Teams Prepare for League of Nations Second Leg in Ocala

Ten teams will battle it out at the World Equestrian Center; Ireland will seek to repeat last year's win, following victory in the Abu Dhabi opener.

The Irish team standing on the podium in Ocala in 2024.

Team Ireland, defending champions of the Longines League of Nations™ qualifier in Ocala. (FEI/Richard Juilliart)

By: Alice Watson/FEI | March 5, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. teams prepare for league of nations second leg in ocala by: alice watson/fei |. following the immense success of the inaugural longines league of nations ™ 2024 series, it returns in 2025 under the same unique format and continues to showcase the greatest human and equine jumping athletes in the world. the chefs d’équipe of the 10 highest ranked jumping nations in the world have named the athletes selected to battle for victory and a star-studded lineup is promised for leg two of the longines league of nations™ in ocala (usa) in just over two weeks’ time. nine of the top 20 athletes on the current longines rankings will represent their nations in ocala, amongst them olympic, world and european champions. the longines league of nations™ 2025 got underway in abu dhabi (uae) last month and it was ireland that took the spoils and 100 points with a flawless performance across the two rounds. uae, invited to compete in the abu dhabi leg as the host nation, impressed to claim the second podium position, but were ineligible to collect league points. consequently, third-placed france collected the 90 points to sit second in the league and reigning champions germany, who finished in fourth place, took 80 points, and hold third place in the league standings after one leg of the 2025 series. advertisement scroll to continue with content germany wrote themselves into the history books in october as they became the first winners of the longines league of nations™ final, and in doing so, guaranteed their place in the series for 2025. three of the four athletes from that victorious team (also all members of the team in ocala last year) line up for their nation in ocala. german intentions to defend that title have been made clear as they send out a team of protagonists headed by paris olympic champion christian kukuk. fei jumping european champion from riesenbeck in 2021 andre thieme is called upon again alongside richard vogel. vogel sealed victory for germany in barcelona (esp) as anchor leg, his double clear negating the need to jump-off for victory. vogel’s partner sophie hinners makes up the quartet, fresh from her eye catching double clear in abu dhabi’s opening leg last month where germany finished in fourth place. ireland, defending champions from this leg last year, opened their 2025 campaign in invincible style as they scored a convincing win in abu dhabi last month. over seven rounds of jumping, michael blake’s athletes didn’t incur a single jumping fault and secured an undisputed victory on a score of zero (0), some eight faults ahead of their closest rivals uae and 12 faults ahead of the next team in the league, france who took third place. team ireland continue to exert their dominance around the world, and it is testament to the scope of talent available to him that michael blake has selected a completely different quartet from that which produced flawless performances in abu dhabi just a few weeks ago. none of his athletes selected for ocala are strangers to leading their nation to team victories, and three of them did just that twelve months ago. members of that triumphant team – daniel coyle, darragh kenny and cian o’connor – are joined by 2017 european team gold medallist bertram allen. originally named on the team for this leg last year, allen had to stand down following a fall the week before which put him out of action. shane sweetnam proved an able deputy on that occasion and helped the emerald isle to victory. the world number one ranked team on the longines league of nations™ ranking for the second consecutive year, athletes from the emerald isle continue to consolidate their form across the globe. whilst four of their athletes remained faultless to secure victory in abu dhabi just a few weeks ago, four more proved unbeatable stateside on the very same day, as they completed an irish whitewash when taking the top four placing in the final longines fei jumping world cup™ north american league qualifier. o’connor headed the leaderboard with coyle taking third. just for good measure, kenny secured seventh to see ireland take five of the top seven places. for a nation with such a small population, they have proved they can consistently punch well above their weight, and with a team of seasoned performers on blistering form lined up in ocala, they will be looking to deliver another lethal blow to their rivals. france finished third in abu dhabi. casualties of the new format whereby only three riders contest round two, they had completed round one on a zero score. olympic and european gold medallist kevin staut is the only member of that team who lines up in ocala. he comes here in typically consistent form having produced a double clear in abu dhabi and secured his position at the upcoming longines fei jumping world cup™ final in basel (sui) having headed the western european league 2024/2025 standings. he is joined by french team stalwart olivier robert, marc dilasser and longines league of nations™ debutant, nina mallevaey. other longines league of nations™ debutants – italy – send out three out of four of their fifth placed team from abu dhabi. national hero piergiorgio bucci lived up to the regard he is held in when producing an impressive double clear in abu dhabi. he is joined again by young sensation giacomo casadei and the in-form giulia martinengo marquet. the immensely experienced lorenzo de luca completes the quartet as they vie for more points towards securing their place in barcelona. reigning olympic team champions great britain failed to make the final in barcelona last year and will be hungry for a podium finish in ocala. di lampard means business as she sends out two of her three paris olympic team athletes in triple olympic gold medallist ben maher and former u25 world number one harry charles. two members from their sixth placed team in abu dhabi join them as world championship bronze medallist joe stockdale and tim gredley join forces once again to make up a formidable team for great britain. 2021 european team gold medallists switzerland field an almost identical quartet to the team that finished seventh in abu dhabi. janika sprunger, a member of the team that secured second position in ocala last year is again joined by regular team members romain duguet and edouard schmitz. they are joined by young talent géraldine straumann. having finished on the podium in third place at the inaugural longines league of nations™ final in barcelona, european and world champions sweden send out three of the team members who secured gold at the fei jumping european championships in milan (ita) 2023. record breaking world number one titleholder, world champion and two-time world cup final winner henrik von eckermann (swe) is called upon to bolster the chances of sweden who finished in 11th place in abu dhabi, hampered undoubtedly by their fielding of a three-man team due to last minute injury of petronella andersson’s ride. milan team mates wilma hellström and the ultra-reliable rolf-göran bengtsson further enhance the chances of the decorated jumping nation. following impressive performances in the longines fei jumping world cup™ series, erika lickhammer-van helmond makes her longines league of nations™ debut. having won abu dhabi’s 5* grand prix, bengtsson emulated that form once again to provide a double clear in the longines league of nations™ competition two days later. with no drop score, this was not enough to elevate sweden into a second round qualifying position but he comes to ocala on scorching form. henrik ankarcrona fields a team of proven athletes to make amends for this uncharacteristic and disappointing start to their 2025 campaign, and the nation that has proved to be a dominant force time and time again come fired up to battle for supremacy once more. belgium finished a disappointing eighth in abu dhabi. thibeau spits produced a foot perfect opening round in abu dhabi but a final line blip second time round robbed him of the double clear that looked until that point inevitable. he will be joined by niels bruynseels, riesenbeck european team bronze medallist nicola philippaerts and emilie conter. like great britain they were surprise emissions from the longines league of nations™ final in barcelona last year and will be hungry for their first podium finish. the netherlands finished second in the longines league of nations™ final in barcelona last year but failed to reach the second round in abu dhabi last month. tani joosten produced a faultless performance there and is selected again alongside her abu dhabi team mate kevin jochems. sanne thijssen and mathijs van asten complete the quartet that bid to make amends for a disappointing start to the netherlands’ season. having fielded a relatively inexperienced team in abu dhabi that finished in 10th place, usa send out a quartet that know exactly how to deliver on big occasions for their home leg. having finished third last year, robert ridland calls up three of the quartet that secured usa’s podium position 12 months ago. olympic and world team champion laura kraut conjured up two faultless rounds last year and few would bet against her emulating that performance in two weeks’ time. mclain ward shares those accolades and delivered a clear and four faults last year. aaron vale, a member of usa’s longines league of nations™ final team in barcelona joins them again in ocala, and lillie keenan completes the quartet. the home nation will be vying for victory here and fighting for maximum points to help them on their way to qualification for barcelona once more. ireland go into the second leg at the top of the league standings with 100 points, followed by france on 90, germany on 80, italy on 70 while great britain rounds out the top five on 60 points. the second leg of the longines league of nations™ 2025 will be staged in ocala on saturday march 22, 2025 and the world’s top 10 jumping nations will put on a show in their pursuit of victory and a coveted place at the most prestigious team jumping final in the world.

Following the immense success of the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ 2024 series, it returns in 2025 under the same unique format and continues to showcase the greatest human and equine Jumping athletes in the world.

The chefs d’équipe of the 10 highest ranked jumping nations in the world have named the athletes selected to battle for victory and a star-studded lineup is promised for leg two of the Longines League of Nations™ in Ocala (USA) in just over two weeks’ time. Nine of the top 20 athletes on the current Longines Rankings will represent their nations in Ocala, amongst them Olympic, World and European Champions.

The Longines League of Nations™ 2025 got underway in Abu Dhabi (UAE) last month and it was Ireland that took the spoils and 100 points with a flawless performance across the two rounds. UAE, invited to compete in the Abu Dhabi leg as the host nation, impressed to claim the second podium position, but were ineligible to collect league points. Consequently, third-placed France collected the 90 points to sit second in the league and reigning champions Germany, who finished in fourth place, took 80 points, and hold third place in the league standings after one leg of the 2025 series

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Germany wrote themselves into the history books in October as they became the first winners of the Longines League of Nations™ Final, and in doing so, guaranteed their place in the series for 2025. Three of the four athletes from that victorious team (also all members of the team in Ocala last year) line up for their nation in Ocala. German intentions to defend that title have been made clear as they send out a team of protagonists headed by Paris Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk.

FEI Jumping European Champion from Riesenbeck in 2021 Andre Thieme is called upon again alongside Richard Vogel. Vogel sealed victory for Germany in Barcelona (ESP) as anchor leg, his double clear negating the need to jump-off for victory. Vogel’s partner Sophie Hinners makes up the quartet, fresh from her eye catching double clear in Abu Dhabi’s opening leg last month where Germany finished in fourth place.

Ireland, defending champions from this leg last year, opened their 2025 campaign in invincible style as they scored a convincing win in Abu Dhabi last month. Over seven rounds of jumping, Michael Blake’s athletes didn’t incur a single jumping fault and secured an undisputed victory on a score of zero (0), some eight faults ahead of their closest rivals UAE and 12 faults ahead of the next team in the league, France who took third place.

Team Ireland continue to exert their dominance around the world, and it is testament to the scope of talent available to him that Michael Blake has selected a completely different quartet from that which produced flawless performances in Abu Dhabi just a few weeks ago. None of his athletes selected for Ocala are strangers to leading their nation to team victories, and three of them did just that twelve months ago. Members of that triumphant team – Daniel Coyle, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor – are joined by 2017 European Team gold medallist Bertram Allen. Originally named on the team for this leg last year, Allen had to stand down following a fall the week before which put him out of action. Shane Sweetnam proved an able deputy on that occasion and helped the Emerald Isle to victory.

The World Number One ranked team on the Longines League of Nations™ Ranking for the second consecutive year, athletes from the Emerald Isle continue to consolidate their form across the globe. Whilst four of their athletes remained faultless to secure victory in Abu Dhabi just a few weeks ago, four more proved unbeatable stateside on the very same day, as they completed an Irish whitewash when taking the top four placing in the final Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League qualifier.

O’Connor headed the leaderboard with Coyle taking third. Just for good measure, Kenny secured seventh to see Ireland take five of the top seven places. For a nation with such a small population, they have proved they can consistently punch well above their weight, and with a team of seasoned performers on blistering form lined up in Ocala, they will be looking to deliver another lethal blow to their rivals.

France finished third in Abu Dhabi. Casualties of the new format whereby only three riders contest round two, they had completed round one on a zero score. Olympic and European gold medallist Kevin Staut is the only member of that team who lines up in Ocala. He comes here in typically consistent form having produced a double clear in Abu Dhabi and secured his position at the upcoming Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Basel (SUI) having headed the Western European League 2024/2025 standings. He is joined by French team stalwart Olivier Robert, Marc Dilasser and Longines League of Nations™ debutant, Nina Mallevaey.

Other Longines League of Nations™ debutants – Italy – send out three out of four of their fifth placed team from Abu Dhabi. National hero Piergiorgio Bucci lived up to the regard he is held in when producing an impressive double clear in Abu Dhabi. He is joined again by young sensation Giacomo Casadei and the in-form Giulia Martinengo Marquet. The immensely experienced Lorenzo de Luca completes the quartet as they vie for more points towards securing their place in Barcelona.

Reigning Olympic Team Champions Great Britain failed to make the final in Barcelona last year and will be hungry for a podium finish in Ocala. Di Lampard means business as she sends out two of her three Paris Olympic team athletes in triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher and former U25 world number one Harry Charles. Two members from their sixth placed team in Abu Dhabi join them as World Championship bronze medallist Joe Stockdale and Tim Gredley join forces once again to make up a formidable team for Great Britain.

2021 European Team gold medallists Switzerland field an almost identical quartet to the team that finished seventh in Abu Dhabi. Janika Sprunger, a member of the team that secured second position in Ocala last year is again joined by regular team members Romain Duguet and Edouard Schmitz. They are joined by young talent Géraldine Straumann.

Having finished on the podium in third place at the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ Final in Barcelona, European and World champions Sweden send out three of the team members who secured gold at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Milan (ITA) 2023. Record breaking World Number One titleholder, World Champion and two-time World Cup Final winner Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) is called upon to bolster the chances of Sweden who finished in 11th place in Abu Dhabi, hampered undoubtedly by their fielding of a three-man team due to last minute injury of Petronella Andersson’s ride.

Milan team mates Wilma Hellström and the ultra-reliable Rolf-Göran Bengtsson further enhance the chances of the decorated jumping nation. Following impressive performances in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, Erika Lickhammer-van Helmond makes her Longines League of Nations™ debut. Having won Abu Dhabi’s 5* Grand Prix, Bengtsson emulated that form once again to provide a double clear in the Longines League of Nations™ competition two days later. With no drop score, this was not enough to elevate Sweden into a second round qualifying position but he comes to Ocala on scorching form.

Henrik Ankarcrona fields a team of proven athletes to make amends for this uncharacteristic and disappointing start to their 2025 campaign, and the nation that has proved to be a dominant force time and time again come fired up to battle for supremacy once more.

Belgium finished a disappointing eighth in Abu Dhabi. Thibeau Spits produced a foot perfect opening round in Abu Dhabi but a final line blip second time round robbed him of the double clear that looked until that point inevitable. He will be joined by Niels Bruynseels, Riesenbeck European Team Bronze medallist Nicola Philippaerts and Emilie Conter. Like Great Britain they were surprise emissions from the Longines League of Nations™ Final in Barcelona last year and will be hungry for their first podium finish.

The Netherlands finished second in the Longines League of Nations™ Final in Barcelona last year but failed to reach the second round in Abu Dhabi last month. Tani Joosten produced a faultless performance there and is selected again alongside her Abu Dhabi team mate Kevin Jochems. Sanne Thijssen and Mathijs van Asten complete the quartet that bid to make amends for a disappointing start to The Netherlands’ season.

Having fielded a relatively inexperienced team in Abu Dhabi that finished in 10th place, USA send out a quartet that know exactly how to deliver on big occasions for their home leg. Having finished third last year, Robert Ridland calls up three of the quartet that secured USA’s podium position 12 months ago. Olympic and World Team champion Laura Kraut conjured up two faultless rounds last year and few would bet against her emulating that performance in two weeks’ time. McLain Ward shares those accolades and delivered a clear and four faults last year.

Aaron Vale, a member of USA’s Longines League of Nations™ Final team in Barcelona joins them again in Ocala, and Lillie Keenan completes the quartet. The home nation will be vying for victory here and fighting for maximum points to help them on their way to qualification for Barcelona once more.

Ireland go into the second leg at the top of the league standings with 100 points, followed by France on 90, Germany on 80, Italy on 70 while Great Britain rounds out the top five on 60 points.

The second leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2025 will be staged in Ocala on Saturday March 22, 2025 and the world’s top 10 jumping nations will put on a show in their pursuit of victory and a coveted place at the most prestigious team jumping final in the world.