The U.S. jumping team won the $75,000 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Traverse City CSIO3* in Traverse City Michigan, topping the podium with a final team total of 4 faults after a nail-biting jump-off with Ireland. Canada rounded out the top three podium positions finishing on 8 faults.
“I’m thankful we had these Nations Cups added to the calendar between here and in Caledon in Canada last week,” Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski said. “These competitions are a great opportunity for our athletes to gain experience and not feel the pressure of stepping directly into a CSIO5* but build confidence that can carry them into the next level. I think overall there are a lot of excellent takeaways and really valuable experience gained for each of these combinations.”
The U.S. jumping team saw three combinations jump clear in the first round with Mimi Gochman (Palm Beach, Florida) leading the way as the first combination out on course aboard Celina BH. Jacob Pope (Columbia, Maryland) and Highway FBH produced the team’s second clear, followed by Charlotte Jacobs (East Aurora, New York) and Korbach Van De Renger jumping a faultless round as the anchor combination.
In their debut for the team, Mia Bagnato (Fishkill, New York) and Ballyoskill Big Bucks, jumped a solid 4-fault effort in round one, with the team moving forward to the second round on 0 faults.
To start round two, Gochman and Celina BH, a 15-year-old Holsteiner mare (Constakko—Carrera, Carthago Z) owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC and cared for by Gustavo Hernandez, produced their second clear effort of the day. Pope and Highway FBH, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Plot Blue—Belona, Cornet Obolensky) owned by Sherri Crawford and Pope, and cared for by Javier Jimenez, added 4 faults in the second round.
Bagnato and Ballyoskill Big Bucks, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Royal Concorde—Lux Clover, Lux ZZ) owned by Elan Farm, and cared for by Susie Bagnato, finished their second round with 8 faults, while Jacobs and Korbach Van De Renger, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Colestus—Wersin, Concorde) owned by North Star and cared for by Denisa Kiss, produced a needed clear round for the team to ensure a jump-off.
In a head-to-head race against the clock, Gochman and Celina BH finished nearly a second ahead of Ireland’s Simon McCarthy and Gotcha to secure the team’s victory, crossing through the timers in 38.85 seconds in the jump-off.
