It was ladies' night at Soers in last Thursday's CSIO5* 1.60m €1,000,000 Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen 2025, with three of the five double clear rounds posted by female riders. One of them was Lillie Keenan who helped the American team to the win with her double clear aboard Argan de Beliard.
“Argan is a horse that I have ridden for a number of years, and jumped in quite a few Nations Cups. He is incredibly reliable, and he knows exactly what his job is, so he makes my job really easy. Jumping two clean rounds on a horse that has given me so much; the people who know him, and who know me, can appreciate how much that meant to me,” Keenan said about her 15-year-old gelding.
And with this we take a look back at the CSIO5* 1.60m €1,000,000 Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup, with the first of two photo specials.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.
Karli gearing up for Nations Cup-night at Soers.
Pathfinders in round one: Willem Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. for the Dutch team, who – like so many others – had a rail down in the triple combination, that would turn out to be influential on the outcome of the class.
Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour getting ready to go for the French team. They also ended up having a pole down in the triple combination.
USA's Lillie Keenan and Argan de Beliard flying to their first clear of the night at Soers.
Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly in the triple combination that caused so much trouble for many. The two had no problems though and jumped a double clear round for Great Britain to help their team end third.
Christian Kukuk celebrates a clear round as the pathfinder for the German team, riding Cepano Baloubet.
An elevated Olivier Perreau after jumping a clear round with GL Events Dorai d'Aiguilly as second to go for France.
When world no. one Kent Farrington and Toulayna posted the second clear for the U.S. team, things were starting to look good for Robert Ridland's squad.
Ireland's 20-year-old Tom Wachman making his Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup debut, with only a rail down in round one riding Tabasco de Toxandria Z.
Luciana Diniz celebrating her first clear round of the night, riding Vertigo du Desert.
The Brazilian support crew on the Kiss&Cry.
Hansi Dreher and Elysium remained clear, all the way...
...to the final oxer, where the back rail fell at the very last moment – almost making it look like a clear round.
Aachen-debutant Emilie Conter impressed on the Belgian team with a clear in round one with her lovely Portobella van de Fruitkorf.
Meanwhile, the Dutch were struggling with faults adding up.
USA's Laura Kraut and Bisquetta picked up four faults on the plank at no. 10 in round one.
Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom recorded an uncharacteristic 12 penalties the first time out.
Georgia Tame impressed when finishing on only a time penalty in round one with Be Golden Lynx for Great Britain.
Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Combella had a mistake on the open water and a rail down in the penultimate combination, putting them on eight faults and with the discharge score for Germany in round one.
Abdel Said and Bonne Amie were one of the horse-and-rider combinations that struggled with the challenges caused by the sunlight on the line up to the triple combination. Luckily, Said was able to guide his wonderful mare safely around in the end but ended up on 18 faults – Belgium's discharge score in round one.
Said was not alone... Here Kevin Staut's New Libero One d'Asschaut slams on the breaks on 4c. The French rider finished on 22 faults, but came back strong in round two with a clear round.
McLain Ward taking it all in before picking up his canter.
It was only a foot in the water that kept Ward and Imperial HBF away from a clear round for Team USA, leaving the squad on a total score of four after round one.
This time last year, the Irish won the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. In the 2025-edition, they had to settle for 7th out of eight teams.
Brazil's campaign in round one got to a dramatic end when Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio had a fall on the open water and parted ways. That left Brazil last of the eight teams after round one.
Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson over the triple bar leading down to the triple combination, where they would pick up four of their eight faults to end with the discharge score for Great Britain in round one. The Brits finished the first round on nine penalties, and were sitting 5th ahead of round two.
With a clear round, Jana Wargers and Dorette put the German team on equal footing with the Americans after round one.
Much to the appreciation of the Aachen-crowds!
As last to go in round one, Belgium's anchor rider Gregory Wathelet did his thing and posted a clear aboard Bond Jamesbond de Hay to put his team tied in the lead with the Americans and Germans on a team score of four faults. France followed on eight faults, Great Britain on nine, Netherlands on 13, Ireland on 20 and Brazil on 21.
For all the feels, follow us into round two...
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