Samsung Nations Cup Series Update

Last week-end at CSIO Linz (AUT), a brilliant Spanish team won the second leg of the Samsung Nations Cup Series of the season in front of the home team. Sweden, Netherlands and Germany, three strong nations, which were among the favourite contenders for the title, had to settle for a joint third place.

To the delight of the home crowd, Austria was in the lead at the end of the first round with four penalties, equal first with Germany and Sweden, after a faultless performance from Wolfgang Ötschmaeier/Vasco da Gama and Julia Kayser/HBC Pherna and the four-fault of Austrian hero Hugo Simon/Life Fire on the last obstacle of the course.

But Spain, which had scored 9 penalties at the end of the first round, literally flew over the second round with startling clears from Rutherford Latham/Galoubette Mondain, Alvaro Munoz/Escassi Majestic So La La La and Manuel Fernandez Saro/Cattani 17. The faultless round of Gerfried Puck/S+L 11th and Bleeker was not sufficient for Austria, which had to settle for the runner-up spot after the 4 faults of Wolfgang Otschmaier and the 8 faults of Julia Kayser.

No less than 12 nations participated in CSIO Linz, the second leg of the Samsung Nations Cup Series, which counts 19 events and will conclude in November at Buenos Aires (ARG). The best nation of the Samsung Nations Cup standings will be promoted to Samsung Super League status at the end of the season.

Complete results and standings on www.horsesport.org, section jumping / results