CSIO Rotterdam: Dutch team wins Nations Cup in front of home crowd

In Rotterdam, the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup has just come to an end. After the first round, the Dutch team was standing in the lead and they managed to keep that place in the second round. It was really impressive how the Dutchmen demonstrated why the FEI once tweeted "Orange is the new gold". They rode seven beautiful clear rounds. The last starter, Maikel Van der Vleuten and Vdl Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P. (Quidam de Revel) didn't even have to ride his second round anymore: it was already clear that nothing or nobody could keep the Dutch team from winning. In the first round, Harrie Smolders and Emerald N.O.P. (Diamant de Semilly) got one penalty for time, but in the second round they rode fast enough, resulting in a clear round. The other team members, Jur Vrieling (Vdl Zirocco Blue N.O.P.) and Willem Greve (Carambole N.O.P.) jumped two excellent clear rounds as well. This great performance of the Dutchman resulted in a team total of zero penalties. No wonder they took the win!

Second place was for Switzerland. The riders of chef d'équipe Andy Kistler jumped wonderful courses as well. Martin Fuchs and Clooney 51 (Cornet Obolensky) jumped two clear rounds. The reigning Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonnets (Kannan) didn't touch the wood either. The rode two clear rounds as well. Paul Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse (Obos Quality)  didn't jump a good first round. They got 19 penalties, but that result was cancelled. In the second round their results was cancelled as well: they were the only Swiss combination that didn't jump a clear second round. Janika Sprunger and Bonne Chance Cw (Baloubet du Rouet) touched one fence in the first round, in the second round they did it clear. This resulted in a team total of 4 penalties.

Third place was for the German team. Marcus Ehing and Funky Fred (For Pleasure) were the only combination that could keep the zero on the score board. Ludger Beerbaum and Casello (Casall) did it clear in the first round, but in the second round they got one unlucky fence down. Marco Kutscher was the first German combination to enter the ring. He and Balermo touched one fence in the first round, in the second round they got 12 penalties. Daniel Deusser and Equita van T Zorgvliet got 9 penalties in the first round, but jumping clear, they made up for that in the second round.

Click here for the results