With the season\’s first three FEI Samsung Super League Nations Cup events now complete, the United States is holding a 1.5-point lead over Great Britain, following the team\’s fourth-placed finish at St. Gallen, Switzerland, on June 3.
France, winners of the season-long Super League series in each of its first two years, gained its first victory of this season, with jiust 6 faults. Switzerland and Germany tied for second with 16 faults; the U.S. team had 20 faults.
Beezie Madden and De Silvio led the U.S. effort, jumping faultlessly in both rounds over a course designed by Olaf Petersen. Laura Kraut and Miss Independence, the team\’s anchor, contributed a clear first round and 4 faults in the second round. But it was in the second round that the U.S. team lost touch, as Anne Kursinski and Roxana notched 16 faults (after 4 faults in round 1) and Schuyler Riley and Ilian had 12 (after 4 faults in round 1).
The British, winners the previous week in Rome, finished fifth, 1 fault behind.
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Eugenie Angot sealed the victory with a clear round on Cigale du Taillis, after a similarly faultless first round. Angot said that Cigale du Taillis performs best when she shows infrequently, and this was her first major competition since March.
“I have had her two years now, and I know what I must do to keep her happy in the head,” said Angot.
The Super League season continues at Rotterdam (the Netherlands) on June 16-19. A new U.S. team (Aaron Vale, Todd Minikus, Candice King, Callan Solem and Christine Tribble) will contest the next three events.
The Super League Leaderboard is: 1. USA (21 points); 2. Great Britain (19.5); 3. France (17); 4. Germany (15); 5. Switzerland (12); 6. the Netherlands (5); 7. Belgium (4.5); 8. Ireland (8.5).
