First things first! Brian Moggre (20) makes sure to document a memorable night in Aachen with Laura Kraut (55), Lucy Deslauriers (22) and Jessica Springsteen (29), as the US team topped the €1.000.000 Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup for the first time since 2005. Robert Ridland had put together a team of young guns, alongside veteran Laura Kraut – who also was on the winning team back sixteen years ago – and they did not dissapoint!
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of these images is permitted.
In less than a year, Brian Moggre has developed a fantastic partnership with Balou du Reventon and the two delivered the only double clear for the US team and one of the five double clears of the Nations Cup. For Jessica Springsteen and Lucy Deslauriers, the second round did not get off to the best start though. After both being clear in the first round, Springsteen had to see two poles fall towards the end of the course while Deslauriers had the middle element of the triple combination down.
Full focus from Laura Kraut. “Robert said that I either had to jump clear, or if I had one, we would have to go in the jump-off with Sweden. I could not stomach that thought one more time, so I just made sure I did not knock one down!” Kraut laughed afterwards about how she secured the victory for the US team ahead of Sweden, when using all her experience to stay calm and guide Baloutinue around to a clear.