Lexington, KY – The USEF is thrilled to report huge success for the Developing Young Rider Tour at the CSIO4* in Hamina, Finland. The show jumping squad made up of Brianne Goutal (Onira), Sarah Segal (True Love), Eliza Shuford (Larentino) and Georgina Bloomberg (Mila) impressively won the Nation’s Cup on June 17. This was a major victory for the women on the tour who are getting valuable international team experience through the program under the watchful eye of Chef d’Equipe Melanie Smith-Taylor. The team finished with eight faults, to best Denmark (nine faults) and Italy (12 faults). To add to the impressive Nation’s Cup victory, the US riders won four more classes at the horse show including an impressive Grand Prix win by Eliza Shuford and B.C.O. Olymp. In addition, Bloomberg and Star Apple won three classes: a 1.40 meter Speed Class, plus the Six Bar and the Masters High Jump. “Today's Nation’s Cup was not easy,” said Smith-Taylor after the competition. “It was hard fought all the way. I told the girls before the class ‘It ain't over ‘til it's over and that funny things happen in these classes.’ I told them that you cannot be over confident but at the same time you have to fight to the end and never give up. They did in spades!” Goutal jumped two clean rounds as the pathfinder, Segal – riding in her first Nation’s Cup - jumped clean in the first round and added a rail in the second. Shuford had one down in the first round and then had all the pressure of the win on her shoulders in round two and stepped up, jumping clean and clinching the win. Bloomberg had nine faults in the first round and under this Nation’s Cup format only three riders had to return to the jump-off. Bloomberg had been kicked in the knee right before the class and was riding in a significant amount of discomfort. This made Smith-Taylor’s choice easier in selecting the three riders for the second round. “These girls were brilliant!” said Smith-Taylor. There were seven teams contesting the Nation’s Cup and less than three rails separated the entire class. The Developing Young Riders’ Tour heads to the CSIO Drammen, Norway. For more information please contact High Performance Communications Manager Joanie Morris at (859) 225-2052 or [email protected].