Wellington, USA presented Round 2 of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2014 series. A total of 12 countries fielded teams - Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, USA and Venezuela.
Team Canada took command with the only zero score at the end of the first round, the Canadians fended off a strong challenge from the British to claim the top step of the podium. But they only headed them by a single fault in the final analysis while the host nation, USA, slotted into third. Brazil and Ireland shared fourth place ahead of Venezuela in sixth, Columbia in seventh and Germany in eighth spot.
As round two began, it was the Americans who were lying second carrying just four faults while the British were only a single point further adrift carrying five. The Brazilians and Irish were tied on nine faults at this stage, and they would remain locked together when each added a further eight faults to their tallies.
Ben Maher led the British into the second round with another four-fault run with Diva, but Gredley’s back-to-back clear bolstered his team’s chances only for third-line rider, Gemma Paternoster who had collected just a single time penalty first time out with Osiris, to collect nine faults at her second attempt. A brilliant anchorman clear from World No 1 Scott Brash and Hello Annie steadied the British ship however, ensuring they would add only Maher’s four to leave them on a final total of nine faults.
A surprising double-error from McLain Ward and Rothchild, at the bicycle vertical and the final oxer, put pressure on the Americans. But despite four, at the first element of the influential double at nine, for Brianne Goutal and Nice de Pressey, it seemed hope was not lost if Laura Kraut and Beezie Madden could leave the course intact. Kraut’s fabulous little grey, Cedric, had been foot-perfect first time around and seemed a banker for a second clear, but when he put a toe in the water at his second attempt, then not even Madden’s superb run with Simon could rectify the situation. Because by then the Canadians already had it in the bag.
Candele and Showgirl led their side into round two with another copybook clear, so despite a mistake from Tiffany Foster and Victor at the second element of the double at nine and for the legendary Ian Millar and Dixson who had been spectacularly clear first time out but who fell foul of the planks at the second element of the double at seven this time, it was all done and dusted. Canada’s total of eight faults would be good enough to clinch it, and anchorman, Eric Lamaze, didn’t need to bring Powerplay back to the arena for a second time.
Canadian Chef d’Equipe, Mark Laskin, was delighted with the result. “Canada’s been on a bit of a roll! First it was curling! And then women’s bobsled… then it was hockey, two games! And now it’s show jumping!” he said tonight, referring in part to the recent Sochi Winter Olympics. And he picked Candele out for special mention. “I want to welcome Yann back to our team, I’m really happy to have him, especially tonight. I think that’s a key for Canada right now. We have four fantastic riders with four fantastic horses, and they did an incredible job!” Laskin added.
Result: 1. Canada 8 faults: Showgirl (Yann Candele) 0/0, Victor (Tiffany Foster) 4/4, Dixson (Ian Millar) 0/4, Powerplay (Eric Lamaze) 0/DNS.
2. Great Britain 9 faults: Diva (Ben Maher) 4/4, Unex Chamberlain Z (Tim Gredley) 0/0, Osiris (Gemma Paternoster) 1/9, Hello Annie (Scott Brash) 9/0.
3. USA 12 faults: Rothchild (McLain Ward) 0/8, Nice de Prissey (Brianne Goutal) 4/4, Cedric (Laura Kraut) 0/4, Simon (Beezie Madden) 4/0.
4. Ireland 17 faults: Eregas van't Kieselhoft (Shane Sweetnam) 4/4, Carrabis Z (Richie Moloney) 8/0, Lilli (Paul O'Shea) 5/4, Quidam's Cherie (Cian O'Connor) 0/8.
4. Brazil 17 faults: AD Uutje (Alvaro de Miranda) 0/0, First Division (Yuri Mansur) 5/4, Quintol (Eduardo Menezes) 4/4, Status (Rodrigo Pessoa) 5/4.
6. Venezuela 24 faults: Caballito (Andres Rodriguez) 8/0, G&C Quitador Rochelais (Gustavo Arroyo) 4/4, G&C Flash (Luis Larrazabal) 16/8, Zara Leandra (Pablo Barrios) 0/Ret.
7. Columbia 31 faults: Woklahoma (Roberto Teran) 0/5, Zipo CG (Manuel Espinosa) 10/8, Lagran (Mark Bluman) 12/Ret, Sancha LS (Daniel Bluman) 8/0.
8. Germany 39 faults: Conthendrix (Andre Thieme) 9/17, Mic Mac du Tillard (David Will) 0/4, Quintana Roo (Johannes Ehning) 18/5, Evita dan de Veldbalie (Daniel Deusser) 4/Ret.
9. Mexico 21 faults IN FIRST ROUND: Colasko (Nicolas Pizarro) 8, Jumex Sport Archimedes (Sofia Larrea) 1, Vicky Van Het Geinsteinde (Luis Alejandro Plascencia) 25, Chepepe La Escondida (Fernando Martinez) 12.
10. New Zealand 34 faults IN FIRST ROUND: Watch Me (Grant Wilson) 18, Que Pasa Z (Kirk Webby) 16, Derly Chin de Muze (Sharn Wordley) 0.
11. Chile 49 faults IN FIRST ROUND: William Wallace (Samuel Parot) 12, Player de Brocelia (Carlos Milthaler) 17, Carla TM (Jorge Matte) 20.
12. Israel Eliminated IN FIRST ROUND: Carisma (Danielle Goldstein) 1, Zamillus Again (Elad Yaniv) Elim, Quito 36 (Joshua Taylor) 20.
Standings in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping North America, Central America and Caribbean League after this first qualifying leg in Wellington USA:
1. Canada - 100
2. USA - 90
3. Mexico - 80
Source: fei.org