British and Irish riders in Spain this week for last Nations Cup qualifier before Barcelona Final

The Longines FEI Nations Cup series is equestrian sport’s oldest and most historic team challenge, with national teams from dozens of countries around the world competing for one of the most prestigious prizes in this Olympic discipline. At last year’s Final at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Team Great Britain finished in second place to Team Germany after a tense jump-off between Nick Skelton and Marcus Ehning. The United States took the bronze.

This year, the British now know that they will be returning to Barcelona as they are mathematically qualified for the second spot in Division 2 (with 255 points, behind leader Belgium with 380). But their path to the Catalan city has not been without difficulty this year. Indeed, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway could have theoretically leap-frogged Great Britain into the second divisional qualifying spot with a victory in Gijón, but decided not to send full teams to the event this week, from August 30-September 4.

As an assurance, however, Britain has selected a strong squad for Gijón to ensure its qualification for Barcelona — to the point that at the recent European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, the country decided not to send a show jumping team. That decision was based on ‘available talent’ (top riders like Scott Brash have generally not been available for the Nations Cup circuit) and ‘longer-term’ objectives, for example the Nations Cup Final itself and next year’s World Equestrian Games in North Carolina.

There are thus seven British riders with 18 horses entered for the competition around the Boreal Building in Gijón’s Atlantic Botanical Garden: Alison Barton (18 Donata, Roma IV); Nigel Coupe (Dragon, Golvers Hill, Jubilee III); Ben Maher (MTF Madame X, Winning Good); Jessica Mendoza (Horst Van de Mispelaere, Toy Boy); Laura Renwick (Dominant H, Utrillo de Breve, Van de Vivaldi); Louise Saywell (Lady Lou, Pewit Nono, Tin Tin), and Keith Shore (Coriander Van’t Vennehof, Hermes, Mystic Hurricane).

For its part, Ireland — coming off an impressive Team gold medal at those same European Championships in Sweden — is qualified for Barcelona in Europe Division 1 (which Great Britain is expected to be promoted to next season). In fact, all eight teams in Division 1 are qualified, as last-place Spain has an automatic spot as host.

In Gijón, also known as Xixón in the local Asturian dialect, the Emerald Isle team will have six athletes and 15 horses: Shane Breen (Hallowberry Cruz, Ipswich Van de Wolfsakker, Laith); Anthony Condon (Balzac, Zira VH Kapelhof Z); Cameron Hanley (Aiyetoro, Eis Isaura, Quirex); Dermott Lennon (Fleur IV, Gelvins Touch, Loughview Lou-Lou); Mark McAuley (Utchan de Belheme, Vivaldi du Theil), and David Simpson (Keoki, Starfighter). The Master List of entries is here. While it is not eligible to pick up points in the DIvision 2 event, Ireland can use the competition to gain additional experience for its horses and riders, and aim to carry over its momomentum toward the 2017 Nations Cup Final.