Fabulous French clinch inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping title

The world's best gather in Barcelona for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Final  Photograph:David Ramos/Getty Images for FEI

The fixture has created the biggest buzz that equestrian sport has enjoyed for a very long time, and today’s closing round brought the world’s richest team event to a riveting conclusion.

Brazil finished second ahead of Ireland in third, while the Dutch lined up fourth, edged out by just over a single second when finishing on the same score as their Irish rivals. Belgium finished fifth ahead of Canada in sixth, Ukraine in seventh and Great Britain in eighth and last place.

It was a surprising result for the British, as the 2012 Olympic and recently-crowned European Champions were expected to present formidable opposition.  But things didn’t go their way from the outset, with William Funnell’s Billy Congo withdrawn on Friday morning after picking up an injury and today’s 21-fault total leaving them well out of contention for the main honours.

However British anchorman and Olympic and European team gold medallist, Scott Brash, had plenty to celebrate as he divided the €200,000 bonus on offer to riders jumping double-clear over the two Final rounds.  Eric Lamaze claimed the other half of the bonus when also producing a superb anchor ride for Canada with Powerplay today.  The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam was presented with the “Furusiyya Rider of the Final” award which was decided by former world number two ranked professional tennis player, Conchita Martínez, and former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, Àlex Crivillé from Spain. The award was presented by Saudi Equestrian's Team Director, Sami Al Duhami.

Read the full FEI report HERE

29 September 2013

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final 2013 - Consolation Competition

US riders may have been disappointed when failing to make the cut into tomorrow's Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final decider when missing the cut by a few short seconds yesterday, but they were all smiles today when clinching the honours in the Consolation Competition.

It was no walk in the park however, as they had to battle it out with the Swiss in a nerve-wracking jump-off that went right down to the wire and kept spectators on the edges of their seats.

The race against the clock was a real thriller, with the advantage changing at every turn.  “Yesterday was very frustrating and I was a little melancholy afterwards, but that’s what sport is all about, the beauty of sport, it goes back and forth, and its about coming back and giving a better performance” said anchorman McLain Ward who clinched it for the US side this afternoon.

First Round

The first round track provided plenty of problems, and only eight clear rounds were recorded.  Unlike yesterday however, the mistakes were registered all around the course even though the double at eight and the triple combination at 11 proved particularly influential.

The Saudi Arabian team was already assured of third place when finishing with six faults while Austria slotted into fourth when posting a total of 12.  Elimination for Angelica Augustsson when her mare, Mic Mac du Tillard, decided to throw in the towel left the Swedish team exposed.  So when they had to count double-errors from both Jens Fredricson (Lunatic) and his brother Peder (H&M Cash In), then not even a fabulous clear from Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall Ask could rescue the situation and they lined up alongside Spain in equal-fifth place.

Qatar finished seventh with 18 faults, while Colombia and Japan shared eighth spot with 10, while the three-rider Australian team finished tenth and last on a scoreline of 30 faults.

Read the entire FEI report HERE

28 September 2013

Australia to contest consolation round at Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final

Australia will join nine other nations in Saturday's consolation round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final after finishing down the order in Friday's opening round.

The team of Edwina Tops-Alexander, James Passy and Julia Hargreaves, were among 18 nations vying for one of eight positions in Sunday's final which will crown the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Champions.

The Brazilian team won the opening round securing their place in the Final along with the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, France, Great Britain, Canada and Ukraine.

Australia will go up against the USA, Sweden, Colombia, Spain, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Qatar and Japan in the consolation round. Watch the consolation round from 10:25pm AEST on http://www.feitv.org

See the full score sheet and read the FEI report HERE

27 September 2013

Aspiring to great heights at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final!

Riders representing 18 countries, including Australia's Julia Hargreaves have gathered gathered in front of Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia on the eve of first ever Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final.

Featured in the picture are (left to right): Pieter Devos (BEL), Taizo Sugitani (JPN), Oleg Krasyuk (UKR), Paolo Amilibia Puig (ESP), Beezie Madden (USA), Daniel Bluman (COL), Marlon Zanotelli (BRA), Angelica Augustsson (SWE), Penelope Leprevost (FRA), Julia Hargreaves (AUS), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Steve Guerdat (SUI), Tiffany Foster (CAN), Scott Brash (GBR), Kamal Bahamdan (KSR), Cameron Hanley (IRL), Stefan Eder (AUS).

This is the first time that the sport’s premier team jumping competition has staged a global Final featuring 18 countries. The opening competition gets underway tonight Australian time, 10pm AEST.

At the draw for the order-of-go Australia drew 13^th giving them time to assess the course before entering the ring.

For Australia, Edwina Tops-Alexander will be first to go followed by James Passey and Julia Hargreaves who says there's a great feeling amongst the teams.

“It’s exciting and different to the other shows, it is a bit like a Games in some ways. We’re lucky that it is in Barcelona, it’s such a nice facility and a great place.”

“There’s that bit more pressure with a three person team as our scores will always count. All we can do is our best and hopefully we will get through.”

“My horse, I’ve had him a long time now and we know each other pretty well. I just watched James’ horse and she’s looks really great and Edwina’s horses are jumping super,” she said.

 Starting Order for the opening round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final:

1.     Japan

2.     Spain

3.     Austria

4.     France

5.     USA

6.     Ukraine

7.     Qatar

8.     Sweden

9.     Ireland

10.  Colombia

11.  Switzerland

12.  Saudi Arabia

13.  Australia

14.  Netherlands

15.  Brazil

16.  Great Britain

17.  Belgium

18.  Canada

The top eight teams from tonight's round will progress to Sunday's Final while the remianing 10 teams will do battle on Saturday in a consolation round.

Read the FEI’s daily report HERE

Watch all the Furusiyya action live on www.feitv.org

27 September 2013

Australian team named for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final

Australia will be among the 18 nations to field a team at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final commencing in Barcelona commencing on Friday.

The team will be spearheaded by two time Olympian and two time Global Champions Tour series champion Edwina Tops-Alexander who will pair with the 9 year old gelding Ego Van Orti.

The combination finished second in the 2012 London Olympia CSI5* Grand Prix and most recently placed in the top ten in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna.

Julia Hargreaves and her London Olympic mount Vedor have also been named on the three member team, as has three-time Nations Cup representative James Passy who will compete with Yirrkala Cortina.

The Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, which was the jumping venue of the 1992 Olympic Games will play host to the final which will see 10 of the top 20 riders from the current Longines rankings line-up to represent their respective nations.

There will be three competitions during the Furusiyya Final - the first on Friday 27 September in which all teams will compete over one round, the second will be a consolation class on Saturday 28 for the teams not finishing within the top eight on the previous day and the third in which the leading eight nations will battle it out for the inaugural Furusiyya trophy on Sunday 29 September.

The first qualifier will begin at 10pm Friday AEST and can be watched on FEI TV. To access the streaming service and for further information on the FInal please visit the event website http://www.csiobarcelona.com/esp/index.asp