Great Britain land second place in the FEI Jumping Children Nations Cup Final in a tight, tense competition
Monday 16 September 2024
Great Britain’s Children on Horses team finished second in the FEI Jumping Children Nations Cup Final in a closely fought competition at Azelhof Horse Events in Lier, Belgium.
Eleven teams initially came forward to face a 12-fence 1.25m speed track designed by The Netherlands’ Henk Linders with Britain hitting immediate form to provide a team score of zero in a fast time to stand at the top of the leaderboard.
Ten teams contended round two’s 1.25m one round competition but the day didn’t go according to plan and the team came home on a total of eight faults. Nonetheless, it was sufficient to qualify for the final as six teams battled for supremacy over a 12-fence course now raised to 1.30m. It was nail-biting to the very end, where the podium outcome hinged on the final fence.
Britain’s trailblazer Emily Gulliver had provided a double clear in the first two rounds on the eight-year-old mare Glamor, made only one error to return on four faults.
Honey Bowes improved as the week progressed, turning her round one nine fault discard score and second round four faults into a clear in the Final with the eight-year-old Javas El Cid.
Third out Maisie Riley was making her team debut. She jumped clear in round one and came home on eight in round two with the eight-year-old Lorenzo. But Maisie faced a setback in final round and one mistake saw the faults escalate, a refusal at the water in round three also adding 11 time faults to up their score to 15.
A podium place rested on Lottie Adams and only a clear would do, but she shouldered the pressure and delivered. Clear and four in rounds one and two, she justified her anchor position with a solid and crucial clear in the final round on the eight-year-old mare Khaleesi OL to place Britain in second place.
The Netherlands secured victory with a zero score but Britain, Ireland and Italy were all bunched together on four faults apiece. It all focused on the clock, Britain edged into second ahead of third placed Ireland by 1.26 seconds with Italy finishing off the podium and in fourth a further seven seconds in arrears.
“The teams all started on zero for the Final and it was so tight, the pressure was on. Our riders held their nerve to finish faster than Ireland to take second place,” said Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker.
FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Finals, Azelhof Horse Events, Belgium
CSICh Children Nations Cup Final
1st The Netherlands – 0 - 233.65 seconds
2nd Great Britain – 4 - 230.97 seconds
Emily Gulliver & Glamor – 4
Honey Bowes & Javas El Cid – 0
Maisie Riley & Lorenzo – (15)
Lottie Adams & Khaleesi OL – 0
3rd Ireland – 4 - 232.23 seconds
Image: Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans
