Super Swiss claim faultless FEI Nations Cup success in Falsterbo

Having been tied for the lead with the host nation and Brazil at the halfway stage, Andy Kistler’s side came out on top thanks to posting a zero score in both rounds.

Sweden delighted their home fans by lining up second with four faults as the hosts came up ahead of Brazil, Great Britain and The Netherlands in joint-third place. Ireland and Germany shared sixth spot, with the Czech Republic coming last of the eight competing nations and now looking increasingly likely to be face relegation to Europe Division 2 at the end of the current season.

The 15th leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 series and the sixth of the eight legs of the Europe Division 1 League proved to be a fascinating competition. There were 17 clear rounds in the first round over the track created by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge, who will be responsible for designing the courses for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The time allowance of 78 seconds saw only five horse-and-rider combinations pick up time faults in the first round, before 11 horse-and-rider combinations went on to complete double-clear rounds, with three from the winning Swiss side.

Once again and as so often happens in Nations Cup Jumping, there were some dramatic swings of fortune as the competition progressed. Ireland looked out of contention thanks to a 13-fault first-round tally. But Robert Splaine’s team rallied well second time out when producing four clear rounds, including Anthony Condon producing one of the double-clear performances of the day.

In contrast luck was not on Sweden’s side as pathfinder Malin Baryard-Johnsson looked set for a second clear only to pick up four faults, as did team-mate Henrik von Eckermann on Yajamila.

The Brazilians did not make a great start to the second round either when Rodrigo Pessoa’s Citizenguard Cadjanine Z incurred eight faults, but Stephan de Freitas Barcha pulled matters back when producing a second clear round on Landpeter do Feroleto.

However Switzerland applied the pressure when it was needed as Paul Estermann, completed his second clear of the course, and Janika Sprunger’s double-clear on Bonne Chance was followed by the same from Werner Muff and Pollendr to guarantee a second-round finishing score that was still on zero.

Brazil’s Doda de Miranda produced another clear from AD Cornetto K which meant if Marlon Zanotelli could post another clear round for Brazil then it would come down to a two-way jump-off against the Swiss. However the 27-year-old on Cash del Mar Z hit a fence and also incurred further faults before deciding to retire.

It meant victory was complete for the Swiss, Brazil would have to settle for equal-third with the Dutch and British on a final tally of eight faults, behind runners-up Sweden on a final total of just four.

After a third place in Falsterbo, Netherlands stays on top of the overall Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 1 standings with 335 points. Switzerland are now second on 245 points, while Sweden sits third on 235 points. However the Dutch have collected points at four legs, while both Sweden and Switzerland only have points from three legs.

France are in fourth, while Great Britain occupy fifth position and Ireland lie in sixth. Germany follows in seventh ahead of Belgium, Czech Republic and Italy.

The next leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 1 series will take place at the Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday 24 July.
Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 1 series
Result: Falsterbo, Sweden

1. Switzerland 0 faults
2. Sweden 4
3. Netherlands 8
Great Britain 8
Brazil 8
6. Germany 13
Ireland 13
8. Czech Republic 30

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 Europe Division 1 League
Standings in after sixth leg: Falsterbo, Sweden
1. Netherlands 335
2. Switzerland 245
3. Sweden 235
4. France 215
5. Great Britain 200
6. Ireland 152.5
7. Germany 135
8. Belgium 100
9. Czech Republic 90
10. Italy 47.5