The top level division of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series gets underway this weekend, with the British team in action in Belgium.
Top division
The first leg is held in Lummen, with the Nations Cup competition held on Friday afternoon (1 May).
Britain’s team selector Di Lampard has picked her squad of five, from which four riders will be chosen to be on the team.
They include Belgium-basedJoe Clee, who was on the World Equestrian Games team last summer in Normandy – he rides the 11-year-old stallionUtamaro d’Ecaussines.Guy Williams, who is now based in Seine Maritime in France, rides the 15 year-old gelding Titus II whileRobert Bevis will partner the 10 year-old mare Pebbles IV.
The British strategy in recent years has been to allow younger riders the chance to compete on Nations Cup teams, and two World Class Development Programme riders complete the squad: Hollie Gillott (Dougie Douglas) and William Whitaker (Fandango III).
France
The British squad has also been announced for La Baule, the second leg of the Division One series (Friday 15 May).
Joe, Guy and William are once again given the call up, with the same horses as selected for Lummen. They’re joined by WEG team rider Spencer Roe (riding Wonder Why) and Team GB stalwart Michael Whitaker and Cassionato.
How it works
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup is a team competition, with four riders making up a team. The series was altered in 2013 to give it a more ‘global’ format, whereas previously the main European showjumping countries had always dominated proceedings.
Under the new rules, the world is divided into six regions (Europe Division 1 and 2, North and Central America & Caribbean, South America, Middle East, Asia and Africa), with teams having to qualify for the final in October.
The Europe Division 1 legs are all held at CSIO5* shows – after Lummen and La Baule comes Rome, St Gallen, Rotterdam, Falsterbo, Hickstead and Dublin.
Point scoring
Teams have to nominate which shows they’re competing at points at. For Britain, those will beRome (21-24 May), Rotterdam (17-21 June), the home leg at Hickstead (30 July–2 August) andDublin (5-9 August).
However, at other events, such as Lummen and La Baule, the Brits are trying to prevent the other teams from collecting qualifying points – so it’s all to play for.
Additionally, the FEI Nations Cup series is likely to feature many of the horses and riders in contention for a spot at this year’s FEI European Championships.
Watch the FEI Nations Cup series on Horse & Country at the following times.