Team GBR has won the 2013 FEI Nations Cup eventing series.
Britain was lying 1st, just 1 point ahead of the Germans, heading into the final event at Boekelo, the Netherlands, last week (10-13 October) and most people believed whichever of the leading 2 nations finished higher up the order would take the overall honours.
But it was not such a straightforward race, because the results are determined on a nations’ best 5 results from the 6 events in the series. So although the British squad finished 2nd at Boekelo to Germany, Team GBR claimed the overall title after 3 1sts and 2 2nds (51 points), while Germany has 3 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd (50 points).
This is an excellent result for Britain, which has fielded up-and-coming combinations selected from a special squad throughout the year, under chef d’equipe Philip Surl. Only one British rider who has taken part has won medals at senior level (Tina Cook), while the Germans have mixed leading pairs with untested horses and riders.
At Boekelo, Kitty King led the British effort by finishing 5th on Persimmon (pictured). The other team riders were Laura Collett (17th on Allora 3), Izzy Taylor (21st on KBIS Starlet) and Gemma Tattersall (eliminated after a fall in the 2nd water).
The following 14 riders and 19 horses have contributed to Britain’s Nations Cup success this year:
Fontainebleau (5th, discard): Kitty King/Zidante, Izzy Taylor/KBIS Starchaser, Gemma Tattersall/Arctic Soul, Emily Llewellyn/Pardon Me
Houghton (1st): Gemma Tattersall/Chico Bella P, Izzy Taylor/Orlando, Emily Llewellyn/Pardon Me II, Francis Whittington/Hasty Imp
Aachen (2nd): Gemma Tattersall/Chico Bella P, Izzy Taylor/KBIS Briarlands Matilda, Tom McEwen/Dry Old Party, Tina Cook/Miners Frolic
Montelibretti (1st): Nicky Roncoroni/Trig Point, Emilie Chandler/Coopers Law, Paul Sims/Calador, Dani Evans/Raphael II
Waregem (1st): Izzy Taylor/Orlando, Lucy Wiegersma/Simon Porloe, Laura Collett/Allora 3, Sarah Bullimore/Reve Du Rouet
Boekelo: Kitty King/Persimmon, Laura Collett/Allora 3, Izzy Taylor/KBIS Starlet, Gemma Tattersall/Chico Bella P
Full report from Boekelo in H&H this Thursday, 17 October.
Picture by www.eventingphoto.com/FEI