Italy and Norway qualified at Arezzo (San Marino) to complete the line-up of 18 nations set to take part in the final of the most important team event in the international equestrian calendar, the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final next week. With 2.3 million euros in prize money on offer, the event is also the best remunerated and will be the main attraction of the 103rd Barcelona International Jumping Competition (CSIO Barcelona).
Belgium, France, Great Britain, Holland, Sweden, Spain and Germany, the major absentee from last year’s edition, are the teams to have reached the final from Europe Division 1. Norway and Italy qualified from Europe Division 2.
North and South America will be represented by the United States and Canada on the one hand, and Brazil and Venezuela on the other. Australia and Japan were the two countries to qualify among the Asian nations, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar qualifying from the Middle East and Egypt from Africa.
Australia will send the same team that took part of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy to represent their country at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. The team is composed of; Amy Graham, Julia Hargreaves, Jamie Kermond, James Paterson-Robinson and Edwina Tops-Alexander.
The United States have confirmed their Team for the Finals. The following athletes have been named to the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final; Margie Engle, Kent Farrington, Lauren Hough, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward.
The squad of five riders that have been selected by Rob Hoekstra for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona are as follows; Joe Clee with Utamaro d’Ecaussines, Spencer Roe with Wonder Why, William Whitaker with Fandango, Robert Whitaker with Catwalk IV and Michael Whitaker with Elie van de Kolmen or Cassionato.
90 riders and 180 horses will take part in this year’s edition of CSIO Barcelona, which promises to be the best yet. Ramón Catalán, CSIO Barcelona president, says, “This year’s edition features some top-class teams. Germany is the definitive showjumping superpower and was a major absentee last year. This year Germany is one of the favorites, along with France and Holland.”
Following the success of last year’s edition, CSIO Barcelona has considerably increased the capacity of its tribunes to 4,000 seats. Eudaldo Bonet, Real Club de Polo de Barcelona president , said, “We are providing more galleried seating and tables to ensure greater comfort for all spectators”.
This year the format of the competition will include two night classes. The Longines Cup of the City of Barcelona and the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final will be held on the Friday and Saturday evenings, respectively [10 – 11 October]. The Gala Dinner will be held during the final on the Saturday evening.
Teams confirmed to compete:
- Belgium
- France
- Great Britain
- Holland
- Spain
- Germany
- Norway
- Italy
- Sweden
- Brazil
- Venezuela
- Japan
- Australia
- Egypt
- Canada
- United States of America
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
Source: CSIO Barcelona