Team Netherlands take the win - Andrew Heffernan (Chef d'Equipe); Stephan Hazeleger; Merel Blom-Hulsman; Janneke Boonzaaijer; Sanne de Jong
Team Netherlands win FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Strzegom 2023
The Netherlands took an historic win – their first Nations Cup leg win in 10 years – at the 2023 Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland
Germany, who had just three team members, led the competition after dressage but the Netherlands moved into pole position after an influential Saturday on the Marcin Konarski designed cross country course.
None of the Dutch combinations jumped clear around the final day’s showjumping course, designed by by Polish course designer Lukasz Szustorkowski, but their results were good enough to secure the win on a total score of 133.8 ahead of the USA (142.8) in silver and Belgium in third (166.1)
The Netherland’s Janneke Boonzaaijer riding ACSI Champ de Tailleur had one down, but ultimately finished in third place individually (40.5) while Sanne de Jong riding Enjoy took fifth (43.8). The team was also represented by Merel Blom-Hulsman with Chinuk R and Stephan Hazeleger with Gold Rush.
“I think the team riders performed so well that actually in the end it was quite easy to win!” said Chef d’equipe Andrew Hefferman
“I’m joking, of course. It was a really tough competition, it was really refreshing to see such a strong, forward-thinking and demanding cross-country course. I think it was really good for the sport. The guys performed fantastic.”
Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake
Belgium leads 2023 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Series
The American team of Jennifer Caras riding Trendy Fernhill, Cassie Sanger with Fernhill Zoro, Andrew Mc Connon with Ferrie's Cello and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake performed consistently throughout all three phases with Caroline and the eight-year-old HSH Blake producing an impressive result, jumping clear on the final day for second place individually (35.7)
The Belgians team added to their points gained at earlier events with bronze at Strzegom keeping them on top of the 2023 Series leaderboard.
The team of Tine Magnus riding Champagne Pia Z, Karin Donckers riding Leipheimer van't Verahof, Julien Despontin riding Honeyblue and Jarno Verwimp riding Kyba van de Jomaheide moved onto the podium on the final day, from fifth after dressage and fourth after cross country.
Spain took fourth place, followed by Italy, Austria, Sweden, Germany, and Poland.
After four legs, Belgium continues to lead in the overall Nations Cup standings on 350 points. The Netherlands is now in second place on 285 points, and Italy is third with 265 points with the all-important Olympic berth for Paris 2024 being hotly pursued by all three.
The next leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup is at Haras de Jardy, France in July, with subsequent legs in Switzerland, Canada, and Belgium before the final leg at Boekelo in the Netherlands.
Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P take the individual CCIO4*-S
Individual 4* winners
Although Team Austria finished in sixth place, their team member Lea Siegl riding the 13-year-old Van Helsing P took the individual win on a score of 33.3. While the USA’s Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake led after the dressage, Lea moved into the lead after cross country and followed it up with a clear round in the showjumping.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake took second place (35.7) and Janneke Boonzaaijer riding ACSI Champ de Tailleur finished third (40.5)
Michael Jung riding 10-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power won the CCI4*-L after leading from start to finish (44,7). Second place went to Merel Blom-Hulsman (NED) with Vesuve d’Aveyron (52.2), and third to Mia Hastrup (DEN) with Constantin M (59.1).
Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power
