Denmark Wins Odense Nations Cup, Sweden 2nd, Germany 3rd
9 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Denmark Wins Odense Nations Cup, Sweden 2nd, Germany 3rd
ODENSE, Denmark, May 16, 2016–Denmark won the CDIO3* Nations Cup Monday, holding off a last-minute drive by Sweden that brought the team to within one-third of a percentage point of the leader after three days of competition in the inaugural year of the official FEI series. Germany was third and a gutsy Australian team down to three combinations after its top combination withdraw because of injury placed fourth and the United States fifth.
The competition that began with the Grand Prix Saturday and the Special Sunday came down to the Freestyle with only one score counting.
Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen on Dante Weltine OLD, the last rider to go, pulled off a personal best score of 75.425 per cent to give her team a total of 436.204 per cent, just 0.317 shy of Denmark’s total of 436.521.
The Danish Olympic team contenders of Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and Jojo AZ were awarded 73.975 per cent.that slotted the pair into second place individually but enough to enable Denmark to hold on to the overnight lead. The partnership of Cathrine Dufour and Cassidy had led the Danish team in coming from behind Sweden after the Grand Prix to going to the top after the Special.
Kathleen Keller and Daintree scored 71.600 per cent for third place to confirm Germany’s bronze medal.
Australia’s Mary Hanna on her Umbro were awarded 68.000 per cent that was enough to keep them in fourth as they had throughout the tournament. The Aussies took a big hit before the competition began when Lyndal Oatley and her Olympic and World Games mount Sandro Boy had to pull out because of injury. Her Germany-based cousin, three-time Olympian Kristy Oatley on Du Soleil, led the three combinations with strong performances in both the Grand Prix and the Special.
The win by Denmark put it atop the Nations Cup standings with 16 points, 10 from the home victory and six from the kickoff of the seven-event series in Wellington, Florida at the end of March. The United States was second on the leaderboard with 15 points, Australia third with 10, Canada and Sweden tied with eight apiece, Germany and Spain each with seven Costa Rica on five, Great Britain four and Finland three.
Results:
Final team results: FEI-NATIONS-CUP
CDIO3* Grand Prix Freestyle
Judges: E: Kirsten SOEGAARD (DEN), H: Elke EBERT (GER), C: Francis VERBEEK (NED), M: Jacques VAN DAELE (BEL), B: Peter STORR (GBR)
