Nations Cup result needed

A rule change means second-placed Britain could still win promotion

BRITAIN is not necessarily doomed to another season in the second tier of Nations Cup showjumping — but the team has one more chance to secure its 2018 place at the top.

A run of “less than sparkling” British results so far this season means we are lying second in the second European division.

Thanks to more rule changes in the FEI series, the top European division will feature 10 teams next year rather than the current eight.

This means the top two teams in division two will be promoted, as long as they compete in the Nations Cup final this September.

But with one competition to go, in Gijon, Spain, (30 August-4 September), Britain needs to pull out all the stops.

“We welcome confirmation that the top two teams from division two will be going to the Nations Cup final and, as long as they complete, will be going up into division one,” British Showjumping (BS) chief executive Iain Graham told H&H.

“We currently sit in second place on the league table and are focused on retaining this position with only one leg to go.”

League leaders Belgium’s 380-point total cannot be overtaken, meaning the team has secured promotion. But thirdplaced Luxembourg, who finished runner-up to Belgium in their home leg on 30 June, could still take the second spot.

A win would mean 100 points, so should Luxembourg, currently on 180, take the competition in Spain, this would put them ahead of Britain’s 255-point total, but only if Britain earned no points.

“That possibility was presented to us, but we’ll have to see as a team if it makes sense” said Luxembourg rider Christian Weier. “It’s a nice spot to be in, but we mustn’t get carried away. We have only a small string of horses.”

Mr Graham has previously told H&H it will be more important for Britain to be in the top tier next year than this season, as the 2018 World Equestrian

Games will be the first qualifying opportunity for the 2020 Olympics (news, 5 January).

An FEI spokesman said: “Belgium cannot now be overtaken at the top of the division two leaderboard after an extremely effective campaign, but the battle for the second available spot in next year’s 10-nation division one series and the FEI Nations Cup final will continue at the last leg in Gijon.

“The British look set to take it, but another less than sparkling performance [in Roeser, Luxembourg, 2 July] failed to improve their position.”

‘We are focused on retaining our position with a leg to go’

IAIN GRAHAM