On home soil in Rotterdam, Netherlands dominated the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup from the beginning to the end. Harrie Smolders with Emerald N.O.P. (Diamant de Semilly x Carthago), Jur Vrieling with VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P. (Mr. Blue x Voltaire), Willem Greve with Carambole N.O.P. (Cassini I x Concerto II) and Maikel van der Vleuten with VDL Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P. (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) and Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens were not to stop.

As many as seven riders went double clear over the course build by Louis Konickx (Click here to see the course design). Two of them came from Netherlands through Vrieling and Greve. Smolders had one time penalty in the first round and Van der Vleuten did not even have to ride the second round after all his team mates produced clear rounds. 

Switzerland and Germany were sitting second after the first round, followed by Sweden, Great Britain, France, United States and Belgium. The US and Belgian teams did not give up though, pulling themselves together for the second round delivering one clear round after the other. After a total of 10 clears during the first round, it was as many as 17 in the round two.

After a strong come back from his team mates, Belgium's Gregory Wathelet with Algorhythem (Tampa x Calvados) did not even have to come back for round two. With 9, 4 and 8 faults in the first round Olivier Philippaerts with H&M Legend of Love (Landzauber x Corgraf), Catherine van Roosbroeck with Gautcho da Quinta (Cicero Z x Upsilon van de Heffinck) and Judy-Ann Melchior with As Cold As Ice Z (Artos Z x Carthago Z) all went clear in the second. In the end it was good enough for the 6th position. 

Also the US team produced three clears in round two, courtesy of Kent Farrington with Voyeur (Tolano van't Riethof x Goodwill), Laura Kraut with Zeremonie (Cero x Quick Star) and Beezie Madden with Cortes 'C' (Randel Z x Darco) which moved them up to fifth overall. 

While Belgium and the US climbed the ranks, France and Great Britain fell down during the second round - it was certainly not their day. Ben Maher with Tic Tac (Clinton x Darco) gave Great Britain their only clear of the day in the first round, while Penelope Leprevost with Flora de Mariposa (For Pleasure x Power Light) was the only highlight on the French team with a double clear round.

The top four teams more or less kept their positions through the second round. Sweden finished fourth after a double clear from the impressive H&M All In (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Andiamo Z) and only a time fault over the two rounds from Malin Baryard-Johnsson with her big jumping H&M Cue Channa 42 (Cardento x Robin Z).

Germany fell down from second to third after a few ups and downs. Daniel Deusser with Equita van't Zorgvliet (Cassini I x Darco) delivered a clear the second time around, and a double clear round from Marcus Ehning with Funky Fred (For Pleasure x Pilot) kept the Germans in the game after pathfinder Marco Kutscher with Balermo (Baloubet du Rouet x Silvio I) ended up with 12 faults in round two while Ludger Beerbaum was clear in the first round with Casello (Casall x Carolus I) and got four faults the second time around.

Switzerland stayed clean through the second round as Paul Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse's (Obos Quality x Furisto) four faults could be discharged. Janika Sprunger with Bonne Chance CW (Baloubet du Rouet x Cambridge) had a score of 4-0, while Martin Fuchs with Clooney 51 (Cornet Obolensky x Ferragamo) and Steve Guerdat with Nino Des Buissonnets (Kannan x Narcos II) produced double clear rounds to secure the runner-up position leaving the Dutch with the maximum of points in Rotterdam for the overall Furusiyya score board. 

Text and pictures © World of Showjumping/Jenny Abrahamsson