USA put on winning display in Ocala

Robert Ridland called upon a quartet of experienced athletes to secure a home victory in the second leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2025 series in Ocala (USA) this evening. Lillie Keenan & Argan de Beliard, Aaron Vale & Carissimo 25, Laura Kraut & Dorado 212 and McLain Ward & Ilex delivered a series of powerful performances to secure the USA’s first Longines League of Nations™ victory in front of an elated 8,000-strong home crowd. The series returned in 2025 after the immense success of its inaugural campaign in 2024, with the stunning facilities of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala once again playing host to the second of four qualifying legs.

After a closely fought battle Germany had to settle for second position, finishing on five (5) faults, just one time penalty behind the host nation. Belgium and Ireland finished in third and fourth place respectively, both coming home on 13 faults and split only by their team’s combined time from round two. 

Alan Wade (IRL) set a fitting test for the league’s ten teams who started in reverse order of their finishing positions from the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations™ in Abu Dhabi (UAE) last month. His track saw faults spread around the course, but the Longines combination of vertical-oxer-vertical at fence six proved more challenging than athletes had originally anticipated and the vertical-oxer double at fence 11 also required careful negotiation.

Just seven of the forty athletes answered every one of Wade’s questions in round one, three of those belonging to Team USA and two to Germany. Pathfinder Lillie Keenan, the second athlete out on track, provided the perfect start for Team USA as she and her ‘trusty partner’ Argan de Beliard delivered a foot perfect performance and the first clear round of the competition. Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk matched that score for Germany as did Darragh Kenny, first out for Ireland, last to go following their first leg win in Abu Dhabi.

With four athletes from each nation starting in round one, each team was able to discard one score. When Aaron Vale returned with four faults for USA, Andre Thieme picked up one time fault for Germany and twenty-year-old Tom Wachman also recorded four faults for Ireland, Germany edged into the lead with two athlete rotations of round one remaining. Laura Kraut and McLain Ward remained faultless to guarantee that the USA would go through to round two on a zero (0) score and put the pressure on Germany and Ireland.

Germany’s golden girl Sophie Hinners delivered another flawless performance but when her partner Richard Vogel couldn’t better Thieme’s score of just one time fault they finished on a first round score of one (1) to lie second. 
Daniel Coyle and Cian O’ Connor lowered a pole apiece for Ireland meaning they finished round one in third place on eight (8) faults just ahead of Great Britain, equal on faults but with a slower combined time. Belgium, France, Italy and Sweden made up the top eight teams qualified for the second round as the Netherlands and Switzerland dropped out of contention.

The Longines League of Nations’™ unique format sees just three athletes from the eight qualified teams return for round two, with the pressure of no discard score adding another element of excitement and suspense to the occasion. Adding to the atmosphere, the second round, run over an identical track, was staged under floodlights. Despite the added element of difficulty, many athletes improved on their first-round performances, with 12 returning zero scores second time around.

Winners of Thursday’s 5* Grand Prix, Christian Kukuk and the 11-year-old mare Just Be Gentle, consolidated that form when they delivered the first double clear as first to go in round two for Germany. Lillie Keenan swiftly matched this to ensure USA held onto their narrow lead after the first athlete rotation of round two. Second round clears from Niels Bruynseels and Emilie Conter saw Belgium creep into contention. Kenny returned on four (4) faults for Ireland second time round but Longines League of Nations™ debutant Tom Wachman and his mentor, Team Ireland stalwart Cian O’ Connor kept their nations podium dreams alive by delivering scores of one (1) time fault and a clear round respectively.

However, the battle for pole position was always between USA and Germany. Second out again for Germany, Thieme returned four (4) faults this time round, a score mirrored by Laura Kraut to see USA hold onto their one (1) fault advantage with just one rider remaining. Displaying a level of composure and professionalism beyond her years, Hinners posted her second double clear of the 2025 Longines League of Nations™ series to pile the pressure on USA’s anchor rider, former world number one, McLain Ward.

The last athlete out on course and with no margin for error, Ward knew that only a clear round would seal victory for USA and carrying the hopes of 8,000 enthusiastic spectators cheering for a home victory, he delivered just that aboard a spring-heeled Ilex. In doing so he produced one of just four double clears, the others being posted by teammate Lillie Keenan and German stars Christian Kukuk and Sophie Hinners. Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair warrant a special mention as they remain faultless after four rounds of jumping in the 2025 Longines League of Nations™, having produced a double clear in the opening leg in Abu Dhabi last month.

The USA’s home victory marks their first Longines League of Nations™ win. Longines League of Nations™ 2024 Final champions, Germany finished second just one fault behind USA, with Belgium and Ireland taking third and fourth place respectively both on 13 faults, split only by a margin of one second when their team’s combined times from round two were required to determine their final placings. France finished in fifth place, just ahead of Great Britain in sixth. Italy, Sweden and Netherlands finished seventh, eighth and ninth respectively while Team Switzerland was eliminated after their first two athletes, Edouard Schmitz and Janika Sprunger, failed to finish their rounds.

After two legs of the Longines League of Nations™ 2025 series, Ireland and Germany sit at the top of the standings on 170 points apiece. France lie in third place on 150, just ahead of USA on 140 in fourth, Belgium on 130 in fifth and Longines League of Nations™ debutants, Italy, holding onto sixth place with 120 points.

The Longines League of Nations™ moves onto Europe as the third of four qualifying legs is staged in Rotterdam (NED) on June 2025 as the world’s top ten Jumping nations battle for one of eight coveted places at the Longines League of Nations™ 2025 Final in Barcelona (ESP).

FULL RESULTS

Image: Team USA winners of the Longines League of Nations™ 2025 in Ocala (USA). (L-R) McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Robert Ridland (Chef d'Equipe), Lillie Keenan and Aaron Vale © FEI/ Shannon Brinkman