The second leg of the 2024 Longines League of Nations was hosted by the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, USA. An exciting competition ended with Team Ireland taking the top honours ahead of the Swiss team in second and the hosts in third.
With these images, we look back at the action in the first round where all four team members jumped to determine the qualification for the second round – open to eight out of the ten teams competing.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Alan Wade built a great course, and as many as 16 jumped clear in the first round. However, the faults started to come in the second round and only eight delivered clears – six of those double clears.
Off we go.
Alan Wade and Jessica Kürten going over the course.
Line-up for the course walk: Daniel Coyle, Cian O'Connor and Nicola Philippaerts.
This airy upright at the beginning of the course, out of a shorter turn and leading to the open water, jumped really well.
Amanda Landeblad and one of the many decorations in the ring.
Before the Nations Cup started, the three last riders of each team took part of a parade. Here the US team in a good mood!
The good mood continued when Laura Kraut and Baloutinue delivered a clear round as American pathfinders...
... followed by Kent Farrington and Landon.
As last to go for the US team, McLain Ward and Callas were also clear – putting the team in the lead ahead of the second round with Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 carrying the drop score of four faults.
Ireland was sitting second after the first round, also they with a clean sheet after Daniel Coyle and Legacy...
... Darragh Kenny and Amsterdam 27...
... as well as Shane Sweetnam and Otis Blue delivered clears. They were just a bit slower than the US team, putting them in the runner-up position. Ireland's fourth pair Cian O'Connor and Maurice decided not to jump in the first round, but returned for round two.
The Netherlands was the third team that ended the first round on a score of zero, only 0.67 seconds away from the runner-up position. Clears came from Willem Greve and Highway TN N.O.P....
...Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P., as well as from...
... Harrie Smolders and Uricas v/d Kattevennen.
Jur Vrieling, the fourth Dutch rider, presented a fairly new horse; Jourdain VDL. Jur took over the ride at the end of last year and the 10-year-old gelding did an impressive step up to 5* level when ending the first round with only four faults.
Team Belgium ended the first round on four faults, after clears from Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga v/h Dingeshof, as well as from...
...Niels Bruynseels and Delux van T & L.
Simon Delestre's Cayman Jolly Jumper had a longer break last year but looks to be back in fantastic form, jumping the only clear for France in round one.
David Will and My Prins van Dorperheide delivered the only German clear in the first round.
Richard Vogel and United Touch S retired in the first round as their score would not have improved the team result.
Despite two clears for Switzerland delivered by Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, as well as...
...Steve Guerdat and Is-Minka, the Swiss were sitting 7th after the first round.
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Like A Diamond van het Schaeck were the only pair to jump clear for Brazil, that was sitting 8th after round one and the last team to qualify for round two.
Sweden didn't have the best start, but ended on a high note with four faults for Amanda Landeblad and For Killy as well as a clear delivered by Peder Fredricson and Alcapone des Carmille. Sweden was only 0.15 seconds away from qualifying for the second round.
It was not the day for the Brits, who ended last. One highlight was Ben Maher's Point Break, who made a splendid five-star Nations Cup debut with a clear round.
After the first round, the sun went down over the beautiful World Equestrian Center and the flood lights were turned on for the second round.
Then