Mexico secure FEI Nations Cup Final berth with victory at Langley

The Mexicans were already looking good for success in the third and last leg of the regional league after they were the only one of the four competing nations to maintain a zero score at the end of the first round, and they held on to win comfortably without having to call up their last-line rider for a second time.

Canada filled the runner-up spot ahead of Ireland in third, while the USA had to settle for fourth and last place.

The victory for Mexico came on the back of them breaking a 26-year Nations Cup drought with an historic win on home ground at the Coapexpan Equestrian Club in Xalapa at the end of April

And the result at Langley now ensures both they and USA have earned places at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, in September.

Any tension or doubts Canadian course designer, Peter Holmes, might have had at the start of the class when the first three riders completed his 12-fence track with relative ease were soon forgotten as the faults started coming.

Twelve faults from the opening Mexican partnership of Juan Jose Zendejas Salgado onTino la Chapelle meant the early signs for the eventual winners were not promising. However when Patricio Pasquel’s clear round on Babel was followed by two more foot-perfect runs from his brother Francisco Pasquel, with Naranjo and Alberto Michan with Gigolo van de Broekkant, Mexico led the way into round two with a clean sheet.

Ireland were lying second at this stage by only counting the eight faults collected by James Chawke with Eros H, as the nine picked up by Jennifer Crooks and SF Uryadi could be discounted when both pathfinder Daniel Coyle (on Tennyson) and anchorman Conor Swail (on Grafton) were fault-free.

USA were close behind with nine on the board, as both Karl Cook (on Tembla) and Christine McCrea (on Nektarina B) left two fences on the floor and also collecting a time fault but Jonathan McCrea (with Special Lux) and Rich Fellers (on Flexible) both jumped clear rounds.

Host nation Canada was trailing the field with 14 faults on their score-card despite Tiffany Foster led the way with a foot-perfect run on Victor, but a mistake for Ben Asselin and Veyron and the 10 faults collected by 2008 Olympic champion Eric Lamaze on Coco Bongo had to be counted when third-line rider, Amy Millar, returned with 13 faults on the board for the team discard.

However the Canadians rallied well in the second round to the extent Lamaze was not required to jump again as his team-mates added nothing to their tally this time out.

It meant when Ireland picked up eight more faults, despite double-clears from both Coyle and Swail, to leave them on a final total of 16 and the Americans also added eight to finish with 17, the home runners would line up in second place.

Mexico’s Salgado produced a much more settled round from Tino la Chapelle at their second attempt, and although Patricio Pasquel and his brother Francisco Pasquel on Naranjo both incurred errors for an eight-fault second-round result, that still only brought the Mexican total to 12.

With that two-fault advantage over their nearest rivals and hosts, there was no need for Alberto Michan to return to the ring, meaning a second consecutive win, the regional league title and a place at September FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona was secured for the Mexican contingent.

The next leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 series is the Europe Division 2 leg at Sopot, Poland, this Friday 10 June.

FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 North American, Central American and Caribbean League
Result: Langley, Canada

1. Mexico 12 faults
2. Canada 14
3. Ireland 16
4. USA 17

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2016 North American, Central American and Caribbean League
Standings after round 3 at Langley, Canada

1. Mexico 290 points
2. USA 255
3. Canada 230
4. El Salvador 45