Top riders in Dublin and Budapest as Nations Cup qualifying hits homestretch

This weekend, top European riders are facing off on opposite ends of the continent as they try to secure a spot for their countries in the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, described as “equestrian sport’s oldest and most prestigious team challenge, with national teams from around the globe competing for one of the most coveted prizes in this Olympic discipline.”

Indeed, Dublin and Budapest are hosting the decisive qualifiers for Europe’s Division 1 and Division 2 respectively, with Dublin the culminating event of several months of show jumping competition that started in April in Samorin, Slovakia. After subsequent stops in La Baule, France, St.Gallen, Switzerland, Sopot, Poland, Rotterdam, Falsterbo, Sweden and Hickstead, Great Britain – currently in ninth place out of ten teams in Division 1 – will be aiming to pick up enough points to make the Final at the Real Polo Club de Barcelona from October 5–7. For its part, this week’s host nation Ireland is comfortably positioned (in third place) to go to Spain and try to succeed last year’s champions the Netherlands, led by chef d’équipe Rob Ehrens and rider Harrie Smolders, on top of the global podium.  

As a reminder, a total of 18 teams can compete in the Nations Cup Final, with hosts Spain automatically making it into the competition at the CSIO Barcelona if not qualified otherwise. Nine teams (plus Spain as an extra if necessary) will be eligible from Europe, with seven from Division 1 and two from Division 2. They will be joined by two teams each from North and Central America, the Middle East and Asia, and one from Africa.

The stakes are thus high this weekend in the Irish capital, whose historic Dublin Horse Show is hosting its 144th edition this year, with previous incarnations dating back to the 1860s, when stone walls and water-based hurdles were features of local ‘horse leaping’ competitions. Six of the 10 teams eligible for points in the Division are set to take part in the Dublin competition this year – Ireland, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland – joined by visitors Mexico and the United States. Indeed, the Americans (whose Laura Kraut and Confu are pictured above) captured last year’s Longines Nations Cup of Ireland at the RDS arena. Great Britain, which just missed out on a victory on home ground in Hickstead – behind Ireland – at the end of July, will be represented this time by Alexandra Thornton, Holly Smith, Harriet Nuttall, William Funnell and Amanda Derbyshire. 

Meanwhile, about 2,400 km east, the Longines Jumping Nations Cup of Hungary is being held from August 9–12 in Budapest. As opposed to its Western European counterpart, the Hungarian competition is the first and last qualifier for Division 2. Four groups of Eastern European and Scandinavian squads have been competing to get to the Hungary qualifier, where two places in the Final will be allocated to the Division’s top teams.