Sweden Wins Falsterbo Nations Cup for 3rd Year, Russia 2nd, Denmark 3rd, USA 4th

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Sweden’s victorious Nations Cup team of Rose Mathisen, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Patrik Kittel and chef d’equipe Bo Jenna celebrating despite heavy rain. 2017 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

FALSTERBO, Sweden, July 16, 2017–Sweden won the Nations Cup Sunday, taking this CDIO5* for the third straight year and moving to the top of the standings of the seven-event trans-Atlantic series. Russia, competing in this year’s lineup for first time this year, was reserve champion with Denmark in third and the United States fourth.

Cheered on by enthusiastic crowds that enjoyed two days of hot sunny weather before familiar rain and wind arrived Sunday, the Swedish team that was made up of their top combinations was favored from the start in this Nations Cup presented by the Axel Johnson Group.

They delivered domination.

Final placings: 1. Sweden 445.472; 2. Russia 406.532; 3. Denmark 398.106; 4. USA 273.110.

Despite the first application of a format restricting teams to three horses and riders that an elimination of one pair crippled America’s hopes of staying atop the rankings after five competitions, there appeared to be no lessening of effort by all of the contestants including the the two remaining U.S. duos.

Four teams started in this Nations Cup, after Germany had to withdraw when one of its riders was injured days before the competition in which all combinations competed in the Grand Prix, two in the Grand Prix Special and one in the Freestyle. The U.S. was out of contention when Mette Rosencrantz of Topango, California and Marron were the first Americans into the Grand Prix but were eliminated when the horse spooked in the atmosphere of the big arena then appeared uneven.

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Paridon Magi that won the Grand Prix Special for Sweden. © 2017 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Denmark, Russia and Sweden continued each with three team members while the U.S. left with two also went on with Chase Hickok of Wellington, Florida on Sagacious HF and Charlotte Jorst of Reno, Nevada on Kastel’s Nintendo.

Patrik Kittel on his Olympic mount Deja wrapped up the team victory for Sweden Sunday by taking the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 79.375 per cent after Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Paridon Magi was awarded 72.686 per cent and Rose Mathisen on Zuidenwind received 72.431 per cent in the Grand Prix Special.

Chase Hickok, the second youngest rider in the competition, on Sagacious HF that was the oldest horse at 18, was second individually in the Freestyle with a score of 73.525 per cent. The pair placed fourth in the opening leg, the Grand Prix, behind the three Swedish riders.

USA’s Chase Hickok on Sagacious HF riding in heavy rain in the Falsterbo Nations Cup Grand Prix Freestyle. © 2017 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

The results of this Nations Cup puts Sweden at the top of the series standings with 41 points while the USA drops to second place with 38 points.

The next Nations Cup  in this series–the second year as an official International Equestrian Federation (FEI) event–is later this week at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.

Eight countries are competing in yet a fourth different format: the more traditional four-member teams contesting the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special. The Freestyle is an individual competition.

Germany led by world No. 1 Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD, Olympic team gold and individual silver medalists and Omaha World Cup champion, is favored. She will be joined by Rio team mate Sönke Rothenberger on Cosmo, Olympic rider Dorothee Schneider on Sammy Davis, Jr. and Olympic and championship veteran Hubertus Schmidt on Imperio.

However, the United States is conceding nothing, fielding a powerful team of world No. 4 Laura Graves on Verdades, Olympic bronze medal team mate Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet, Rotterdam Nations Cup gold medal team mate Olivia LaGoy-Weltz on Lonoir and 2012 Olympic rider Adrienne Lyle on Salvino.

Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden have also entered teams.

Results:

CDIO5* Grand Prix Special
RankRiderHorse Sex / Studbook / Color / Born / Sire x Dam sire / Breeder / Owner€EHCMB Total
1Paridon Magi Gelding / SWB / Brown / 2003 / Don Primero x Napoleon 625 / Niclas Magnussontomelilla / Lövsta Stuteri Ab1400073.039 173.529  172.157   172.549 272.157  272.686
2Zuidenwind 1187 Stallion/ KWPN / Bay / 2004 / Oo Seven x Jazz / H. Van Helvoirt, Rosmalen / Gränsbo Stuteri & VDL Stud1000073.039 172.647 271.078 272.647  172.745  172.431
3Diavolessa VA Mare / HANN / Brownbay / 2008 / Don Frederico x Londonderry / Scheele Von Alven, Josef / Josef Scheele Von Alven700071.373  371.078  369.510  370.588 369.412  370.392
4Wasabi Old Gelding / OLDBG / Dark Bay / 2005 / Welt Hit IV x Lancer I / Radloff, Hans / Michalke, Victoria500068.137 466.569 465.980 466.863 467.353 466.980
5Eno Gelding / / Chestnut / 2004 / Eskadron x Pardon / / Karin Nissen & Torben Suhr400065.980 563.529 664.314 561.667 665.588 564.216
6Ju JU Gelding / HANN / Bay / 2004 / Vdumchivy x Diofan / / Sokolova V.&Bushina, L.300063.137  764.020 563.824 661.569  765.000 663.510
7Kastel’s Nintendo Stallion/ KWPN / Bay / 2003 / Negro x Monaco / C. Rommens, Bavel / Kastel Denmark1500 €63.922 663.333 762.647 762.255 561.569  762.745