DUTCH TEAM THRILL HOME CROWD AT LONGINES LEAGUE OF NATIONS ROTTERDAM
The team from the Netherlands led by Chef d’Equipe Wout-Jan van der Schans, took the win on home soil at the Longines League of Nations™ leg in Rotterdam on Friday, their first in the series, now in its second year.
With the former Queen, Princess Beatrix, in attendance, the Dutch athletes ended their two rounds of Jumping on 10 points. That made it a sweet week for the Orange after their Dressage team took the Nations Cup win on Thursday.
Team France and Chef d’Equipe Edouard Couperie, who led the field until the final rotation, finished in second place on 13 points. Great Britain, coached by Di Lampard, were awarded third place, ending their campaign in the Netherlands on 16 points.
A Longines League of Nations™ competition can be a gruelling one, with two rounds of Jumping and tremendous pressure to hold off penalties for rails down.
The team of Bart Vonck (BEL), Louis Konickx (NED), Marco de Jong (NED), and Pieter Vitse (BEL) designed a big outdoor course for the highlight of CHIO Rotterdam. The time limit of 74 seconds caught many combos out.
At the end of Round 1, only the best eight of the 10 starting teams advanced to the next round, meaning Sweden and Switzerland had to sit out the second half. In Round 2, there was no luxury of a discard score, and three — not four — duos lined up for another turn in the ring.
France and the Netherlands were tied on 5 penalty points each at the interim, with the French team being slightly faster. Great Britain were in third, chased by the USA (winners of the Ocala leg), Ireland (victors at Abu Dhabi), Germany, Italy, and Belgium, in that order.
The leaderboard didn’t change much until the sharp end of the competition. Italy, Germany, and Ireland struggled with penalty points.
Belgium, however, pulled themselves into fourth place from eighth with three stunning clear rounds from Emilie Conter (Portobella van de Fruitkorf), Thibeau Spits (Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z), and Gregory Wathelet (Bon Jamesbond dey Hay).
The USA also put two clears on the board from Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25) and multi Olympic medalist Laura Kraut (Bisquetta). But it wasn’t enough to overtake the Belgians.
As the sun began to set over the Gateway to Europe, as the harbour city is known, the battle came down to Great Britain to hold onto a podium position. France and the Netherlands were duking it out for the top honours.
Thanks to a clear from three-time Olympic medalist Ben Maher and Exit Remo, the British team clinched at least a third with Matthew Sampson (Medoc de Toxandria) and Donald Whitaker (Millfield Colette) each snagging 4 points.
No stranger to pressure, former world number 1-ranked Harrie Smolders then threw down a huge gauntlet from the Dutch, crossing the Longines beam with 5 points aboard Monaco.
That gave his team 10 total points, following clears from Kim Emmen and Imagine N.O.P. and triple Olympic medalist Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P — a double clear for the longtime partners.
Last up, France’s Kevin Staut had 5 points in hand with another super horse, Visconti du Telman. But when the #2 obstacle and the B element on the double both hit the ground, the crowd gasped. With 13 points to France’s name, the victory went to the home team for a historic win.
Dutch Chef d’Equipe van der Schans said of his athletes: “I’m really proud of them out there, fighting and riding. As a team, we work really nice and good.”
He also acknowledged the support from the crowd, and added: “We had a bit of luck today.” The coach is hoping that will carry over to the upcoming European Championship in July.
Of the home win in front of Princess Beatrix, van der Schans commented: “There’s nothing more beautiful!”
“We know that the people watching are really standing behind us,” said Maikel van der Vleuten, echoing his Chef d’Equipe’s sentiments. “We as a rider would of course like to show them the right results.”
The Olympian remarked that his role as the starting athlete on the roster is to set the tone and give a good start for the rest of the team. “It was a tough class,” he remarked. “The horses really had to work for it today. We all four kept on fighting, and that led us to the win.”
Harrie Smolders was proud of his equine partner: “Monaco is very consistent and has a lot of experience.”
“There’s nothing nicer than a home win,” he added, commenting that it was a tough class, as evidenced by only two double clears — from van der Vleuten and French athlete Jeanne Sadran (Dexter de Kerglenn).
“I’m very delighted with two super rounds,” said teammate Kim Emmen, who lamented her time fault in the first round. “I gave it a little bit more in the second round, and it paid off.”
“It’s my first win here at Rotterdam in front of the home crowd. They are so supportive, and it’s a very special feeling.”
Willem Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. competed in the first round but had to bite their nails through the second as the discarded score. “Today my first round wasn’t as I hoped.”
He laughed that the win was an easier one for him in the end. “But the orange jacket is always something special. I’m very proud to be part of this team.”
Friday’s results have France at the top of the overall standings for the Longines League of Nations™ on 240 points. Team Ireland are right behind them on 225, with Germany on 220 and Belgium and the USA tied on 200. They’re followed by Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Since only the top eight teams will advance to the October Final at Barcelona, it’s all to play for in the next leg at Gassin-St. Tropez (FRA) in September.
Meanwhile, jumping fans can enjoy the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship at A Coruña (ESP), to be held at the beautiful Casa Novas Equestrian Centre in July.
--ENDS--
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Photo by FEI/Leanjo de Koster