British team announced for showjumping Nations Cup

The team selected to represent Great Britain at the opening leg of the new Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup showjumping series has been announced.

Travelling to Al Ain Equestrian Club in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the competition on Thursday, 21 February, are:

• Tina Fletcher with Lady Harris’ Hello Sailor (pictured)
• Robert Smith riding his 11-year mare Voila IV
• Belgium-based Joe Clee with his 10-year-old mare Diablesse De Muze
• 19-year-old Yazmin Pinchen, who will be making her senior debut with her mother Nancy’s stallion Van De Vivaldi

Joining the British squad in the Middle East will be teams from Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the UAE.

A new circuit has been divided into six regions from which 18 teams will qualify for the final, expected to be in Europe, at the end of September.

Division one of the European series (of which there are two) begins in La Baule (France) at the beginning of May, before moving on to Rome (ITA), St Gallen (SUI), Aachen (GER), Falsterbo (SWE), Rotterdam (NED), Hickstead and Dublin.

Don’t miss the 28 February issue of Horse & Hound magazine for the full report from Al Ain

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.