Team USA won the Challenge Cup at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final 2014 in Barcelona, Spain today (L to R) Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland with Margie Engle, Beezie Madden, Lauren Hough and McLain Ward. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Something of a second chance draw has taken place at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2014 Final. Known as the Challenge Cup all six teams not in the final jumped for a chance to redeem themselves. The Aussies did us proud, putting up a real challenge against a far more experienced American side. It took a second-round jump-off against the clock for the American’s to edge out the Australian’s for the top honours. The relatively rookie Australian’s have made themselves known as a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.

There was €300,000 (about $435,000 Australian dollars) on offer in prize money, no chump change. Many Chef d’Equipes took the opportunity to give their fifth riders an outing. Margie Engle took up the challenge, stepping in for Kent Farrington in the U.S. side and James Paterson-Robinson saddled up for Australia, giving Edwina Tops-Alexander the day off.

Even with the win, McLain Ward wasn’t impressed with his team’s performance the day before.  “Honestly, those aren’t scores that we should deliver. Maybe without a warm-up the first day, maybe Rothchild was just a little relaxed and I’m not paying attention myself and taking my horse for granted. To be honest it’s a pretty unacceptable result. We were professional and pulled it together today, but I think on our part it has been a very disappointing result,” He admitted frankly.

The challenge from the Aussies came from the beginning with Jamie Kermond riding Quite Cassini around with just one time fault, he gave fence nine a good rattle but luck was on his side. Paterson-Robinson and Boris III answered with a beautiful clear round to put them in prime position.

The Australian’s weren’t the only ones to have an almost story-book beginning. McLain Ward delivered a clear round with Rothchild and it was answered by Engle matching Kermond’s single time penalty. With both teams now on level scores, the pressure mounted for the final two riders for each team. Australia’s Julia Hargreaves added just a single time fault on Vedor, leaving the Aussies hopeful, this was inflated when Lauren Hough had fence eight down with Ohlala as well as fence nine. She added eight faults to a now vulnerable U.S. team.

Amy Graham wasn’t about to help with their anxiety. She posted a well-deserved clear round with her mount Bella Baloubet, stacking on the pressure. However if anyone can handle it, Beezie Madden is the one you’d back. With no room for error, the U.S. team would have been glad to have Beezie in their corner. She answered every question asked to secure a jump-off against their rookie adversaries.

Jamie Kermond and Quite Cassini were the first riders out, posted a great clear round and 44.03 seconds. There was no time to celebrate. There were three of the fastest riders in the world on their tail, wearing opposing flags. Ward lived up to expectations posting 40.18 and the competition suddenly once again in their control.

Australia’s Paterson-Robinson left two rails down. Amy Graham did her best to salvage the win, but even a perfect round wasn’t enough. Hough and Madden cruised home to give America three, effortless clear rounds and the win.

A testament to the true Australian spirit, while the American team members are left scratching their heads about what went wrong for them to be left out of the final, the Aussies are basking in the glory of testing the very best. Exuding positivity at the press conference, they have every intention of stepping it up next time.

They talked about their horses. “I’ve had Bella since he was 6 years old and we’ve grown together” said Amy Graham. “We moved one year ago to Normandy. I’m building my own professional training facility there. To be part of this team is a great experience for me, and now we are planning our road to Rio!” she added. 

Julia Hargreaves has made the move and set herself up in Bonn in Germany over the last few weeks. She couldn’t have been happier with Vedor’s performancer. “I’ve had him since he was 7 and I’m very lucky to have him because he looks after me every time I go in the ring!” she said.

Jamie Kermond made the move to Europe early this year, following wins in the Australian FEI World Cup™ Jumping series and the Australian National Championship title. “I started riding Quite Cassini just before Christmas so he is quite a new mount for me” he explained. ”I came over [to Europe] and we went to the World Cup Final. I knew it was going to be a little bit much at that time but it was great experience and the horse is just getting better and better. We are planning to stay here for the next two years and then probably go back to Sydney,” said the rider who put in a stellar performance in Normandy last month.

James Patterson-Robinson has been based in Europe for the last 14 years. “I work at Ger Poels dealing stable in Holland, and Boris is quite a new horse for me, I’ve had him since April” he explained. “I was in the WEG team with him and it didn’t go according to plan so I’m very happy that he jumped so well today” he said.

By EQ Life