Kiwi team pip Brits to eventing victory
An all-female British eventing team just missed out on victory in the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup series in Boekelo, Netherlands, at the weekend (8-12 October)
The team of Laura Collett, Gemma Tattersall, Sarah Bullimore and Emilie Chandler finished just 1.6pen behind a strong New Zealand line-up.
The Brits led after dressage and jumped four clear rounds cross-country, but time penalties allowed the Kiwis (pictured) to slip into the lead by 0.7pen.
Gemma piled on the pressure on the final day by jumping a clear round with Dinky Inky, but New Zealand’s Lucy Jackson also jumped clear to secure the win and finish second individually.
The class was won by France’s Thomas Carlile with Sirocco du Gers.
“I have a fantastic horse,” he said. “He’s only eight and this was his first CCI3*. They don’t come much braver and more honest than him. My main aim was to give him confidence.”
Emilie Chandler finished best of the British team for 11th in the CCI3* first-timer Coopers Law.
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“This is one of the most amazing events I’ve had the privilege to be part of,” Emilie said.
“The course rode really well, the presentation was immaculate and everyone has worked very hard on the ground, considering the weather turned it into a bog last year.”
Fifteen nations took part in this year’s series which was held over nine legs across Europe with the top seven results counting towards the overall placings.
Team GB finished in second place in the series just four-points behind the Germany.
“This has been a brilliant finale to what has been a very exciting and successful FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing season,” Catrin Norinder, FEI director of eventing, said.
“It’s particularly pleasing that so many nations contested the final.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.