All eyes on Rotterdam for Nations Cup Show Jumping this weekend
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Published 21/06/2018 at 13:26 GMT
As Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam is well-equipped to handle the precious international cargo in town this week at the Dutch city’s massive horse show. 63 riders and 166 horses from 20 countries are present at the 5* level, with a big highlight being Sunday’s CSIO 5* Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup qualifier. Great Britain is taking on 7 other teams as it chases points towards the 2018 Final.
All eyes on Rotterdam for Nations Cup Show Jumping this weekend
Image credit: Eurosport
Rotterdam is said to have been named after a dam that was constructed in the Rotte river in the 13th century. And while the obstacles in the path of the equestrian athletes at the Rotterdam Arena this week will be of a smaller scale, they will still reach as high as 1.60 m in marquee classes such as Friday’s €150,000 Grand Prix and Sunday’s €250,000 Nations Cup of the Netherlands, the fifth qualifier of the season for Europe’s Division 1.
Alongside the British team of Amanda Derbyshire, Ben Maher, Emily Moffitt, Alexandra Thornton and William Whitaker, other European Nations Cup squads at the competition are the Dutch hosts, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. As it did in Sopot, the United States will also be taking part in the team event, which allows visiting nations to practice, build up experience and win prize money outside their own divisions.
At the show on the North Sea, which will also feature U-25 Jumping and international Dressage, 15 Show Jumpers will ride for the Netherlands in front of the home crowd, including World No.1 Harrie Smolders. France, Belgium, Sweden and Germany are also sending strong groups, with riders like Kevin Staut, Niels Bruynseels, Henrik von Eckermann and Marcus Ehning among those entered. Ireland will be represented by Denis Lynch and Cian O’Connor.
The Netherlands and Great Britain are currently 9th and 10th in the standings, but have both only participated in one qualifier so far – La Baule, France for the former and St.Gallen, Switzerland for the latter. Both are eligible for points at all four remaining events. Current leaders Switzerland will be looking to widen the points gap, however, with Chef d’Equipe Andy Kistler leading a squad that features Steve Guerdat and his mounts Alamo, Bianca and Corbinian.
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