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A full list of the riders and teams that will compete in La Baule this coming weekend is ready. The CSIO5* event in France includes the opener of the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Division 1 in Europe which takes place on Friday, and the prestigious Grand Prix on Sunday. Top riders are heading for La Baule, and the full entry list can be seen here.

Olivier Philippaerts will be going to La Baule. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.The German, Belgian and Spanish teams for La Baule have been announced. The German riders entered for the opener of the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series are Katrin Eckermann, Lars Nieberg, Patrick Stühlmeyer, Holger Wulschner and Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking. Belgium will have a strong team present with Dirk Demeersman, Judy-Ann Melchior, Ludo Philippaerts, François Mathy Jr and Olivier Philippaerts – while Spain send Manuel Fernandez Saro, Pilar Cordon Muro, Julio Arias Cueva, Manuel Anon and Paola Amilibia Puig.

After three out of eleven events in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 2, Sweden holds the overall lead in the series. Sweden has collected a total of 152 points, while Finland is rank two with 141 points. Norway is currently the third best nation at 139 points.

Click here for the full standing.

Paul Estermann will be going to La Baule. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.The Swiss team that will be heading for the opener of the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series in La Baule next weekend has been announced. The five riders that will travel to France are; Paul Estermann, Steve Guerdat, Beat Mändli, Pius Schwizer and Janika Sprunger. This is one out of four events where the Swiss can pick up points in the series. To view the team allocation click here.

Penelope and Topinambour have been picked to ride for France in La Baule. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.One team after the other is getting ready for the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series Division 1 (Europe) that will kick off in La Baule next weekend. The home team has now been announced and it will consist of; Aymeric de Ponnat on Armitages Boy, Marc Dilasser on Obiwan de Pilière*JO, Olivier Guillon on Lord de Theizé, Pénélope Leprevost on Topinambour and Kevin Staut on Estoy Aqui de Muze*HDC .

Source: The French Equestrian Federation

The French team; Nicolas Delmotte, Mathieu Billot, Chef d´Equipe Philippe Guerdat, Francois Xavier Boudan and Timothee Anciaume. Photo by Roland Thunholm/FEI.Yesterday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Drammen, Norway, saw the French team ending on top of the podium yet again. It was a close call though, with the Dutch team breathing the French riders in the neck all the way to the end. It was the anchor rider for France Timothee Anciaume that secured the win; the 34 year old had already produced a great first clear on Quorioso Pre Noir – a 9 year old stallion by Kannan. Timothee had one of only two double clears in the Nations Cup, the other belonged to French first rider Nicolas Delmotte on Number One d'Iso Un Prince (Baloubet du Rouet x Si Tu Viens). Together with Mathieu Billo on Pardoes (0-(9)) and François Xavier Boudan and Amadeus Z’s ((4)-4) performances it was good enough for the win as the team ended on a total score of four penalties, three ahead of the Dutch team at seven faults. Sweden ended third ahead of the hosts Norway in fourth.  

Shane Carey and Ballymore Eustace will be going to La Baule. Photo by Hanne Christensen.Irish team manager Robert Splaine has announced his squad for the opener in the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series in La Baule. The Irish squad of five, from whom Splaine will pick his team of four, is: Shane Breen with Balloon or Cos I Can, Shane Carey with  Ballymore Eustace, Capt. Michael Kelly with Annestown, Shane Sweetnam with Amaretto Darco and Billy Twomey with Tinka's Serenade.

Source: Press release from Horse Sport Ireland

Nick Skelton and Big Star will compete for Great Britain in La Baule. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.Chef d’Equipes Rob Hoekstra and Rob Ehrens have picked their squads for the 5* Furisiyya Nations Cup in La Baule. The Nations Cup competition takes place next Friday. The British team will consist of; Scott Brash on Hello Sanctos, Tina Fletcher on Hello Sailor, Ben Maher on Cella, Nick Skelton on Big Star and Robert Smith on Voila. Frank Schuttert, Hendrik Jan Schuttert, Leon Thijssen, Albert Voorn and Albert Zoer have been picked to represent the Netherlands.

After the first two legs of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup division 2, Austria and Finland are in the lead with 75 points each. The two countries are followed by Sweden in third  and then Denmark and Belgium which are joint fourth.

Division 2 consists of sixteen teams. The teams can only count their scores from five out of the eleven legs. The next leg will take part in Drammen, Norway, the coming weekend. Italy, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, Finland and Turkey will battle it out for points in the third leg of the series.

Click here to see the overall standing.