The show jumpers of TeamNL have won the Nations Cup at Dublin’s five-star competition with dominance and conviction. This prestigious Aga Khan trophy is one of the classics in show jumping. “Winning the Aga Khan today makes the year,” said a smiling national coach Wout-Jan van der Schans to Irish TV cameras. Thanks to double clear rounds from Kevin Jochems, Willem Greve, and Harrie Smolders, the Netherlands claimed victory with a fantastic faultless result.
“My riders performed brilliantly,” said Van der Schans. “I was actually never worried during the competition. The horses were jumping so well. And with Harrie as the last rider, it wasn’t even tense. He’s so cool.”
But it was certainly exciting in the packed stadium in the heart of Dublin. After the first round, TeamNL shared the lead with the Americans, both with a faultless score. In the second round, the Americans ended up with 8 penalty points and finished in fourth place.
Ireland and Germany both carried over their 4 penalty points from the first round without adding more in the second. This put the pressure on the Netherlands’ final rider, Harrie Smolders. With his gelding Mr. Tac, he couldn’t afford a mistake. The current number 13 in the FEI world rankings made none, securing a fantastic win for Wout-Jan van der Schans’s team.
A zero score in a Nations Cup is rare. To achieve it in one of the most prestigious events of the year is truly exceptional. Frank Schuttert and the mare Isis were selected by the coach for the Aga Khan. The mare is still somewhat inexperienced and was impressed by the atmosphere. In the first round, they had to start first of all 32 participants. With 12 penalty points in the first and an improved 8 in the second, the pair from Ommen provided the drop score for the team.
Kevin Jochems and the mare Camilla van de Helle produced two brilliant clear rounds. Willem Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. did the same, again showing they belong among the best combinations in the world.
Harrie Smolders and Mr. Tac finished the job superbly. At no point did the 13-year-old gelding come close to touching a rail, as the saying goes. Smolders delivers when it matters, and he proved it again Friday afternoon in Dublin. The Brabant rider has been in blistering form in recent months.
The victory in Dublin marks the second five-star Nations Cup win of the year for coach Van der Schans and TeamNL, following CHIO Rotterdam. A great success for Dutch equestrian sport.
Results – Nations Cup of Ireland, Aga Khan, Dublin, 1.60m
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Netherlands, 0 penalty points
Frank Schuttert (Ommen), Isis, (12) – (8)
Kevin Jochems (Beerse), Camilla van de Helle, 0 – 0
Willem Greve (Markelo), Grandorado TN N.O.P., 0 – 0
Harrie Smolders (Lage Mierde), Mr. Tac, 0 – 0 -
Germany, 4 penalty points
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Ireland, 4 penalty points
