The Netherlands took their second world Jumping championship team title in style today at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy. They benefitted from the lead they established in yesterday’s round to narrowly pip the host nation of France at the end of a nail-biting contest, while the USA took bronze.

Germany missed out on a podium placing by just 0.1 of a penalty point when finishing fourth and Sweden snatched the last of the five Olympic qualifying spots on offer when lining up sixth behind Brazil. The team representing the country that will play host in two years’ time is automatically qualified for Rio 2016, but this afternoon the Brazilians showed that they are likely to be a force to be reckoned with when the world arrives on their doorstep.

Today however was all about the Dutch, who previously scooped the world team title at Aachen (GER) in 2006. And two of the riders from that victorious side – Jeroen Dubbeldam and Gerco Schroder – once again played a pivotal role in the history-making result.

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