Switzerland claims the first Meydan FEI Nations Cup

In a fantastic fight to the finish, the Swiss team pipped the feisty Swedes for the very first Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ honours at La Baule in France today.

After two gruelling rounds, the countries were tied on a score of eight faults each, so it came down to a thrilling jump-off between Swiss veteran Marcus Fuchs and Sweden's Svante Johansson.

The Netherlands and Germany shared third place following a tremendous recovery by the latter who very nearly slipped out of contention at the end of round one, and France returned to top-level team jumping with a solid performance that put them into fifth ahead of Belgium in sixth, the USA in seventh and Italy in eighth place.

It was a deeply disappointing start to the season for Great Britain and Ireland however when they were left sitting on the sidelines as only the top eight of the ten participating teams went into the second round.

Cian O'Connor produced a classic clear from Complete, but his fellow team-members racked up 18 faults to leave them last on the leaderboard at the halfway stage, while the British collected 17 despite just one time-fault for Peter Charles.

HIGH PRAISE

Course designer Frederic Cottier's track produced SIX double-clear rounds. He said from the outset that he knew he had a variable standard of riders to cater for, and he created a test that earned high praise at the end of the day.

“I wish more course designers would build like Frederic” said winning-team rider Steve Guerdat. “It should not be necessary to put huge pressure on our horses. The way he builds his tracks it is the rider who is under pressure and not the horse – this is better for the sport, and for our horses, as we saw today.”

Guerdat and Pius Schwizer produced two of the double-clears, the remainder coming from World Champion Jos Lansink and Spender from Belgium, The Netherlands' Harry Smolders riding Walnut de Muze, America's Ashlee Bond who was spectacular on her nations cup debut with Cadett and Sweden's Johansson riding Saint Amour.

HALFWAY

At the half-way point the Swedes and Swiss were both on a zero score, Malin Baryard-Johnson providing the Swedish discount score when lowering the second element of the bogey double at fence four, putting a toe in the water at fence seven and hitting the first element of the triple combination at ten riding H&M Actrice who lived up to her name with a little theatrical tantrum before starting her round.

One of the biggest sensations of the competition was the great round from 19 year old Alexander Zetterman and his father's steady and reliable 13 year old gelding Isaac who jumped a classic first round clear while Peder Fredricson secured the Swedish position when foot-perfect with H&M Arctic Borealis.

Werner Muff's eight faults with Luminos could be discarded when Guerdat and Jalisca Solier, Markus Fuchs and La Toya and Pius Schwizer with Carlina all went clear for Switzerland and the Belgians were lying close behind in third at the end of round one when carrying just the single time fault picked up by Philippe Lejeune and Vigo d'Arsouilles and despite the elimination of Judy-Ann Melchior whose stallion, Aktion Pur Z, ground to a permanent halt at the triple combination.

The Dutch were next at this stage carrying four while the home team of France shared fifth spot with the USA on eight faults ahead of Italy with nine and Germany carrying 12 – saved from exclusion from the second round by a double-error from Britain's John Whitaker and Peppermill.

SHOWDOWN

The real action was played out between the two leading nations however, and when they were still level – now on eight faults – at the end of round two it would go to a final two-way showdown against the clock.

Swedish team manager, Maria Gretzer, chose Johansson to go into battle while Swiss Chef d'Equipe relied on the vast experience of Fuchs who has competed in a staggering 144 nations cups during his long and successful career.

First in, Fuchs threw down the gauntlet with a great clear from La Toya in 41.65 seconds and when Johansson's stallion hit the fourth fence, the previous second element of the treble, and then clipped that bogey fence four, it would be a Swiss celebration. But as Swiss manager Rolf Grass said “”hats off to Maria Gretzer and her Swedish team. They have struggled very hard in the last few nations cup seasons but they have started brilliantly this year!”

It was a poignant moment for Fuchs who will retire in three weeks time during the third leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series at St Gallen. “My horse was brilliant in the jump-off – it is a great way to me to finish my career – I'm very proud today” he said. And Rolf Grass is looking forward to capitalising on his side's great start of the season at the second leg of the series in Rome in two weeks' time.

Click here for radio podcast interview with Markus Fuchs

RESULT:

1. Switzerland 8 faults – Jalisca Solier (Steve Guerdat) 0/0, La Toya (M Fuchs) 0/8/0 41.65, Luminos (W Muff) 8/12, Carlina (P Schwizer) 0/0.
2. Sweden 8 faults – Saint Amour (Svante Johannsson) 0/0/8 42.42, Isaac (Alexander Zetterman) 0/4, HM Actrice W (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) 13/4, H&M Artic Aurora Borealis (P Fredricson) 0/8.
Jt 3. The Netherlands 16 faults – Blauwendraad's O'Brien (Angelique Hoorn) 4/4, Walnut de Muze (Harry Smolders) 0/0, Sam (Albert Zoer) 0/8, Opium VS (Marc Houtzager) 13/9
Jt 3. Germany 16 faults – Noltes Kuchengirl (Marcus Ehning) 4/0, Souvenir (Philipp Weishaupt) 4/0, Asti Spumante (Thomas Muhlbauer) 4/13, Montender (Marco Kutscher) 8/4.

For full results go to www.meydanfeinationscup.org

COMPETITION STATISTICS

21 Clear rounds
6 Double-clear rounds
1 Elmination
2 Retired – one rider (Richard Spooner/Ace for USA) retired in both rounds
1 Did not start in second round – The Netherlands' Judy Ann Melchior/Aktion Pur Z

40 riders
8 female riders

12 fences
15 jumping efforts

10 hit the double at fence 4 in the first round
6 hit the double in round 2
3 horses faulted at the water in round 1
4 horses faulted at the water in round 2

QUOTES

MARKUS FUCHS, who clinched victory in jump-off, when asked if he was thinking of retiring at end of year – “I'm actually retiring in three weeks so it is great to be finishing up my career at the top. I have started in 144 nations cup competitions during my career”.

ROLF GRASS, Chef d'Equipe Swiss team – “We came here with a really strong team of very experienced riders. I decided to bring Werner Muff instead of Christina Liebherr because she had been to Las Vegas and her horse wasn't ready again – I believe I made the right choice”.

FREDERIC COTTIER, Course Designer – “I built the course to be technical for the rider but not hard on the horse. At a CSI the biggest class is the Grand Prix on Sunday and I don't want to exhaust the horses before that. I make it technical so that the riders have to think but I believe today it was a balanced course – the problems were spread all around it and not just at one fence. The organisers here at La Baule have done a wonderful job with the ground – it was in great condition”.

STEVE GUERDAT, Swiss team member – “I wish more course designers would build like Frederic. It should not be necessary to put huge pressure on our horses. The way he builds his tracks it is the rider who is under pressure and not the horse – this is better for the sport and for our horses as we saw today.”

ROLF GRASS, Chef d'Equipe Swiss team – “Hats off to Maria Gretzer and her Swedish team. They have struggled very hard in the last few nations cup seasons but they have started brilliantly this year. And we look forward to the next round in Rome – there my team will be completely different – Christina Liebherr, Daniel Etter, Jane Richard and a very new rider called Clarissa Crotta”.

MARKUS FUCHS, Swiss team member – “I will be retiring at St Gallen which is very close to my home in Switzerland. When I retire I will spend my time selling horses and training horses and riders”.

MARKUS FUCHS, when asked if he would like to become Chef d'Equipe when he retires – “No I would not! I watch Rolf doing the job and all he seems to do is go around all the time with his phone to his ear!”

MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™

Standings after First Leg at La Baule
1. Switzerland – 10
2. Sweden 7
Eq. 3 Germany, The Netherlands – 5.5
5. France – 4
6. Belgium – 3
7. USA – 2
8. Italy – 1
9. Great Britain – 0
10. Ireland – 0