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| The victorious British team. Michael Whitaker, Robert Smith, chef d'equipe Rob Hoekstra, Nick Skelton and Scott Brash. By FEI/Tony Parkes |
The British pipped their old rivals from Ireland in the seventh leg of this year's FEI Nations Cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Sho, Ireland on Friday (5 August 2011).
Just a week after the exciting jump-off at Hickstead, Britain, in which Germany won through, it came down to yet another three-round thriller with Britain's Nick Skelton going head-to-head with Irishman Billy Twomey. And Skelton was in a class of his own as he steered Carlo home to clinch it for the British for the 25th time in the 85-year history of the event.
Rest of the field
Belgium and France finished joint-third, while the USA slotted into fifth ahead of Germany. The long-time league leaders from The Netherlands had a less successful day today when having to settle for seventh place, and Denmark came in last. It was an improved performance from the Danes, however. Although they may be making an early departure from the top-level series at the end of their inaugural season, they will be stronger for the experience and they have shown great courage and resilience throughout.
The countries really feeling the heat at the end of today's classic clash were the Belgians and Americans, because only two points separate them on the league table going into the final leg in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in three weeks' time. One of the them is likely to join the Danes as the two lowest-placed teams on the FEI Nations Cup 2011 leaderboard are relegated to the FEI Promotional League at the end of the series.
Lost momentum
The French held sway on a zero score at the halfway stage this afternoon, but they lost their momentum when all four riders produced single errors second time out. Alan Wade's course proved plenty testing, with the triple combination at fence seven, the following vertical with water-tray, and a tricky set of planks all claiming a number of victims.
"Yes the combination was difficult, a triple bar to vertical to oxer and it was tight in there, and then it was a short six to the water tray vertical," said Britain's Michael Whitaker. "It was a really good course, plenty difficult."
The Irish were lying second, carrying just four faults, while the Germans, British and Belgians were on eight each. The Americans carried 12 when Lauren Hough and Quick Study (who later went on to win the Grand Prix) produced their only clear and the Dutch had already clocked up a surprising 17 faults.
Leon Thijssen's Tyson put a foot in the water and then Piet Raijmakers junior (Van Schijndel's Rascin) picked up an irritating single time fault, but both Leopold Van Asten (VDL Groep Santana B) and Wout-Jan van der Schans (Eurocommerce Seoul) left three fences on the floor. The three-time winners this season were not going to make it win number four. The Danes meanwhile were already fighting a rearguard action with 28 faults on the board. But they rallied brilliantly second time out despite retirement for second-line rider Cecile Tofte, and Camilla Enemark sealed their day with a great clear from Regino.
Irish almost seal it
As it got down to the wire, it seemed the Irish might seal it. USA-based Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto Darco have been something of a secret weapon for the team in green this season. They returned the second of two great clears. Newbie Nicola FitzGibbon more than lived up to expectations when following a single first-round error at the planks with a foot-perfect second effort from her gelding Puissance. But Denis Lynch's second mistake with All Inclusive meant that the home side needed a fault-free performance from anchorman Billy Twomey and Tinka's Serenade to secure a clean victory, and when the mare crashed into the oxer following the open water, Billy retired.
Ireland now shared an eight-fault leading scoreline with the British, who added nothing to their first-round tally. It went then to a jump-off between the two nations who enjoy friendship and rivalry in equal measure, and who like nothing more than to beat one another.
Jump-off
Michael Whitaker and GIG Amai had followed an opening four faults with a great clear, Scott Brash improved from a 12-fault first-round scoreline to leave just the second fence down in round two and Robert Smith copied Michael's result with a four and a clear from Talan. But Nick Skelton's Carlo was jumping out of his skin and there was no question about which combination chef d'equipe Rob Hoekstra would send back into the ring for the third-round decider.
It was a more difficult decision for Ireland's Robert Splaine.Shane's horse is clean and careful, rookie Nicola had already done more than could be expected of her and Denis's horse was unlikely to do the business. That left only Billy, whose mare has a great turn of foot against the clock and who would normally be the obvious choice - but were they recovered from the crash in round one?
Confidence and scope
Nick really put it up to the Irishman with a fabulous race around the jump-off track, each distance measured to perfection and Carlo oozing confidence and scope as they galloped through the finish in 39.98 seconds.
The Dublin crowd know a good round of jumping when they see it and they roared with approval as the British duo broke the beam. The tension as Billy set off was palpable, but hope turned to a gasp of disappointment when Tinka's Serenade hit the second fence. It was all over and the British had the coveted Aga Khan Cup in their hands.
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| Nick Skelton and Carlo secure a British win. By FEI?Tony Parkes |
"I didn't think we could win it at half-time," Nick admitted afterwards.
He knew he was under pressure against the clock.
"Rob (Hoekstra) said you have to be clear. If I'd a fence down I would have given Billy a fence in hand," he explained.
"I knew Nick would be fast," said Billy, who blamed himself for his mare's mistakes. "They were individual errors on my part today, but I'd like to congratulate the lads [The Brits] they did a sterling job today."
And he highlighted the atmosphere created by the uniquely enthusiastic Dublin crowd.
"They are phenomenal here, unbelievably behind us but really supportive to all the nations," he said. "They are the most fantastic crowd in the world."
For Scott Brash, it was a dream come true.
"It's everyone's dream to ride in the Aga Khan Cup here in Dublin - and to win it," he said. "I didn't contribute much today, but the others saved my bacon, the lads were great."
And for British team manager Rob Hoekstra, today's performance is a real shot in the arm. Looking forward to the Olympic Games in London next year he said with a big grin: "If we go as well as we did today we'll win the gold medal."
Claiming the Aga Khan trophy felt almost as good....
Full results from the show can be found here
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