Belgians win through in three-round Furusiyya thriller at Hickstead

In a competition with all the ingredients of drama and surprise that combine to make the sport of team Jumping such a crowd-pleaser, Belgium came out on top in the penultimate leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Europe Division 1 League at Hickstead this afternoon. It took a three-way jump-off to decide the result, and hero of the day at the iconic British venue was Pieter Devos who, last to go against the clock, showed exactly why Belgian Chef d’Equipe, Dirk Demeersman, placed his faith in him.

Janika Sprunger claimed runner-up spot for Switzerland, while an uncharacteristic mistake from Beezie Madden and Cortes C saw the USA having to settle for third. With five teams fighting for points towards the Furusiyya 2015 Final in Barcelona, Spain in September there was a lot hanging in the balance and today’s result has rocketed Belgium to the head of the leaderboard, demoting France to second ahead of the defending champions from The Netherlands in third. And when the Europe Division 1 League draws to a close in Dublin, Ireland next Friday it will be the host nation that will be feeling the heat along with Italy, as they are both languishing at the bottom of the table from which only seven of the 10 nations will make the cut to the Spanish finale.

No joy

The Italians were really relying on a good result today to boost their chances, but they had no joy when finishing last. Hampered by elimination for Giulia Martinengo when her mare, Fixdesign Funke van ‘T Heike, stalwartly refused to take on the four-metre-wide open water in either round, they racked up 37 faults to stay well out of the frame. But although Patrice Delaveau was also eliminated first time out when Lacrimoso 3 HDC took a similar dislike to it, three second-round clears from his team-mates ensured fourth place for France.

British course designer, Kelvin Bywater, set them a track without a triple combination but including three doubles, all of which proved influential. The white gate at fence three claimed a number of scalps, while the top pole of Longines vertical three from home often threatened an otherwise clear run. The time-allowed of 80 seconds also played its part, but the Belgians and Swiss already had the bit between their teeth when posting zero scores first time out. The USA carried just four faults into round two while the French carried five and the host nation had six on the board. The British added five more in the second round which allowed Germany to overtake them for fifth place in the final analysis, but the real battle was played out between the Belgians, Swiss and Americans.

Double-clears

As round two drew to a close, the Swiss looked set to clinch a clean victory when both Paul Estermannn (Castlefield Eclipse) and Janika Sprunger (Bonne Chance CW) posted a second clear. Because if anchorman Pius Schwizer could leave the course intact then the single error from Martin Fuchs and Clooney could be discarded to leave them with nothing to add to their clean sheet to date. But Schwizer didn’t jump his nine-year-old stallion Giovanni van Het Scheefkasteel when his team-mates were all fault-free in the first round, and when the pair returned with 15 on the board it moved the Swiss onto a four-fault tally.

The Americans meanwhile jumped into contention when Laura Kraut was clear second time out with Nouvelle and Todd Minikus (Babalou 41) and Beezie Madden (Cortes C) completed two more of the nine double-clears on the day. This left them carrying just Kraut’s single first-round error, Charlie Jayne (Chilli RZ) providing the discard score in both rounds.

And the Belgians began to look vulnerable when Devos led the way second time out with 12 faults. However clears from Judy-Ann Melchior (As Cold as Ice Z) and Olivier Philippaerts (H&M Armstrong van de Kapel) kept them in the game despite the fact that Gudrun Pateet (Sea Coast Pebles Z) left the massive Hickstead planks on the floor.

Now level

With all three sides now level on a four-fault total it would take a jump-off to separate them.  

Madden was first to go, but she left the door wide open when her superstar gelding hit the first element of the double, the third fence on the revised track, and then ground to a halt in front of the second element to finish with eight faults in 55.32 seconds. Sprunger and her exciting new nine-year-old mare Bonne Chance set the first real target when galloping home in 44.17 seconds, but Devos smashed that when breaking the timers in 42.60 to clinch the win.
 
His choice for the jump-off was a real puzzle for most onlookers, because the 29-year-old had collected 16 faults over the first two rounds with his 14-year-old grey gelding. But Dirk Demeersman knew exactly what he was doing. “I chose Peter and Dylano because I really believe in the combination. The second round today was quite unusual for them, and I was quite sure he would do something good - the horse is very careful and Pieter was really motivated to improve on his second round”  the Belgian team manager explained.

End on a good note

“I was really disappointed after my second round and really, really wanted to ride the jump-off to end on a good note. And thanks to my team I was able to do that!”, Devos said. “I didn’t see Janika’s round, but Dirk said to just go for it. We had the same scenario in Mannheim and ended second because I was not fast enough so I didn’t want that again! I’m very relieved!” he added. He admitted his decision to use a hackamore (bitless) bridle in the second round was a mistake. “I had no control, and that’s why we had all those fences down” he explained. Dylano was competing in only his third show after sustaining an injury at the Belgian rider’s local fixture in Lummen in June. “I  have a very good feeling about this horse” he said of the gelding he has had for the last nine months.

This was Belgium’s first time to put their name on the coveted Hickstead trophy, and team manager Demeersman was more than pleased. “Finally we have won here! When I came as a rider I had many disasters - I’m very happy for the win and it’s great that we are now qualified for Barcelona, that was our goal” he said.
 
For further details of the penultimate Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Europe Division 1 leg at Hickstead, Great Britain visit www.hickstead.co.uk or contact Press Officer Victoria Spicer, Email press@hickstead.co.uk , Tel +44 7811 113185. The last leg of the Europe Division 1 League will take place in Dublin, Ireland next Friday, 7 August. For information on the Irish fixture go to www.dublinhorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Niamh Kelly, email press@rds.ie.

Result:

1.    Belgium 4 faults and 0/42.60 in third-round jump-off: Dylano (Pieter Devos) 4/12/0, As Cold as Ice Z (Judy Ann Melchior) 0/0, Sea Coast Pebles Z (Gudrun Pateet) 0/4, H&M Armstrong van de Kapel (Olivier Philippaerts) 0/0.

2.    Switzerland 4 faults and 0/44.17 in third-round jump-off: Castlefield Eclipse (Paul Estermann) 0/0, Clooney 51 (Martin Fuchs) 0/4, Bonne Chance CW (Janika Sprunger) 0/0/0, Giovanni van het Scheefkasteel (Pius Schwizer) DNS/15.

3.    USA 4 faults and 8/55.32 in third-round jump-off: Nouvelle (Laura Kraut) 4/0, Chill RZ (Charlie Jayne) 5/8, Babalou 41 (Todd Minikus) 0/0, Cortes C (Beezie Madden) 0/0/8.

4.     France 5 faults: Flora de Mariposa (Penelope Leprevost) 1/0, Ryan des Hayettes (Simon Delestre) 0/0, Qoud Coeur de la Loge (Roger Yves Bost) 4/0, Lacrimoso 3 HDC (Patrice Delaveau) Elim/DNS.

5.    Germany 9 faults: Fibonacci (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) 0/0, Brooklyn (Mario Stevens) 9/9, Goja (Janne Friederike Meyer) 4/1, Epleaser van T Heike (Christian Ahlmann) 4/0.

6.    Great Britain 11 faults: Calcourt Falklund (Michael Whitaker) 5/0, Dougie Douglas (Holly Gillott) 13/9, Titus (Guy Williams) 1/5, Diva ll (Ben Maher) 0/0.

7.    Netherlands 17 faults: Vignet (Johnny Pals) 12/8, Don VHP Z (Harrie Smolders) 4/4, Carambole NOP (Willem Greve) 0/4, VDL Zirocco Blue NOP (Jur Vrieling) 5/0.

8.    Italy 37 faults: Catwalk Z (Piergiorgio Bucci) 0/4, Fixdesign Funke van ’T Heike (Giulia Martinengo Marquet) Elim/Elim, For Passion (Daniele Augusto da Rios) 4/8, Erco van T Roosakker (Lorenzo de Luca) 12/9.
 
Full result here

Facts and Figures:

Hickstead, Great Britain hosted the seventh leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2015 Europe Division 1 League today.
5 of the 8 competing nations were chasing points towards the Furusiyya 2015 Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain from 24 to 27 September.
The competition came down to a three-way jump-off against the clock between Belgium, Switzerland USA in which Belgium came out on top.
Course designer was Great Britain’s Kelvin Bywater.
His track included three doubles, and there was no triple combination.
2 riders were eliminated when their horses refused at the 4-metre-wide open water in the first round - Italy’s Giulia Martinengo (Fixdesign Funke van ’T Heike) and Franchman Patrice Delaveau (Lacrimoso 3 HDC).
9 double-clears from 32 starters.
Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger and Bonne Chance CW were the only horse-and-rider combination to jump three clear rounds.
This was Belgium’s very first Nations Cup victory at Hickstead.
 
Quotes:

Olivier Philippaerts BEL: “I was very pleased with my horse today - he is a great horse for the future.”

Pieter Devos BEL: Asked about his horse’s tendency to kick and buck during his rounds - “it’s his character and I respect it and work with it - he’s a bit special!”

Dirk Demeersman, Chef d’Equpe BEL, when asked about preparations and team selection for the FEI European Championships at Aachen: “I have plans but I’m not going to share them! Only four riders can compete at the Europeans and so I’m going to have to disappoint some great riders.”

Judy Ann Melchior BEL: “This was my first time here and I must say I had a really good first impression!”

Judy Ann Melchior BEL, talking about her horse As Cold as Ice Z: “She’s amazing. She’s a saint!

Gudrun Pateet BEL: “This was my first day riding in the superleague and it’s a dream come true. It’s also a dream to ride at Hickstead and have a clear round and win!”

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ 2015 Europe Division 1 Standings (after Round 7 at Hickstead, GBR):

1.    Belgium                -    350
2.    France                -    310
3.    Netherlands            -    295
4.    Sweden                -    295
5.    Germany                -    295
6.    Great Britain            -    260
7.    Switzerland            -    250
8.    Ireland                -    205
9.    Italy                    -    205
10.    Spain                -    195
 
Detailed standings here
 
For further information on the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series check out this link