Samsung Super League Update

In the aftermath of the 2005 Samsung Super League series something special has happened in international show jumping. Team spirit has made a big come-back and there is a renewed sense of pride in not just winning for your country, but in joining your fellow-countrymen in flying your national flag with pride and determination even when things are not going well.

The US team demonstrated that sense of "team" from the very start. They came to the first leg of the 2005 season in La Baule and stole the show with style. Throughout the entire season US riders sang the praises of their Chef d'Equipe, George Morris, as he pushed, supported and encouraged them to give of their very best. There was a unique sense of unity in the US effort and, in the end, it was a deciding factor in their superb victory when taking the overall title at the end of the series.

In direct contrast, the Irish and Belgians endured demoralising controversies that undermined their campaigns. It seems hardly coincidental that these were the two teams that found themselves battling it out at the bottom of the leaderboard when it came to the final in Barcelona.

At La Baule, Belgian Chef d'Equipe Lucien Somers spoke about the difficulties he was facing due to a row over the new livery for his team riders sparked by the decision to replace the old team colours with that of sponsors, the Zangersheide Stud. Former Zangersheide rider Jos Lansink was refusing to wear the new jacket and, although this issue was eventually resolved, it left its mark.

The Irish effort was shattered by infighting over team selection and management. The loss of Jessica Kurten, who refused to ride for a number of different reasons, was keenly felt and the atmosphere in the Irish camp was extremely tense all summer. When they arrived in Barcelona however they managed to leave all that behind them and, pulling together like never before, they executed one of the great escapes of our time. Luck played a large part in it because the Belgians, fighting just as hard, were severely hampered when the stallion, Andiamo Z, refused in both rounds and failed to record a score on the day. It would have been difficult to predict that, but such is the sport of show jumping and that afternoon in Barcelona saw a revival of true team spirit in the Irish ranks. Although things were still not going their way they stood shoulder to shoulder and never flinched, and their success in keeping their country in the Samsung Super League series was celebrated as enthusiastically as if they had won the entire series.

The Dutch really rose to the occasion too, but their spirits were already high having claimed team bronze at the European Championships while the Swiss, in their first Super League season, were also bolstered by their superb silver medal European title result. The French, Samsung Super League champions in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, were a little more frazzled due to lack of horse-power during the summer but they never looked in any real danger despite poor results in Rome, Dublin and Barcelona and their failure to pick up any points when withdrawing from the competition at Hickstead. In this 2005 season the British remained remarkably strong to finish third while the Germans were runners-up, probably denied overall victory by their strangely unimpressive performance on their home ground in Aachen.

Just three years after its inauguration the Samsung Super League has come into its own. "It's the best competition in equestrian sport" said McLain Ward and fellow-American Laura Kraut agrees. "Eight teams, eight competitions and just over four months of jumping - the formula is just right" she insisted at the end of the series final in Barcelona. With Samsung Electronics committed to a further three-year sponsorship deal, team show jumping looks set to thrive well into the future. And team spirit, that effort of pulling together for a common cause, is more evident than ever.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE LEADERBOARD 2005 - FINAL RESULT:

1, USA - 55.0;
2, Germany - 46.0;
3, Great Britain - 41.0;
4, Switzerland - 40.0;
5, The Netherlands - 38.5;
6, France - 29.0;
7, Ireland - 22.0;
8, Belgium - 20.5 (relegated)