But the U.S. show jumping team came very close in the Agria Falsterbo Nations Cup Friday, finishing second to the Swedish home squad by 4 penalties. It broke a tie by being better on the clock than Ireland, which also had 8 penalties over two rounds to finish third.
The winning Swedish team of Amanda Landeblad, Petronella Andersson, Chef d’Equipe Henrik Ankarcrona, Peder Fredricson and Henrik von Eckermann.
The podium finish came on the heels of the American triumph last week in the Aachen, Germany, Nations Cup, where Frank Rothenberg was also the course designer.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland considers Aachen the gold standard of Nations Cups and was hoping to make it two in a row in the Scandinavian location. The U.S. has won four times at Falsterbo, but not since 2007.
“I guess we’re getting greedy,” mused Robert with a smile, moments after the competition ended.
On the other hand, he pointed out, “We always aim for the podium, and that’s clearly what we got.”
The composition of the Falsterbo team was different from the Aachen team with the exception of anchor rider McLain Ward, although he was on High Star Hero, rather than Imperial HBF.
Rising star Spencer Smith took on the role that Lillie Keenan (also on a gray horse) had played at Aachen, delivering two clears as pathfinder aboard Keeneland. Robert wisely focuses on bringing along younger riders when possible.
Spencer Smith and Keeneland.
He was convinced one of those, Carly Anthony, would have jumped clear in the first round on Heavenly W, had her horse not lost a shoe before the next-to-last jump, which she had down. Had all else gone as it eventually did, that clear round would have meant a jump-off with Sweden.
The footing was grass and it held up well, but considering the rain, horses needed shoes with appropriate caulks in order to handle the surface.
At the end of the first round, the U.S., Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland all were tied on 4 faults. Swizterland eventually finished fourth with the slowest time of the top group after the competition ended.
The Swedes had plenty to wave their flags about.
Karl Cook, winner of the Rotterdam grand prix last month with Caracole de la Roque, went double-clear. If there was a jump-off, he would have been the USA’s designated rider, and Robert said caulks were already being switched on Cara’s hind shoes as Karl prepared for that eventuality, but after McLain logged 4 faults in the second round, there was no need.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. (USA Jumping/Helen Cruden)
Had McLain gone fault-free, it would have prompted the jump-off with Sweden. That country is often the USA’s chief rival, as it was in the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and the Tokyo Olympics, Robert pointed out.
Robert Ridland and McLain Ward.
In the first round, McLain had a rail at the third fence, a narrow red and blue vertical, with his 13-year-old mount by Zazu out of a Darco mare. He left that fence untouched in the second round, but toppled a pole at the ninth obstacle, a 1.60 meter vertical.
The Swedish effort was buoyed by packed stands despite the steady rain that fell during the class, which did not deter hordes of fans who kept busy waving their blue and yellow flags.
Former world number one Henrik von Eckermann, the Swedes’ anchor rider, produced two fault-free trips on Minuteman.
Henrik von Eckermann on Minute Man (Photo Roland Thunholm)
We have gotten used to seeing Henrik on King Edward, but he’s bringing along a new string, and Minute Man’s scope and concentration are impressive. In addition, he won the grand prix qualifier on Thursday with Steely Dan.
“Minute Man hasn’t been in my stable that long,” said Henrik.
“He has had a very good development.But today it felt like yet another push forward. It feels like the trust has built up enormously over the last few weeks,” Henrik commented about his sensitive mount.
He added “In the first round, I was a bit annoyed that I was so close to the time. So I could step it up a little in the second round, with one less to the water and one less to the third. And still, he did it so very, very well. I’m very, very happy with him and of course to be able to contribute a bit to the team, since last year, it wasn’t like that.”
Peder Fredricson and Alcapone des Carmille.
For his part, team member Peder Fredricson said, “It’s always fun to ride on home soil. It’s a fantastic competition to win at with that crowd and that atmosphere. You step up on the podium there and you see the Swedish crowd and there’s no better place to be than there.”
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