Nations Cup Show Jumping lands in Switzerland this weekend

CSIO stands for Concours de Saut International Officiel (official international jumping competition), and in the sport of Show Jumping, generally only one event per year per country carries that title. There are eight qualifiers in the elite continental division in 2018, and after opening competitions in Samorin, Slovakia and La Baule, France, this week’s host Switzerland leads the standings with 180 points, followed by Ireland (145) and Spain (115). Subsequent qualifiers will take place in Sopot, Poland, Rotterdam, Falsterbo, Sweden, Hickstead and Dublin. The Final is set for October 4–7 at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona. 

In fact, Great Britain is making its entry into league competition this week, with a team of William Whitaker, Samuel Hutton, Harriet Nuttall, Louise Saywell and Holly Smith. They are facing rivals France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Spain as well as visitors New Zealand and Brazil in the €200,000 Nations Cup qualifier at the picturesque Gruendenmoos outdoor equestrian stadium. Ireland is represented in individual competition by Denis Lynch and Billy Twomey.

Some of the other big names in St.Gallen include the home nation’s Steve Guerdat, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and Germany’s Marcus Ehning. The full list of entries is here.

The prestigious 5* equestrian competition has deep roots in this region between Lake Constance and the Appenzell Alps, dating back to 1884 when the first “St. Galler Internationale Pferdesporttage” took place – the predecessor of today’s CSIO Switzerland. And local fans will have many riders to support in Friday’s Longines Grand Prix, with 15 Swiss qualified for the marquee Individual class, including Guerdat, Paul Estermann, Jane Richard Philips and Pius Schwizer.

For visitors to the town, a pleasant area to visit is the historic Abbey precinct, whose cathedral and Abbey Library have been  given UNESCO World Heritage status.