Europeans on top in CSIO5* show jumping in Abu Dhabi

A total of 18 national teams from around the world (plus Finals host Spain if not qualified) will earn a spot over the coming months for the Nations Cup Final at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona from October 3–6. There are several qualifying leagues around the world for the historic show jumping series, including in the Middle East, and countries are also allowed to compete outside their geographical area, as Germany and Ireland were doing in Abu Dhabi in recent days. Nevertheless, teams can only earn points and qualify through their own zone – in the case of those two countries, in Europe. Qualifying starts on that continent in France, in May.

At the Al Forsan International Sports Resort in the Middle East this past weekend, it was German riders who claimed top honours, in both Saturday’s CSIO5* Nations Cup and the Longines Grand Prix last Thursday, won by Philipp Weishaupt with his 12-year-old bay mare Catokia. Weishaupt and Catokia were also part of the winning Nations Cup squad which had a clear-cut victory in the Persian Gulf state. His fellow riders in the qualifier were Mario Stevens, Sven Schlüsselburg, and Miram Schneider (pictured above), who was only taking part because her boyfriend, Jörg Naeve, had had to withdraw from the team a couple days beforehand.

As FEI News reported, Schneider was not sure in those circumstances whether her nine-year-old chestnut gelding, Fidelius G, would be ready for the two-round, 1.60m Nations Cup challenge. “I hoped he was experienced enough,” she said. “This was really my first tough course to do with him but over the last few days I had a great feeling with him – he was trusting me, and he showed me that again today!”

Indeed, Schneider and her teammates were impressive in Abu Dhabi, finishing with six faults overall, followed by Ireland (Trevor Breen with Escapade H, David Simpson with Jenson, Shane Breen with Ipswich van de Wolfsakker and Mark McAuley with Jasco vd Bisschop) with 13 and the UAE with 18. Full results are here. To watch highlights of all the action, see here. 

The worldwide Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup 2019 series continues next in Coapexpan, Mexico in May, where the second leg of the North/Central America and Caribbean League will take place. One qualifier has already been held on that continent, which was won by Mexico. Belgium captured the overall 2018 Nations Cup Final, and there will be seven qualifiers for the powerhouse Europe Division 1 this season to qualify for this year’s edition: La Baule, France; St. Gallen, Switzerland; Sopot, Poland; Geesteren, the Netherlands; Falsterbo, Sweden; Hickstead, Great Britain, and Dublin, Ireland. A separate qualifying competition will also be held for mostly Eastern European teams at a location to be determined.