Great Britain’s Pony Team reign supreme in Belgium with a commanding victory in the FEI Jumping Pony Nations Cup Final
Monday 16 September 2024
Great Britain excelled in the FEI Jumping Pony Nations Cup Final at Azelhof Horse Events in Lier, Belgium, with a commanding victory – decided after the third rider had completed their round.
It was no mean feat. Eight teams competed over a three round competition carrying their scores into the third and final round. Britain reigned supreme, totalling only one fault over the three rounds, picked up in the first leg.
In the first qualifying round over a 1.25m speed track, pathfinder Hollie Gerken immediately put Britain on the path of success with a clear round on the 12-year-old mare Galaxy V. Second out Sophia Rogers also proved foot-perfect with the British-bred 12-year-old Neil 55, strengthening the team’s position. Lucy Capper came home on five for the discard score on the 14-year-old stallion Oscar Van De Beekerheide but Cate Kerr, erring on the side of caution to leave all the fences intact, incurred one time fault with Cindy to put the team on a score of one after the first round to take an initial stand of fourth place.
Both Hollie and Sophia maintained their form to supply clear rounds in round two, another one round competition over 1.25m. Maisie Alsopp took her turn with the 15-year-old Vaughann De Vuzit – replacing Lucy Capper – and the pair provided a vital clear round to give Britain three clear rounds in the second leg, carrying only one fault from round one. Anchor Cate Kerr and Cindy added one time fault in their round to be the drop score. The team jumped up to second place to determine their penultimate draw in the final round.
Netherlands’ course-designer Henk Linders set a series of questions in his 12-fence 1.30m track, testing with the combination with oxer out and the final line of a vertical of closely hung planks to deceivingly form a wall followed by the final oxer with water tray – which caught several riders.
Hollie made a major contribution in the first two rounds and looked to do the same in the third and final round, but just one error marred Galaxy’s score and they returned on four faults.
The pressure was on her three team members, but they pulled it out of the bag. Sophia has grown in stature and experience this year and again remained penalty-free on the sensitive but consistent Neil 55 to supply a crucial clear round.
Maisie followed suit, Vaughann De Vuzit never looking like touching a pole to storm home clear and seal victory for Great Britain – the team could not be beaten.
Although she didn’t need to start, Cate also rose to the occasion, coming home with a clean sheet on the 17-year-old mare Cindy to underscore Britain’s talent and stand with her team-mates on the top of the podium.
“As only eight teams contended the Pony Nations Cup Final, all eight went into the final round,” explained Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker. “We knew we’d won before Cate went in, but she wanted to jump, jumped clear and we finished on a total of one fault! They all rode really well, it was a great result!”
FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Finals, Azelhof Horse Events, Belgium
CSIP Pony Nations Cup Final
1st Great Britain – 1/0/0 = 1
Hollie Gerken & Galaxy V – 0/0/4
Sophia Rogers & Neil 55 – 0/0/0
Lucy Capper & Oscar Van De Beekerhiede – 5/-/-
Maisie Allsop & Vaughann De Vuzit – -/0/0
Cate Kerr & Cindy – 1/1/0
2nd Ireland – 6/0/0 = 6
3rd Belgium – 0/4/8 = 12
Image: Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans
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