HICKSTEAD, England, July 28, 2019–A personal best score by Lara Butler on Rubin al Asad to top the CDIO3* Nations Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday was not enough to halt Portugal’s Lusitano juggernaut that won its first team competition in seven years of the trans-Atlantic series.
The victory by Lara and the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding on a score of 78.260% was their first for a CDI musical performance in more than four years at Big Tour.
Rodrigo Torres on Fogoso placed second on 74.625% that added extra insurance for Portugal but it was not needed as the nation led after the Grand Prix and clinched with the Special on Saturday. Portugal had competed only once before in the series, at this same show a year ago.
The final standings based on placings and not scores: 1. Portugal 17 points; 2. Great Britain 23; 3. Netherlands 36; 4. Ireland 51.
Sweden was the series champion for the third year in a row based on points accumulated in its best four competitions in the lineup that began in Wellington, Florida in March before moving across the Atlantic. Germany was second overall and the United States third.
Results:
CDIO3* Nations Cup Grand Prix Freestyle
Judges-E: NIINA KARLLOLAINEN H: MAARTEN VAN DER HEIJDEN C: PETER HOLLER M: CHRISTOF UMBACH B:STEPHEN CLARKE
Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo performed a brilliant Grand Prix Special Saturday to claim their first senior German Championship gold medal with Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD reserve champion.
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