Aussies finish second at Houghton Hall Nations Cup

Australia has finished second in the Houghton Hall CICO3* Eventing Nations Cup, narrowly missing top honours which were taken by Germany.

The Aussie team of Sam Griffiths (Beaurepaire Nemo), Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), Kevin McNab (Wonham What Next) and Tim Boland (GV Billy Elliot) ended the three day event with a combined score of 143.5 finishing behind the German team’s winning score of 137.1.  

Australia and Germany tussled for the lead from the outset, with Australia trailing Germany after the Dressage. The Aussies went into the lead with strong show jumping rounds and they carried a marginal lead into Sunday’s cross country.

Tim Boland competing in his first Nations Cup produced a clear jumping round on cross country adding six time penalties to his overall score. Andrew Hoy riding his London 2012 Olympic horse Rutherglen was the best placed of the Aussies individually producing a clear cross country round to add to his clear show jumping round.

Australia was in the lead up until the final rider for Germany, Bettina Hoy, produced a near precise cross country round to add just 1.2 time penalties to her overall score. It was enough for the German’s to clinch victory by the smallest of margins.  

Results