Ireland Wins Nations Cup Qualifier but No Points in Norway, while Great Britain Advances Cause

With qualifying now underway around the world for the Barcelona Final, it is possible for teams to compete in competitions outside their division. This is particularly relevant for powerful riding nations which have large groups of top level horses and riders beyond what is needed for the four participating pairs in each competition. In addition to the Irish winners in Drammen, for example, fellow Division 1 squad France finished third on the same weekend in Norway as others from their country won on home soil at the Nations Cup in La Baule, France.

Division 2 nation Belgium — seen by many as favourites to win in Drammen, with their elite cohort of Olivier Philippaerts (H&M Legend of Love), Niels Bruynseels (Gancia de Muze), Pieter Devos (Dream of India Greenfield) and Gregory Wathelet (Coree) — were in the end just beaten in the Norwegian city by the Irish, who had one less fault over the two rounds. Nevertheless, with their second place, Belgium took the maximum 90 points from the competition, which leaves them in first place with 180 points in the 19-nation Division 2 after two events. Great Britain was fifth in Norway, which leaves them in second with 140 ahead of Poland in third. Next stop on the Division 2 qualifying circuit is the 3* in Lisbon, Portugal from May 25-28. Following qualifiers in the division are scheduled for Uggerhalne, Denmark from June 1-5, Sopot, Poland (June 8-11), Roeser, Luxembourg (June 29-July 2) and Gijon, Spain (a 5*) from August 30-September 4.

Teams decide their participation in the different qualifying stages, within the framework of the rules, based on their own strategy and place in the standings.