Team Italy secured the Nations Cup win in Drammen Friday evening four faults ahead of the Norwegian team that secured a very popular second place. Great Britain ended third with 24 faults.

Emilio Puricelli’s team started off with Luca Maria Moneta as their first rider. Riding Connery (Cordobes II x Polydor) Moneta finished both rounds with four faults.  Matilde Giorgia Bianchi – the only girl and the only one to deliver two clear rounds – came in as their second rider with Lejano (Limbus x Carthago) before  Paolo Cannizzaro delivered 0/4 with Cinnamon (Calido I x Arturo) . The final Italian rider was Giacomo Bassi who did not have his best day with 17 faults in the first round. Before Bassi’s second round the Italians had already secured their victory with a total of 12 faults.

The spectators in Drammen for once got to watch the Nations Cup in beautiful May-weather. The sun was shining and with several good rounds especially from the two younger members of the Norwegian team, Marie Longem (0/4) with Algorythem (Tampa x Calvados) and Victoria Gulliksen (4/4) riding Viego Les Hautes (Ogano Sitte x Clinton), the atmosphere in the upgraded venue in Drammen was very good. The two more experienced Norwegian riders Stein Endresen and Geir Gulliksen, both finished on a total of 8 faults riding Cintia (Cellestial x Ussuri**) and Edesa S Banjan (Toulon x Lys de Darmen) respectively. After all four riders the home team was on a total of 16 faults.

The British team that ended third consisted of Kerry Brennan/Wellington M (Quidam de Revel x Cash), Douglas Duffin Quidam B Z (Quasimodo Z x G. Ramiro Z), James Billington/VDL Cartello (Cartani x Lord) and Joe Whotaker/Lola V(by Locarno 62).

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Alice Bjerke