once again bristling with young up-and-coming talent, including Eventer Alice Casburn (GBR), Irish Jumping athlete James Derwin, Denmark’s World Championship 2022 Para Dressage team silver medallist Karla Dhym-Junge and Dutch Vaulter Sam Dos Santos.

Of course, behind every great athlete, there are incredible grooms, and this year’s nominations for the Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award reflect that unfailing determination and commitment which characterises the sport’s often most valued yet unsung heroes. Representing four different nationalities and disciplines, four highly respected and experienced grooms who work with some of the top equestrian athletes in the world, have been shortlisted this year. 

Wherever they come from, and no matter their sporting discipline, they all share a common trait: total dedication and passion for the horses they groom and the athletes they work for. 

As is always the case, some of the most incredible and inspirational stories come from the FEI Against All Odds and FEI Solidarity categories. From New Zealander Trevor Harris who overcame 5% odds of ever walking again after a car accident, to the Horse Charity Barbados, who rescue and rehabilitate horses for equine therapy purposes - these are the stories that touch the heart and highlight the determination, drive and passion that can bloom from being involved with horses.

The shortlisted nominees have been selected for their outstanding achievements on the field of play, inspirational outlook and unparalleled dedication to equestrian sport.

The amazing stories of all the nominees in the five categories can be found here.

The public now has 10 days (6 to 16 October) to cast their votes for their heroes. Make sure you have your say and vote here!

The shortlisted nominees for the FEI Awards 2022 are:

Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete - paying tribute to the athlete who over the past year has demonstrated exceptional skill and taken the sport to a new level.

·    Charlotte Fry (GBR) – Dressage
·    Lambert Leclezio (FRA) – Vaulting
·    Sanne Voets (NED) – Para Dressage
·    Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – Jumping

Longines FEI Rising Star – for the athlete aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.

·    Alice Casburn (GBR) – Eventing
·    James Derwin (IRL) – Jumping
·    Sam Dos Santos (NED) – Vaulting 
·    Karla Dyhm-Junge (DEN) – Para Dressage

Cavalor FEI Best Groom - for the behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the horses they look after are given the best possible care.

·    Kerryn Edmans (NZL) - Eventing groom for Tim & Jonelle Price 
·    Emma Olsson (SWE) - Driving groom for Boyd Exell 
·    Sue Schlegel (USA) - Jumping groom for Elizabeth Madden 
·    Lars Seefeld (GER) - Dressage groom for Daniel Bachmann Andersen 

FEI Against All Odds - for an inspiring individual who has pursued their equestrian ambitions and overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.

·    Trevor Harrison (NZL) – Former jockey
·    Estiven Palacio Hernandez (COL) - Vaulting
·    Muthoni Kimani (KEN) - Jumping
·    Mia Rodier-Dawallo (USA) - Para Dressage

FEI Solidarity - for an FEI Solidarity or equestrian development project, an individual or organisation that has used skill, dedication and energy to expand the sport.

·    Zuzana Baciak Masarykova (SVK)
·    Horse Charity Barbados (BAR)
·    The Big Food Ride (SWZ)
·    The Dressage SA Solidarity Stars Project (RSA)
·    
The winners will be decided by combining 50% of the public’s vote and 50% of the judges’ vote for the final result. The nine expert judges for this year’s FEI Awards are:

·    Ingmar De Vos (BEL), FEI President
·    Matthieu Baumgartner (SUI), Longines Vice President of Marketing
·    Peter Bollen (BEL), Founder and chief nutritionist of Cavalor
·    Martin Atock (IRL), Managing Director of Peden Bloodstock
·    Amanda Bond (GBR), Head of Equestrian Affairs at The Hong Kong Jockey Club
·    Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA), FEI Board Member and Chairman of Group VI
·    Michelle Wang Qiang (CHN), Founder and CEO of Equuleus Corp.
·    Professor Natalie Waran (NZL), BSc (Hons), PhD (Cantab) International equine behaviour and welfare scientist
·    Sharlene Venter (RSA), Secretary General of the South African Equestrian Federation

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
 

FEI Media contact:
Paul Stretton
Senior Manager, Sport Communications & Media Operations
paul.stretton@fei.org
+41 78 661 66 53

All eyes will be on North America for the 2022-2023 World Cup season. The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final is set to return to Omaha (USA) in April 2023, and the first points toward qualification will be available at the North American League’s leadoff event, set for Saturday, 08 October in Sacramento (USA).

The Murieta Equestrian Center, known for the enthusiastic crowds that pack its stands to the rafters, will play host to the first of eight events in the NAL season, which has produced two World Cup Final champions in the last five years. The NAL will weave in all directions across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with four events each on the west and east coasts of the geographically diverse continent. A total of 14 qualifying places are available, 10 of which will be awarded to U.S. athletes (seven east coast U.S. riders and three west coast-based U.S. riders); four additional berths will be awarded to the top two performing Canadian and Mexican athletes.

Sacramento will feature its defending champion. Now ranked among the top five riders in the World, Conor Swail (IRL) led the NAL from start to finish in the 2021-2022 qualifying season, winning events in Vancouver (CAN), Sacramento and Fort Worth, ultimately finishing eighth in Leipzig (GER) at the Finals.

Swail’s winning mount in Sacramento was Vital Chance de la Roque, and the exuberant, barefoot Selle Francais gelding will return this year looking to defend his rider’s title. Last year’s third-place finisher Natalie Dean (USA) will also be back in the lineup with her sensational mare, Chance Ste Hermelle. Dean, 23, will have her eyes set on competing in her first senior championship in Omaha. Swail’s longtime student Vanessa Mannix (CAN) will be a leading contender for Canada, while Mexico will have to wait to accrue its first points, with no athletes entered in the NAL kickoff.

Following Sacramento’s opening leg, the NAL will continue to Upper Marlboro, MD (USA) and Lexington, KY (USA). Toronto, Ontario (CAN) will return to the NAL calendar after two years of cancellations due to the global pandemic, and the Royal Horse Show promises to be a special event as it celebrates its centennial.  Las Vegas, NV (USA), Fort Worth, TX (USA), Puebla (MEX) and Ocala, FL (USA) will complete the 2022-2023 North American League season.

Athletes’ four best results from NAL events will count for points, requiring great strategy and execution. Those plans will be put forth into action in just a few days’ time.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…

Details here.

Team Belgium enjoyed a perfect day today when not only winning the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022 Final but also earning a qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It was their third victory since the Longines Final was first established at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain back in 2013. They came out on top in 2015, and then did it again three years later, but today’s success was particularly sweet.

It was sealed by three classic clear rounds that left them as the only side on a zero scoreline at the end of the day. As anchorman Jérôme Guery pointed out “we were a little disappointed after Herning (World Championship) because we were good all season. When we came here we were determined to try to pick up the Olympic qualifying spot and the pressure was on us to the end, because to get that we had to win!”

They were locked in battle with a strong Swiss side who were also chasing that place in Paris in two years time, and after the first two rider rotations were completed there was a three-way tie between Belgium, Switzerland and France with each side carrying one four-fault result.

But only the Belgians kept a clean sheet in the final analysis, with Guery wrapping it up after brilliant runs from pathfinder Koen Vereecke and the 12-year-old stallion Kasanova de la Pomme and relative newcomer Gilles Thomas with his lovely 12-year-old mare Calleryama, while veteran team member Gregory Wathelet and his 14-year-old stallion Iron Man van de Padenborre dropped just a single pole for the discard score.

The French and Swiss both finished on a four-fault scoreline, France getting the nod for second place when less than three seconds quicker, while The Netherlands lined up fourth on a total of eight. Great Britain, Spain and Germany all finished with 16 on the board and slotted in behind each other in that order, while Ireland finished eighth and last on a total of 20.

Tough and testing

The eight best nations from Thursday’s opening round faced a tough and testing 14-fence track set by Spanish course designer Santiago Varela.  “It was not over-built, you could build bigger but the last line was difficult. I designed three combinations today - it was not for free - and there were faults in them all and also around the track”, said the man who also set the courses for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last summer.

There were 18 jumping efforts including a double at fence four, an open water at fence six, a triple combination that began with a wide triple bar at fence eight and a water-tray vertical at fence eleven that was quickly followed by another double at fence 12. The snaking line from eleven to the vertical at fence 13 certainly took its toll and every one of the last four fences hit the floor throughout the afternoon. But as Varela said this evening, “there is a reason that Belgium won and qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and that is because they did a great job today!”

Vereecke’s clear led the way and Wathelet faulted only at the second element of the double at fence four before Gilles Thomas set off on a beautiful round with his mare who never looked like touching a pole. Meanwhile the Swiss began to slip when both Pius Schwizer (Vancouver de Lanlore) and Martin Fuchs (Conner Jei) had a pole down. So even though pathfinder and Dublin Grand Prix winner Edouard Schmitz was foot-perfect with Quno and Steve Guerdat produced a lovely anchor clear from Venard de Cerisy they had to carry four faults. As did the French.

Going last of the eight nations after finishing best in Thursday’s first round they also had a great start with more spectacular jumping from the Simon Delestre and the aptly-named Cayman Jolly Jumper before both Gregory Cottard (Bibici) and Julien Epaillard (Caracole de la Roque) each had a single rail down. Kevin Staut returned a brilliant clear but the score-board would show four faults while the Belgians remained securely in pole position.

Really delivered

Winning Chef d’Equipe, Belgium’s Peter Weinberg, said his side really delivered today, and he was particularly thrilled with the performance of Thomas. “For us there was pressure because we still had to qualify for Paris, but my riders can live with pressure and they delivered very well and the horses were jumping absolutely fantastic. As you all saw the course was as usual in that Final, difficult and tricky enough and it asked a lot of questions of the riders and the horses. Some of these riders are more experienced but for Gilles it was the first time to compete at this level and he did a brilliant job!”

Vereecke earned a share of the €100,000 bonus on offer to riders jumping clear over both rounds of the Final. “This year has been unbelievable for me”, the 53-year-old rider said. “It started in St Gallen, then Falsterbo double-clear, Hickstead double-clear and now double-clear here. I have an amazing horse who has done an amazing job this year!"

Thomas has also sparkled this summer, winning the Grand Prix at Hickstead (GBR) and enjoying great results at Spruce Meadows in Canada in early September. He had a great career at Junior and Young Rider level and, still only 24 years of age, looks set for a big future in the sport.

Amazing year

“I only knew I was coming here two weeks ago and I couldn’t believe it but I’ve had an amazing year with three really good horses. I didn’t expect any of this, but even if next year isn’t quite so good I will look back and know 2022 was a really good year! Now everything that comes I take!”, he said.

Guery has nothing to prove. Together with the superb Quel Homme de Hus the 42-year-old double-Olympian took European team gold in Rotterdam (NED) in 2019, team bronze in Tokyo last summer and individual silver at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) this summer. They are an amazing partnership.

“I’m three years together with Quel Homme now and he’s a super horse and when I ride good he’s always good. It’s great for us to be qualified for the Olympics, it is always my dream, but I like the feeling of a Championship too and I love to come here in Barcelona for the final of the season”, he said.

Next year the Final will be a little different, because 90 years after the stadium was originally built at Real Club de Polo, a rebuilding project is about to start next week, expanding the spectator viewing area for the 2023 edition. The sport can be expected to be as competitive as ever in twelve months’ time, and the Belgians intend to be back to chase Longines victory number four…..

Results here

Team Mexico stormed to victory in the Challenge Cup at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2022 at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain tonight where Sweden finished second ahead of Brazil in third place. There were five nations in contention when Canada opted not to line out, and Argentina slotted into fourth ahead of Norway in fifth.

The thrilling Mexican performance began with a just a single time fault for pathfinder Nicolas Pizarro and Oak Grove’s Enkidu, and when Fernando Martinez Sommer and High Life went clear and then the rock-solid anchor partnership of Manuel Gonzalez Dufrane and Hortensia van de Leeuwerk followed suit they had it in the bag.

However nothing was decided until the closing stages after second-line rider Andres Azcarraga and the 15-year-old stallion Contendros 2 collected six faults.

Clever

Spanish course designer Santiago Varela had set them a clever 13-fence track that drew to a close with a tough line of fences that consisted of a triple bar followed by a double of verticals and finally a water-tray oxer. And it was that triple bar that fell for Azcarraga at the halfway stage of the competition before he broke the beam with an additional two seconds to add for exceeding the time-allowed of 85 seconds.

Clear rounds proved hard to get, so when Sweden’s Stephanie Holmen and Flip’s Little Sparrow left all the poles in place her side was carrying just the four faults, again at that triple bar, from pathfinder Wilma Hellstrom and Cicci BJN with two more riders to go for each side.

But when third-line Swede, Evelina Tovek collected 20 faults with Winnetou de la Hamente Z they looked very vulnerable until anchor partnership Linda Heed and Laurien van Orshof reeled it back with a perfect tour of the track to leave them on a final tally of just four faults for that second place finish.

Revenge

Meanwhile Team Brazil, who were only squeezed out of tomorrow’s title-decider by the narrowest of margins in Thursday’s qualifying round, looked set to take their revenge when Marlon Zanotelli kicked off with a foot-perfect run from the feisty 11-year-old mare Like a Diamond van het Schaeck.

But when Francisco Mesquita Muse’s Carte de Blue PS Marathon knocked the white plank on top of the vertical at fence eight and added time faults, Filho Cortizo Goncalves de Azevedo was three seconds over the time with Hermes van de Vrombautshoeve and Eduardo Pereira de Menezes also fell victim to the plank at fence eight with H5 Chaganus then their finishing total of seven faults would see them slot in behind the Swedes.

Argentina’s anchorman Jose Larocca produced the last of the six clear rounds in today’s competition with Finn Lente, but with a final tally of eight faults his team had to settle for fourth place ahead of Norway in fifth on a total of 10.

Positive energy

At Wednesday’s draw for the order-of-go, Canadian Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin said that “win lose or draw I promise that Mexico will bring positive energy and competitive spirit to the event!”, and he was right about that.

They may not have qualified for the final showdown but his young team is bursting with promise and he knows it.

“We hoped to jump tomorrow, but this is the heck of a consolation prize!”, he said after tonight’s win. “Riding in Nations Cups it’s always important that whatever your score was in the first round that you improve in the second round and every single one of them did that and contributed, it was a real team effort. The only one who didn’t improve was Fish - that’s what we call Manuel - but then it’s kinda hard to improve on perfection! Double-clear, (on Thursday and then again today) it doesn’t get much better than that, and we’re all thrilled for him and thrilled for our team!”, Laskin said.

Number one

Pathfinder Pizarro talked about his single time fault. “I think coming out number one is always tough but I made my plan. I probably was a bit slow from fence one to two and I never made up that time”, he explained. “For sure the team was more confident today than when we spoke on Thursday and I’m really happy for them, and having an anchor rider like Manuel “Fish” today was amazing! And it’s a completely different team spirit when the alternate rider supports us so much and is so close to the team”, he pointed out, referring to fifth man, 22-year-old Carlos Hank Guerreiro who didn’t get to jump on the team but who has been offering his help every step of the way all week.

At the age of 44 Pizarro is the veteran of this Mexican side and he is delighted to see the young team developing around him, and to be back competing in Barcelona which holds great memories for him.

“There is so much history here, the Olympic Games happened here and it wasn’t that long ago, and also my first big Nations Cup was here and I can see riders who were children back then and who are now part of the team. Mark has taken over this year and I think the future will be very good for us”, he pointed out.

Martinez Sommer rode a beautifully sympathetic round today, his 10-year-old gelding High Five showing spectacular scope over the open water at fence nine. “At the moment I’m very lucky because I have a really good string of horses”, the 32-year-old athlete said. “The horse I rode today doesn’t have all the experience so I’m thrilled with him, even in the first round I screwed up in the last line and he jumped really well so I’m proud of him and really happy!”

Azcarraga said this is his first time to jump in Barcelona. “It is very exciting and a special one for me because I got to jump with my friends and we had great team spirit. It was a great experience, one of the first 1.60m Nations Cups for me and I guess it will be good experience for Nations Cups in the coming years”.

Bonus

Meanwhile Gonzalez Dufrane had extra reason to be pleased because not only is he going home with an elegant Longines watch and his share of tonight’s prize money but he has earned an extra €50,000 bonus for jumping clear both on Thursday and again today. “I’m really happy, especially for the team, riding with friends is the most amazing thing”, the talented 28-year-old said.

Asked how it felt going last for his side with so much hanging in the balance, he replied, “I ride that spot in many Nations Cups and I feel good with that kind of pressure”. But then he also has the added advantage of sitting on the wonderfully consistent grey mare Hortensia who has been his rock throughout his career so far and who carried him to individual gold and team silver at the Central American Games in Guatemala in 2017. “She’s 15 years old now and she’s been jumping a lot these past years and I feel very lucky riding her”, he said.

Nicolas Pizarro said this evening that, “Barcelona Polo Club makes magic out of this week!”, but Team Mexico made some magic of their own tonight.

Tomorrow the focus will turn to the eight qualified nations - France, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Great Britain - as they battle it out for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022 title. And for the Belgians and Swiss there will be an extra edge as they will also be chasing the single qualifying spot on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It’s going to be a nail-biter, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Results here

It was a home-win for host nation, Spain, at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors held in Vic (ESP) on Friday September 30, 2022, as the Spanish team took the gold for the second championship in a row, and placing in the top two on the individual podium. This first of the 2 FEI Championships held this week at the impressive Spanish location was host to 37 starters from 13 European countries.

Recognised as an international sport in 1978 by the FEI, Endurance rides can cover distances ranging from 80 to 160 kilometres, usually over the course of a single day, across breath-taking landscapes. For this ride, athletes completed a mountainous and challenging 120 km-long course, over four 30km loops. 

The race towards the finish was a tight one, with team France claiming silver and team Italy claiming bronze. With the individuals, Joana Ullastre Niubó (19 years old) with the horse JM Bucefala and Gerard Casadesus Ruaix (20 years old) with the horse Bolchoi el Akim - both from Spain - rode in towards the finish line together clasping their hands in the air.  

With the Spanish fans cheering them on, they placed first and second respectively, with Ullastre maintaining the lead during all four loops. Caterina Coppini (20 years old) with the horse Vezire from Italy came in third. 

The last FEI European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors was held in Pisa (ITA) in July 2018, where team Spain also clinched the gold medal over a 120 km course, edging host nation Italy into second place. 

With the well-being of both equine and human athletes at the heart of every event, veterinary inspections were carried out prior to the ride and at the end of each loop, ensuring that all participating horses were physically sound and ready to participate - and continue - in the ride. The horses were also held for a minimum of one minute per kilometre covered following each phase inspection, allowing for each combination to refuel and rehydrate. 

The action continues this weekend, with the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses being held on Sunday 2 October 2022, which will host 47 athletes from 20 countries around the world.

FULL RESULTS

 Four fabulous clears from Henk Nooren’s French side put them clearly at the head of affairs in the first round of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2022 at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today where Ireland finished second ahead of the hosts from Spain in third.

The top eight nations have qualified for Sunday’s title-decider in which they will all start again on a zero score, and the remaining countries that have made the cut are Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Great Britain.

For Team Brazil it was an agonising afternoon when they finished level with the British on a final scoreline of 12 faults, because when the combined times of the three best riders on each team were taken into account they were squeezed down to ninth place by a tiny margin of just 0.4 seconds. Along with all the other nations that finished below eighth today they have the option to now compete in Saturday night’s Longines Challenge Cup.

Meanwhile the battle for the single qualifying spot on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be a two-way affair between Belgium and Switzerland on Sunday. The French are automatically qualified and the Spanish are not eligible because they are competing as hosts this week without qualifying for the Longines Final. Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands and Great Britain all booked their tickets to Paris at the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning, Denmark last month.

Same team

The French finished sixth in Herning with the same team of horses and riders that came out on top this afternoon. Simon Delestre and the electric little 10-year-old gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper led the way, storming around to set it up for the rest of their team who didn’t disappoint. Gregory Cottard and his ever-reliable 11-year-old mare Bibici followed suit before Julien Epaillard and Caracole de la Roque wrapped it up. So when fourth-line rider, Kevin Staut, also produced a copybook performance from Scuderia 1918 Viking D’La Rousserie it was just the icing on the French cake.

Delestre said the French horses have blossomed over the last few weeks. “We were just saying how much they have grown since Herning. They are super quality horses with a good mind, they are fighters and really modern horses and they proved that again today. My horse has had an amazing Nations Cup season this year. He’s never easy but the way he jumps really helps. He’s always improving and I think he’s getting more confidence in himself and also in me. Today I had a really nice warm-up and in the arena the rideability is always better”, he pointed out.

Olympic course designer, Spain’s Santiago Varela, set them a 14-fence track with 17 jumping efforts including open water at five, a double at fence nine and a triple combination at fence 13 leading to the final vertical with a plank on top. It was no walk in the park but 16 of the 51 starters left all the poles in place and came home inside the time-allowed of 81 seconds. And two of those clears, from Trevor Breen with Highland President and Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor, secured second spot for the Irish who counted only the opening four faults, at the very first fence, for Andrew Bourns and Sea Top Blue.

At just 21 years old, Ryan is a prodigious talent and he was delighted with his result. “It was fantastic, Andrew was very unlucky at the first jump and the horse jumped amazing after that, and then Trevor went clear. There was a little bit of pressure because today is all about qualifying for Sunday and to get the clear round but I think we’re in now so it’s very good. McGregor is very special, my mother bred him and he’s been a fantastic horse. He’s a great character and everything he’s been asked to do so far he’s done it with ease. He has a big heart and every time he goes in the ring he wants to do his best and you can’t ask for more than that!”, he said.

The Spanish may not have qualified for this year’s Final but they are giving a great account of themselves so far.

Aiming

“We were aiming to be in Sunday’s Final so we couldn’t be more happy!”, said Eduardo Alvarez Aznar whose last-to-go clear round with Full Option Van’t Zand sealed his country’s result. “We don’t have the strongest team on paper but we have a good string of horses and the riders are all fighters so we are always going to try, and on Sunday it’s one day, one round and anything can happen! Manuel (Fernandez Sara) had an unlucky time fault with Jarlin de Torres and Mariano (Martinez Bastida) had the first fence down (with Delano v. Wijnhoeve Z) and I thought it would be a long trip to the end but he fought. Alberto (Marquez Galobardes) had three down but the horse (Aldo du Manoir) got tired at the end and needs a bit more experience at this level maybe”, he explained.

Di Lampard’s young British team just squeezed into that last place for Sunday’s finale and the clear posted by 22-year-old Joe Stockdale with Equine American Cacharel proved pivotal.

“The mare jumped fantastic, she went in there and felt very comfortable, and I sort of knew even from jumping the first three fences that she was on good form. Since Herning she had a few weeks of downtime, a couple of weeks in the field, and then I’ve slowly built her up with work at home and then she did two shows, one week jumping very small just getting her back in the ring and relaxed, and then a Grand Prix the second week in Sentower in Belgium where she finished fourth. For some horses switching them off for a few weeks and switching them back on is tricky but she took to it well. You can tell when she’s ready because she gets a bit bored in the field!”, he said.

It’s a wide-open book again on Sunday when the eight teams return to battle once more for the coveted Longines title. The French last came out on top in Barcelona in 2013 and they look set to be the ones to beat again this time around, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Results here