The inaugural Longines League of Nations™ Final is set to be a thriller when it takes centre stage at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain on October 6 with eight of the world’s best teams vying for their place in history.
There was much speculation when the long-established Nations Cup Jumping format was altered for the new series which got underway in early 2024, but at the end of this first season it has proven a big winner with fans who have been kept on the edges of their seats as the action played out. The three-per-team format with all scores counting in the second round has ratcheted up the tension and excitement like never before.
The countries that have made the cut into the Final are Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA and they will be joined by the hosts from Spain who will be making a guest appearance.
With all three individual medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games joined by four of the top 10 in the latest world rankings, the series finale promises a fierce fight for the honour of becoming the very first country to claim the prestigious new title.
Stole the show
It was Team Germany who stole the show at the opening leg of the series in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in February where the top-10 ranked nations set out on in their quest to qualify amongst the best eight and thereby make the cut into next week’s finale.
The Germans pipped the Irish who were ranked first in the world as the year began but who had to settle for runner-up spot ahead of Sweden in third.
“It’s a super start to the Olympic season and I’m very proud of my four riders!”, said German Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker. And that proved quite prophetic because one member of his side, Christian Kukuk, would go on to clinch individual gold in Paris six months later.
The Irish had their revenge when coming out on top at the second leg in Ocala, USA in March where they pinned Switzerland into second place ahead of USA in third. This was another mighty battle in which the new three-per-team in the second-round format ensured another gripping finish.
Last Irishman into the ring, Cian O’Connor had not jumped the first round and a fence down would have led to a jump-off with the Swiss, but with just a single time fault he clinched it.
In the balance
The third leg scheduled to take place in St Gallen, Switzerland in June was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, so qualification was still very much hanging in the balance at the final leg in Rotterdam later that month where Team France came out on top.
In a super-tight contest Simon Delestre, Julien Epaillard, Kevin Staut and Olivier Perreau produced seven flawless performances for victory over Sweden in second and Great Britain in third. However, it was all too late for the British at this stage in the series as, along with Belgium, they failed to qualify for the Final just a few weeks before Great Britain went on to win Team gold in Paris.
“It’s a super start to the Olympic season and I’m very proud of my four riders,” said Becker.
Top
Ireland finished top of the inaugural League table and Chef d’Equipe, Michael Blake, sends Daniel Coyle, Denis Lynch, Cian O’Connor, Michael Pender and Mark McAuley to Barcelona next week.
Sweden finished second in the League, and Henrik Ankarcrona will expect a big result from Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Amanda Landeblad, Peder Fredricson, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, and longtime world number one Henrik von Eckermann – the latter three in the side that finished sixth in Paris.
Led by newly-crowned individual Olympic champion Christian Kukuk, Otto Becker’s German crew that also includes Jörne Sprehe, Andre Thieme, Jana Wargers and Richard Vogel looks nothing short of formidable. And the Swiss are also super-strong – Martin Fuchs has been on fire with big results of late while reigning individual European champion Steve Guerdat reminded the world of his class when claiming individual silver at the Paris 2024 Games. This pair will be joined in Barcelona by Alain Jufer, Pius Schwizer and Géraldine Straumann.
Brazil finished equal-fifth with France in the Longines League of Nations™ rankings, and reigning Pan-American individual champion Stephan de Freitas Barcha will be flying the Brazilian flag along with Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Yuri Mansur, Pedro Veniss and Luciana Christina Guimarães Lossio. The French however may prove the ones to beat as Henk Nooren sends out his full side that claimed team bronze on home ground in Paris – Simon Delestre, Olivier Perreau and Julien Epaillard – and with Kevin Staut and Olivier Robert also in his selection.
Tied
Meanwhile the USA and The Netherlands tied for seventh spot on the final series leaderboard, and they too are coming out next week with all guns blazing.
The Americans are on form after victory in Dublin (IRL) last month, and Robert Ridland brings three of that side – Lucy Davis Kennedy, Aaron Vale who also finished third in the Dublin Grand Prix and Spencer Smith who produced a brilliant double-clear in the Nations Cup. Completing the US line-up are Alex Matz and the legend that is Laura Kraut who was a member of America’s silver-medal-winning team in Paris. It is quite clear that this is a side that means business.
The Dutch however will definitely be ones to watch. They finished fourth in Paris, squeezed off the third step of the team podium by an agonising half a second when sharing a seven-fault result with the French.
Kim Emmen was hugely impressive in the team competition at Versailles when double-clear with her lovely grey, Imagine, while Maikel van der Vleuten and the brilliant Beauville Z won individual bronze at their second consecutive Olympic Games. Harrie Smolders picked up just a single time fault in the team competition and with Kevin Jochems and Lars Kersten also on call-up this Dutch side is a powerhouse of potential.
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