Langley, Canada – The NetJets U.S. Show Jumping Team earned a spot in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final with a bronze-medal finish in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Canada during the Langley Odlum Brown BC Open at Thunderbird Show Park on Sunday. Robert Ridland served as chef d’equipe of the U.S. team of Lucy Deslauriers, Eve Jobs, Jenni Martin McAllister, and Richard Spooner as they finished on a total of 12 faults.
“It’s what we came to do,” said Ridland. “We always aim for a podium finish, and in this case it was more necessary than ever because we knew that if we had a podium finish, we’d end up in Barcelona. We really needed every ride we got; all four riders had a score that counted and really fought for that spot on the podium.”
Spooner (Agua Dulce, Calif.) led off for the U.S. effort with two clear rounds aboard Show Jumping Syndications International’s Quirado RC, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Jobs (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) followed up with two clear rounds of her own on her 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Venue d’Fees des Hazalles.
“Richard was very good in [the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Mexico on May 5] where he also jumped two clean rounds,” Ridland said. “He’s had four consecutive Nations Cup rounds without a rail down, and that’s tremendous.
“Over the last few years, we’ve seen several younger riders really step up,” Ridland continued. “Lucy [Deslauriers] had a big moment at Barcelona last year when she stepped up, and today we saw Eve do the same thing with her two clear rounds. It’s gratifying to see that because it’s so important for the future of our sport.”
McAllister (Lemitar, N.M.) rode Escada VS, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare owned by Viksbergs Säteri AB, to 16 faults in the first round but improved to just four faults in the second round. Deslauriers (New York, N.Y.) and Hester, Lisa T. Deslauriers’ 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, served as the anchor pair and produced a crucial eight-fault counting score in the first round and had some difficulties in the second round.
The Canadian team clinched the gold medal with four faults, while Ireland took the silver with eight faults. The Mexican team, who had won the USA and Mexico legs of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup North and Central American and Caribbean Division, placed fourth in Canada but maintained their hold on the top spot of the division standings to qualify for the Final in Barcelona along with the U.S. team, which finished in second in the division.
North and Central American and Caribbean Division Final Standings
Children’s and Junior Nations Cup Teams Claim Gold
In an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a team setting, the U.S. Children’s and Junior Nations Cup teams jumped against their counterparts from Mexico and Canada at Thunderbird Show Park on Saturday. Both teams were victorious under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer.
“We had a fantastic day,” said Langer. “I couldn’t be prouder of both teams. This type of experience is invaluable for our future top riders and they all showed all the potential that they have.”
The Junior athletes put themselves well ahead after the first round of their Nations Cup, leading the competition after having a score of four faults as Mexico stood on 12 faults and Canada had 13 faults. In the second round, Amelie Bittar (Los Angeles, Calif.) jumped clean on Georges Bittar’s 11-year-old Selle Francais mare Star Girl B to set the pace, and Hannah Loly (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) put zero on the scoreboard as well with Ayma de la Demi Lune, her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare.
Maggie Kehring (Woodside, Calif.). and the Kehring Family’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cole Haan had four faults in round two after jumping clean in round one, but the U.S. Juniors were so far ahead that the anchor rider, Emma Callanan (Lebanon, N.J.) on Hart Farm’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Quinleen, who had turned in a score of four faults in the first round, didn’t have to jump again.
“The riders on the Junior team are all nicely seasoned, with experience in the [Adequan/FEI] North American Youth Championships and the [USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships],” Langer said. “They know their horses well, settled in, and were able to stay focused.”
The Children’s competition came down to an unusual three-way jump-off between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada after each team finished the first round with 12 faults. The U.S. team prevailed for gold with a jump-off score of zero in a combined time four seconds faster than that of the Canadian team, which claimed silver.
Hunter Champey (Far Hills, N.J.) was the pathfinder for the U.S. and jumped a fast, clear jump-off round with Andrew Kocher’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Hill Top van het Gavershof. Katherine Pugliese (Malvern, Pa.) riding Jamie Buis’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding Bull Run’s Revelation and Caroline Mawhinney on her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Flashback VDS also put in clear rounds, while Dakota Champey (Far Hills, N.J.) and Unsomnie de la Roque, MDHT Equestrian LLC’s 11-year-old Selle Francais mare, had eight faults.
“They were a little bit nervous in the first round, so they had those 12 faults, but then they really pulled it together,” Langer said. “In the jump-off, they knew what they were supposed to do. Some were to go their normal speed and get a clear round, others were able to go faster and make sure we had fast enough rounds that we could beat anyone we might tie with on faults.”
Full Results for the Junior Team
Full Results for the Children’s Team
Stay up to date on U.S. Jumping by following US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and USA Jumping on Facebook. Use #USAJumping.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF sponsors and members.