New Jersey’s Essex Horse Trials earlier this month turned out to be a good warm-up for the 4-star Strzegom, Poland, eventing Nations Cup, as Caroline Martin Pamucku finished second individually to lead the U.S. team to the silver medal.
Caroline Pamucku on cross-country aboard HSH Blake at Strzegom, Poland. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Caroline, who won the Essex Combined Test competition with HSH Blake, was first after dressage in Poland with a score of 28.1 penalties. But time penalties with Blake on the cross-country course designed by Marcin Konarski boosted her total to 35.7. She was clean in show jumping to end on that score behind the winner, Lea Siegl of Austria on van Helsing P (33.3).
The Dutch team won on 133.8, even though the fourth member of the squad was eliminated on cross-country. The U.S. had 142.8 penalties under the guidance of Emerging and Developing Eventing Coach Leslie Law. The total was 166.1 for bronze medal Belgium.
The Dutch are hoping to win the Nations Cup series when it concludes this fall in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics. One Olympic slot is available for the highest-placed team that hasn’t otherwise qualified for the Games.