Belgium took a convincing victory in the 2022-edition of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona, also securing qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Sunday's final was jumped over one round and was open for the best eight teams from Thursday's qualification. The French and Swiss both finished on a four-fault scoreline, France taking the second place when less than three seconds quicker, while the Netherlands finished fourth on a total of eight.
First out on the Belgian team was Koen Vereecke who with the fantastic Kasanova de La Pomme jumped clear both on Thursday as well as on Sunday – earning a share of the €100,000 bonus on offer to riders jumping clear over both rounds of the final.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Gregory Wathelet and Iron Man van de Padenborre finished on four faults in Sunday's round.
24-year-old Gilles Thomas has impressed this year, and yet again he gave Belgium a clear round when it was really needed - this time riding Calleryama.
Belgian anchors Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus had to deliver a clear to secure the victory, and Olympic qualification, and did not disappoint.
Olivier Philippaerts was riding Le Blue Diamond v.t Ruytershof in Thursday's qualification, where the Belgian team ended third - but had to watch Sunday's final from the sideline.
True to tradition, the Nations Cup final takes place in Barcelona. However, the venue will be looking different next year as 90 years after the stadium was originally built at Real Club de Polo, a rebuilding project is about to start next week.
Simon Delestre and the incredible Cayman Jolly Jumper continue to deliver clear rounds, helping France win Thursday's qualification and take the runner-up position on Sunday. With their double clear, they earned a share of the €100,000 bonus.
When you have the very last fence down... The British supporters already started to celebrate what they thought would be a clear round, but then a pole on the very last fence fell to the ground for Joe Stockdale and Equine America Chacharel. In the end Di Lampard's team had to settle for fifth place.
The Swiss took the third place in Sunday's final.
Harrie Smolders and Monaco continue to deliver and were clear in both Thursday's and Sunday's rounds. However, with Smolders and Monaco as the only clear on the Dutch team, it was only good enough for the fourth place.
Eduardo Alvarez Aznar was clear on Thursday riding Full Option van't Zand, but on Sunday it was not their day. The home riders finished 6th in the final.
When the poles started to fall for the German team, they had to settle for the 7th place in Sunday's final.
Despite Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei being in flight mode, one pole still fell.
Julien Epaillard and his championship horse Caracole de La Roque also had to see a pole fall in Sunday's final after jumping clear in Thursday's round.
Kevin Staut and Scuderia 1918 Viking d'La Russerie jumped double clear for the French team, helping them finish second on Sunday.
There is no one we enjoy listening more to than Jessica Kürten, who does an amazing job commentating on FEI.tv.
Can't go anywhere without the paparazzi these days... Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z.
Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy jumped a lovely clear for the Swiss, who had to settle for the third place.
Team Germany's Mario Stevens and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann.
Going into Sunday's final round, the French quartet of Julien Epaillard, Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut and Gregory Cottard were the team to beat, but had to settle for the runner-up position behind the Belgians.
These two... Belgium's Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus delivered - once again - and secured the Belgian victory, as well as Olympic qualification in Barcelona.
Then