FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping: French stand firm to win last qualifier in Gijon

by Louise Parkes 

Team France won today’s last qualifying leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2017 Europe Division 2 series in Gijon, Spain where, in a roller-coaster of a competition, The Netherlands finished second ahead of Ireland in third.

The French were already out in front on a zero score at the halfway stage, but were being closely chased by Canada carrying just a single time fault. However the course designed by Spain’s Avelino Rodriguez-Miravalles saw some serious shuffling of the pack as the second round progressed. And the Dutch, lying joint-third with Spain and Mexico, and Irish who were in joint-sixth with Great Britain, were rewarded for holding their ground while those around them lost theirs.  

When Kevin Staut (36) and For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC hit the middle element of the triple combination three fences from home and Gregory Cottard (39) and Regate d’Aure lowered the bogey final fence to also collect four faults second time out, then it fell to French anchorman Nicolas Delmotte (39) and Ilex VP to save the day as the best three scores per team would be counted and his side was now carrying four faults. Edward Levy (23) and the fabulous stallion Sirius Black had followed up their single first-round error with a great clear, but only the same from Delmotte would prevent a jump-off against the Dutch who, like the Irish, were fault-free at their second attempt.

“Being last to go I felt the responsibility, but I had confidence, and I had a horse that responded brilliantly!” Nicolas Delmotte

One mistake and France would be on level pegging with The Netherlands on eight faults and forced into a jump-off. Any more than that and victory would be lost. But Delmotte held his nerve to bring Ilex home with a classic clear when posting one of four double-clear rounds on the day.

Ireland lined up third on their first-round total of 12 faults and the Canadians, hampered by second-round elimination for Jaclyn Duff and Eh All or None who had collected just a single time fault in the first round, had to settle for fourth place with 13 faults on the scoreboard. Great Britain (20 faults) finished fifth, Mexico (24 faults) lined up sixth, Germany (28 faults) finished seventh and the host nation (29 faults) finished eighth. Team Egypt collected 18 faults in the first round so didn’t make the cut into round two.

French Chef d’Equipe, Philippe Guerdat, was delighted with his country’s eleventh FEI Nations Cup™ success at the famous Las Mestas Arena in Gijon. “This is a lucky venue for us!” he said.  

Result:

1. France - 4 faults

2. Netherlands - 8 faults

3. Ireland -         12 faults

4. Canada -         13 faults

5. Great Britain -         20 faults

6. Mexico -         24 faults

Full Result here 

Facts and Figures:

9 nations - Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands and Spain - competed, but only Team Great Britain were eligible for points towards qualification for the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final.

4 horse-and-rider combinations jumped double-clear - Nicolas Delmotte and Ilex VP for France, Roelof Bril and Arlando for The Netherlands, Shane Breen and Ipswich van de Wolfsakker for Ireland and Ben Maher with MTF Madame X for Great Britain.

A total of 19 qualifying legs have taken place around the globe.

18 teams will compete at the FEI Nations Cup™ Final 2017 which, for the fifth consecutive year, will take place at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona from 27 September to 1 October.

Quotes:

Kevin Staut FRA: “I am very happy - this is my second Nations Cup win in this city!”

Grégory Cottard FRA: “In my opinion, the last fence was clearly the hardest.”

Shane Breen IRL who jumped double-clear today with Ipswich van de Wolfsakker, talking about the bogey fences on the course: “Fence eight was like a gate, a stile type fence and it was narrow. There was a roll-back up to it and some lost a bit of balance on the turn and found they didn’t have the space to jump it. It was very light and short and it looked quite tall. The last fence came after the triple bar and there was a floaty six strides to it. It was cleverly designed with a white plank at the bottom and on the top, and some horses slightly misjudged it.” 

Standings after the 7th and last leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Division 2 series at Gijon ESP:

1. Belgium - 380

2. Great Britain - 260

3. Luxembourg - 180

4. Denmark - 172.5

5. Norway - 165

6. Austria - 150

Full Standings here