Britain has been experiencing a heat wave in recent weeks, but the temperature is set to rise even further next week when the 2005 Samsung Super League series resumes at Hickstead on Friday, July 29.
It's been a fascinating season so far, with the Americans dominating at the opening leg in La Baule and the British showing their class in Rome. The double Super League champions from France headed the line-up in St. Gallen, and then the Swiss swept to victory in Rotterdam before the series took a six-week break.
Show jumping minds are firmly fixed on the European Championships, which take place at San Patrignano, near Rimini in Italy, this week, but riders are acutely aware that the Super League battle begins again just five days after the Championships conclude, and for Belgium, Ireland and Holland, Hickstead presents a particularly important challenge.
These three nations lie at the bottom of the league table and desperately need to pick up more points in order to improve their position. The Belgians are in sixth place, but only three points separate them from the Irish in seventh while the Dutch, at the bottom of the leaderboard, are just 0.5 points further adrift.
Victory in Rotterdam rocketed the Swiss to the top of the table, but it's tight up there because the Americans are only a half-point behind while Germany, Britain and France are hot on their heels in third, fourth and fifth places, respectively.
The British won on their home ground in 2004 but the Belgians, Irish and Dutch know that they need to make up some ground if they are to avoid the prospect of relegation at the end of the season and, with just four more legs of the series remaining, it's time to pull out of the danger zone. It is unlikely that they will all manage to do it, but next week at Hickstead they will be giving it their best shot.
Samsung Super League Leaderboard (after Round 4 in Rotterdam)
1. Switzerland - 22
2. USA - 21.5
3. Germany - 21
4. Great Britain - 20.5
5. France - 20
6. Belgium - 10.5
7. Ireland - 7.5
8. Netherlands - 7
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