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The Furusiyya Nations Cup season to kick off in United Arab Emirates

  • by Equnews Editorial
  • 05-02-2014

It comes as no surprise that the opening of the 105th Nations Cup season this week is so eagerly awaited. The lessons learned, and the experienced gained, over the last year look set to pay dividends for many of the less-experienced countries, and with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) just around the corner, the Furusiyya series provides the perfect testing ground for team combinations in the months ahead. It all begins with the single qualifier staged in the Middle East region which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday 6 February, in Al Ain (UAE). A total of six nations will contest this first event including Saudi Arabia, the country that took team bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games and which, through the Saudi Equestrian Fund, sponsors the Furusiyya series. However only three of the six competing nations – Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates – will be vying for the two available qualifying spots for the Barcelona Final, while Jordan, Syria and Ukraine will not. The Ukrainian team will be chasing points in Europe Division 1, the most high-profile qualification group that also includes Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The number of countries in this division is extended from eight to ten this year, and as always there will be eight legs, with just four counting for points. A total of seven teams will qualify for the Final from this League. The Europe Division 1 action begins in May at;

  1. Lummen (BEL)
  2. La Baule (FRA)
  3. Rome (ITA)
  4. St Gallen (SUI)
  5. Rotterdam (NED)
  6. Falsterbo (SWE)
  7. Hickstead (GBR)
  8. Dublin (IRL) in early August.
A total of 15 nations will compete in the Europe Division 2 series which also has eight legs;
  1. Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT)
  2. Copenhagen (DEN)
  3. Lisbon (POR)
  4. Sopot (POL)
  5. Budapest (HUN)
  6. Gijon (ESP)
  7. Bratislava (SVK)
  8. Arezzo (ITA)
The countries participating in Europe Division 2 are Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey and just two of these countries will go through to the Final. There will be a new addition to the North America, Central America and Caribbean League with a visit to Coapexpan (MEX) for this league’s second leg in May. Teams from Canada, Mexico and USA will be in action in this league which begins in Wellington, Florida (USA) at the end of February and will conclude at Spruce Meadows in Calgary (CAN) in June. Again, there are two qualifying spots available, while two further places are up for grabs in both South America and the Asian region and one in Africa. These are decided by placings on the Longines Rankings within an eight-week period of the Final which this year moves to October 9 to 12 but takes place at the same venue as last year; the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP), venue for the Jumping events during the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Once again, the overall number of teams competing at the Final will be 18, plus the home team if not qualified.   ©FEI / photo: Noelle Floyd

It comes as no surprise that the opening of the 105th Nations Cup season this week is so eagerly awaited. The lessons learned, and the experienced gained, over the last year look set to pay dividends for many of the less-experienced countries, and with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) just around the corner, the Furusiyya series provides the perfect testing ground for team combinations in the months ahead. It all begins with the single qualifier staged in the Middle East region which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday 6 February, in Al Ain (UAE). A total of six nations will contest this first event including Saudi Arabia, the country that took team bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games and which, through the Saudi Equestrian Fund, sponsors the Furusiyya series. However only three of the six competing nations – Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates – will be vying for the two available qualifying spots for the Barcelona Final, while Jordan, Syria and Ukraine will not. The Ukrainian team will be chasing points in Europe Division 1, the most high-profile qualification group that also includes Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The number of countries in this division is extended from eight to ten this year, and as always there will be eight legs, with just four counting for points. A total of seven teams will qualify for the Final from this League. The Europe Division 1 action begins in May at;

  1. Lummen (BEL)
  2. La Baule (FRA)
  3. Rome (ITA)
  4. St Gallen (SUI)
  5. Rotterdam (NED)
  6. Falsterbo (SWE)
  7. Hickstead (GBR)
  8. Dublin (IRL) in early August.
A total of 15 nations will compete in the Europe Division 2 series which also has eight legs;
  1. Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT)
  2. Copenhagen (DEN)
  3. Lisbon (POR)
  4. Sopot (POL)
  5. Budapest (HUN)
  6. Gijon (ESP)
  7. Bratislava (SVK)
  8. Arezzo (ITA)
The countries participating in Europe Division 2 are Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey and just two of these countries will go through to the Final. There will be a new addition to the North America, Central America and Caribbean League with a visit to Coapexpan (MEX) for this league’s second leg in May. Teams from Canada, Mexico and USA will be in action in this league which begins in Wellington, Florida (USA) at the end of February and will conclude at Spruce Meadows in Calgary (CAN) in June. Again, there are two qualifying spots available, while two further places are up for grabs in both South America and the Asian region and one in Africa. These are decided by placings on the Longines Rankings within an eight-week period of the Final which this year moves to October 9 to 12 but takes place at the same venue as last year; the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP), venue for the Jumping events during the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Once again, the overall number of teams competing at the Final will be 18, plus the home team if not qualified.   ©FEI / photo: Noelle Floyd
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