Belgium Returns to Samsung Super League with FEI for 2007

As the FEI Nations Cup series concluded in Buenos Aires, Argentina last weekend, Belgium's promotion to the Samsung Super League in 2007 was confirmed. Having accumulated points from 13 of the 19 nations' cup legs which began in Wellington, Florida last March, Belgium finished with a total of 79.5 while Denmark slotted into second with 73 ahead of Italy in third with 71.5 points.

The Belgian team enjoyed only one victory during the 2006 season, at Ypaja in Finland, but were runners-up in Copenhagen, Denmark, on their home turf at Lummen, Belgium, at Falsterbo in Sweden and in Athens, Greece and had many other good placings.

Belgium was relegated from the Samsung Super League in September 2005 following a fiercely-fought final battle in Barcelona, Spain while the Irish, who managed to cling on by the smallest of margins that afternoon, suffered relegation this year despite another brave effort. In a strange irony however, Ireland's developmental teams completed the 2006 FEI Nations Cup series with more points than Belgium. However as Samsung Super League participants they are only permitted to count their points from the higher-level league.

The top 10 placings on the 2006 FEI Samsung Nations Cup series leaderboard are listed below. For complete details check out the FEI website www.horsesport.org.

FEI NATIONS CUP SERIES 2006
RESULT: 1, Belgium 79.5; 2, Denmark 83; 3, Italy 71.5; 4, Austria 51; 5, Brazil 45; 6, Norway 43.5; 7, Hungary 42; 8, Poland 38; 9, Spain 31; 10, Czech Republic 25.