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Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team Gets Redemption in Challenge Cup at 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final

by Helen Murray | Oct 10, 2014, 1:16 PM

Barcelona, Spain- The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team entered Friday’s Challenge Cup competition at the 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final looking for redemption after a ninth-place finish in the First Competition. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland led the determined team of McLain Ward, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, and Beezie Madden, who delivered throughout the afternoon that saw them beat out the Australian team in a jump-off to claim their second consecutive Challenge Cup victory.

“These riders knew what their job was and they did it. These are professional riders that have done it a million times and the results are generally what you expect,” said Ridland who was pleased with his team’s performances throughout 2014. “It was a very good year, we were looking for perfection and there were only a few chinks in the armor looking back at it.”

Listen to more of Ridland’s thoughts here.

Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farms, got the United States off to a strong start, producing an immaculate clear over Santiago Varela’s 13-obstacle track. Engle (Wellington, Fla.) and Elm Rock Partners LLC’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Royce, jumped second for the U.S., also leaving all the rails in the cups but collecting a single time fault.

“It just wasn’t our day yesterday but for sure we're happier today,” reflected Engle on the United States’ time in Barcelona.

Listen to more of Engle’s thoughts here.

Hough (Wellington, Fla.) looked on tap to put a clear on the board for the Americans but two rails late in the course with the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Ohlala, owned by The Ohlala Group, resulted in eight faults.

Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) entered the arena with Abigail Wexner’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Cortes ‘C’, knowing that a clear round would force a jump-off with the Australians, and the 2014 World Championship Bronze medalists did just that, jumping faultlessly.

Ward, Hough, and Madden returned for the Americans in the jump-off, all producing clear rounds finishing in an overall time of 129.16. The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team claimed victory in the Challenge Cup over Australia, who finished the jump-off on eight faults in a time of 133.26, with France claiming third on 12 faults.

To learn more about the 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final visit; http://fei.org/fei/events/fei-nations-cup-series/furusiyya.