Can Britain make it two in a row?

 

Today World Class Performance Manager for Showjumping, Rob Hoekstra has announced the five riders who will be trying to defend Britain’s title in the UK leg of the FEI Nations Cup at The Longines Royal International Horse Show. The five riders are as follows:

 

Hampshire based Peter Charles will making his fourth appearance at top level this year. Peter will ride Olga White and Team Murka’s, Murka’s Nevada VI, a ten year old chestnut stallion by Rosire. Peter was a member of last years winning Hickstead Nations Cup team.

 

Bruce Menzies from Horsham, West Sussex will partner Old Lodge’s British Bred Sultan V. This nine year old grey gelding made his debut at this level of competition at the beginning of July where he jumped consistently in both rounds of the Falsterbo Nations Cup.

 

Warwickshire’s Robert Smith will partner his World Equestrian Games (WEG) ride, Talan a horse he jointly owns with Di and Pennie Cornish. This combination has competed in three top level Nation Cups this year and were Britain’s highest placed combination at WEG.

 

Nottinghamshire based Michael Whitaker will ride Beatrice Mertens eleven year old dark bay gelding Amai II. This combination were members of last years winning Hickstead Nations Cup team. Since then they went on to compete at WEG, Aachen Nations Cup and many more top competitions.

 

Guy Williams and his own chestnut gelding Titus II will be joining the above combinations on home soil. This will be Titus II second appearance at the level, with the first being at Aachen last week where they jumped two good rounds helping Great Britain’s to second place.

 

 

 

 

The FEI Nations Cup™ is a five-star competition in which official teams representing nations compare their merit. At each event the teams gain points according to their placing. At the end of the 2011 season the team with the highest points wins the FEI Nations Cup™ and the two teams with the lowest points will be relegated to the FEI Nations Cup Promotional League. The highest placed team from the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final and the highest placed Team on the FEI European Nations Cup Promotional League standings immediately prior to the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final will join the FEI Nations Cup™ Top League for 2012.

 

La Baule (FRA) – 12/15 May

Rome (ITA) – 26/29 May

St Gallen (SUI) – 2/5 June

Falsterbo (SWE) – 7/10 July

Aachen (GER) – 12/17 July

Hickstead (GBR) – 28/31 July

Dublin (IRL) – 3/7 August

Rotterdam (NED) 25/28 August

 

 

The British Showjumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme.