Just seven days after coming out on top in Lummen, Belgium, French riders recorded their second win of the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series at Drammen, Norway. However this time they were pushed just about as close as it could get, with the runners-up from The Netherlands keeping them under immense pressure right to the very end of a gripping competition.

It was a last-to-go, foot-perfect run from French anchorman, Timothee Anciaume, that clinched it. “I had a lot of pressure on my shoulders coming into the second round, but the objective had been clearly set by our Chef d’Equipe, Philippe Guerdat. This is a new team, but we came here to win!” the 34-year-old Frenchman pointed out.

Sweden finished third ahead of the host nation of Norway in fourth, while Italy slotted into fifth ahead of Finland. At this Europe Division 2 leg of the 2013 Furusiyya series, just six of the eight competing nations returned for the second round, and it was the sides from Russia and Belarus that watched from the sidelines when squeezed out after their opening effort.

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