2023-10-02 07:52:30
This followingnoon, the outcome of the final of the Longines Nations Cups in Barcelona went in the direction of Germany, which won once morest the seven other nations with great ease since it was the only one to count three without fail. Despite having had three four-point runs, one of which was erased thanks to the splendid flawless performance offered by Olivier Perreau and Dorai d’Aiguilly*GL events, the Blues managed to climb onto the second step of the podium. Belgium completed this top three, followed by Brazil, who managed to secure their ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
François-Xavier Boudant and Brazyl du Mezel.
© Scoopdyga
As in 2022, and in 2018, the French show jumping team achieved a good second place in the final of the Longines Nations Cup in Barcelona. After losing to Belgium last year, it was this time once morest Germany that the Blues had to admit defeat this followingnoon. It must be recognized that with three four-point courses and only one clear round, finishing second behind a nation which achieved the perfect score three times is already a great operation, as luck did not seem to favor the French at the start. test.
Starting as the opener for both the team and the event, Simon Delestre overcame all the difficulties of Santiago Varela’s course, but unfortunately stumbled once once more on the river, which he nevertheless showed to I Amelusina R 51 when returning to the track following his mistake on Thursday. The Lorraine already intends to work on the water obstacle when he returns to work at home, and can be delighted to have found a new partner in the stallion for the 1.60m events. In the same way, François-Xavier Boudant and Brazyl du Mezel experienced essentially the same scenario as three days ago by completing a magnificent course… unfortunately marred by a fault on the vertical surmounted by a numbered hoist 12. For a first date of this level, the duo really has nothing to be ashamed of, quite the contrary! This regularity might even give hope for participation in future championships… After receiving eight points on Thursday, Olivier Perreau was probably keen to prove that it was only a moment of weakness, especially following the sumptuous championships of Europe that he made in Milan. Associated with its faithful Dorai d’Aiguilly*GL events, the Rhônalpin produced a new course that was beautiful, clean, serene, and above all, faultless! The only one on the team in the end, since Julien Épaillard and Dubai du Cèdre, last to start, sinned on the same vertical which harmed François-Xavier Boudant.
Then, while the mines still seemed disappointed to see the four points added to the counter, the scenario turned. Indeed, the scores were so close until the end that all hopes of a comeback rested on the foreign nations who also had eight points. The happiness of some causing the misfortune of others, the mistake of the British Harry Charles on Aralyn Blue propelled France onto the podium. A runner-up which will have the merit of bringing smiles back to the French team and its supporters, and which closes a 2023 outdoor season tinged with prowess, promises, and disappointments.
Self-help will overcome
Not really concerned regarding the performance of their opponents, the Germans were far ahead of the others. However, the competition did not start so well for Otto Becker’s riders, since the talented Jana Wargers was unable to prevent a mistake on the exit of the double 11, with Dorette. While the German had signed a flawless performance on the first day, allowing Richard Vogel to not even need to start for the team to qualify for the final, the opposite happened today . Indeed, Christian Kukuk, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Richard Vogel in turn achieved the perfect score, associated with their respective Checker 47, Elysium and United Touch S. “By signing a flawless performance on Thursday, Jana allowed me to not to take the start and to be able to keep the freshness of United Touch, so it’s everyone’s turn to help the other!”, spoke Richard Vogel at a press conference. “Today, I really wanted to do my part, because until now I had the impression of being of no use (laughs)…I am even happier as the course did not seem to be ideal for my horse, who has great amplitude. When I was reconnoitering and studying the combinations, I even told Otto Becker that it gave me a headache… and he just told me to take an aspirin (laughs). United Touch may not have the best technique, but they have enormous talent and enormous means.”
As a reminder, Germany’s last victory in this Nations Cup final (and the only one since the adoption of its new formula in Barcelona) dates back to 2016, the year in which Ludger Beerbaum also played his last major team meeting – he even organized a small ceremony at the end of the awards ceremony. Seven years later, the Mannschaft did it once more, with a certain Christian Kukuk within it… a former student and big fan of the German Kaiser. The circle is complete!
As in 2016, Germany won.
© Scoopdyga
The title holders remain on the podium, Switzerland continues its unlucky momentum
Also with eight points, but a higher clock total, Belgium, defending champion, finished a good third. We will mention the two beautiful flawless performances by Wilm Vermeir on the excellent Iq van het Steentje and by Grégory Wathelet with Bond Jamesbond de Hay, who knew how to make the difference. Enough to put a smile on the face of the Red Devils following a very complicated Europeans in Milan, where they finished eleventh and did not even manage to qualify for the team final…
This was unfortunately not the case for Switzerland who, following equally complicated continental championships at the beginning of September, this time finished sixth. An even more disappointing result for the Red Jackets as it was the last major meeting orchestrated by their team leader Michel Sorg, who will now concentrate on his position as director of the Swiss Equestrian Sports Federation, which he has occupied it since May 1, 2023. For the record, the Swiss troops even literally made the kiss and cry collapse under their feet during the passage of one of their own. That’s how motivated they were!
Direction Versailles for Brazil, which wins its standoff with the United States
Luciana Diniz and Vertigo du Désert performed flawlessly for Brazil.
© Dirk Caremans/Hippofoto
In addition to the final itself, a second match was played this followingnoon at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona – which has already announced that it will host the next four editions of this appointment. Indeed, there were two of them, Brazil and the United States, competing for the only ticket to Paris 2024 up for grabs this week. After a high-flying battle, it was the Brazilians, led by their team leader Pedro Paulo Lacerda and their coach Philippe Guerdat, who won this showdown, finishing fourth, notably thanks to the sublime flawless performance of Luciana Diniz and Desert Vertigo. Without a doubt, the Brazilian, celebrated like Kylian M’Bappé off the track by her teammates, showed that she was worthy of her birth flag, which she found barely a year ago following having ridden for a long time for the Portugal! The Americans had to settle for fifth place and will have to give their all at the end of the month at the Pan American Games in Santiago, where two new tickets will be up for grabs.
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