2017 Nations Cup Circuit Starts Up Again at Jumping Lummen

The Nations Cup is the official international team competition for the sport of Show Jumping. Athletes and horses from 50 different national federations compete in qualifying leagues around the world, with the top finishers meeting in Barcelona, Spain from September 28 to October 1 for the global Final. Last year, Ludger Beerbaum led Team Germany to the Nations Cup title after a jump-off against Great Britain, and this year the Catalan city will be hosting its fifth straight Final.

The 8 teams in Europe Division 1 this season are France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The biggest qualifying league is Europe Division 2, with 19 nations including Great Britain and Belgium.

The FEI Nations Cup of Belgium, taking place in Lummen’s Garden Arena, marks the starting point for Europe’s Division 1 this year, after the competition was cancelled last year due to inclement weather. And while many top European riders are in Shanghai, China this weekend for the Longines Global Champions Tour and League, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy and France have all chosen Belgium as their first stage to try and earn a qualification for the Barcelona Final.

The Division 1 circuit will next travel to La Baule, France from May 11-14. Other 5* qualifiers on the circuit for 2017 are Rome, Saint-Gall, Switzerland, Hickstead, Great Britain and Dublin. The four best results by team are counted. Division 2 for the continent will kick off with the CSIO4* of Linz-Ebelsberg in Austria from May 4-7. Outside of Europe, Nations Cup qualifying is taking place in North America and the Middle East. Qualification of teams from South America, Africa and Asia/Australasia will be established through the Longines Rankings.

To watch Jumping Lummen live, click here

For all the results from Lummen, see here