British showjumping team triumphs in Rotterdam

The British showjumping team resumed their winning ways with a resounding victory in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Rotterdam on Friday (19 June).

The quartet of Ben Maher (Diva II), Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Ecaussines), Jessica Mendoza (Spirit T) and Michael Whitaker (Cassionato) finished on a team total of five points to beat France in second place with Sweden in third in what proved to be a nailbiting competition.

This was the second point-scoring leg of the series for Team GB and performance manager Di Lampard’s squad made it two out of two when following up on their success in Rome in May.

Pathfinder Ben Maher produced a discard score of eight faults with Diva II in the opening round but returned for a clear in round two. Joe Clee and Utamaro D’Ecaussines jumped an impressive double clear which helped push the team back up the leader board and, when Jessica Mendoza added to the zero scores in the second round and Michael Whitaker became the drop score on Cassionato, victory and maximum points went to Great Britain.

The remaining two point-scoring legs in the 2015 series for the British team come on home soil at Hickstead in July, followed by the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin. The Nations Cup final takes place in Barcelona at the end of September.

Final standings in Rotterdam (full score board can be found here)

1, Great Britain 5

2, France 7

3, Sweden 10

4, Germany 12

5, Netherlands 13

6, Switzerland 24

7eq, Belgium and Brazil 28

Don’t miss the full report from Rotterdam in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound (out Thursday 25 June).

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.