In an incredible turn of events today in Barcelona, Ireland who were facing almost certain relegation to the B League managed to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat and stay in the Super League and the Dutch who were second last also saved themselves when they won todays event.
Barcelona, known for its wonderful climate experienced very heavy rains as this show got underway making conditions difficult to say the least and after 6 months of no rain it came as a surprise to everyone - and not a particularly pleasant surprise at that!
The Belgians, who were sitting in 6th place were hoping to safeguard their position in the Super League had a day nobody could have predicted finishing last in the final leg which also sees them relegated to the B League as they finish on the bottom of the Super League ladder.
For Ireland there were mixed emotions as the news that Captain Shane Carey's father had passed away on Thursday, after a long illness. Shane was apparently flying backwards and forwards from Barcelona to Ireland but we have heard from Barcelona that the team felt that Sean Carey was watching over them all and when they avoided relegation the team, headed by Chef d'equip, John Ledingham thanked Sean for his help from above.
jumpingaround.com offer their condolences to Captain Shane Carey and his family on the loss of Sean Carey, a longtime supporter of showjumping and proud father of a son who has done so well in his chosen career with the Army Equitation School.
The overall winners of the league were the Americans who have been very strong all year and the final leg team of Jeffrey Welles, Lauren Hough, McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, under the leadership of showjumping legend, Chef d'equip, George Morris placed equal second today in Barcelona. with Jeffrey Welles putting in double clear jumping and Lauren Hough and McLain Ward jumping two four fault rounds each. Laura Kraut who has been so consistent all season put in a four fault and clear round.
Winners of this final leg, the Dutch were determined to stay in the Super League and just to make sure that happened they won the event with team members, Jeroen Dubbledam, Harrie Smolders, Leon Thijssen and Gerco Schroder. Gerco put in double clears as last man out. Dubbledam produced a four fault and clear round and Smolders jumped a clear and then a four fault round. Thijssen was the drop score in both rounds with his four and eight fault rounds.
The Germans, sitting in second position in the League coming into this round, saw the wheels fall of in the first round but with a huge improvement in the second round they completed this leg in equal fourth (with Ireland) and they finished in equal fourth with Ireland but their hold at the top of the ladder saw them still finish 2nd overall, so no harm done.
The Irish team of Shane Breen, Captain Shane Carey, Cian O'Connor and Billy Twomey under the leadership of John Ledingham saw Shane Breen's comment of "don't write us off yet. It's not over till it's over...." proving so true when the team fought a battle royal with Billy Twomey, yet again clinching it for Ireland when things were looking tough by producing a four fault first round and a clear second round as last man out. Shane Breen and World Cruise, who made their debut in Aachen again produced a fabulous result when first man out they returned a clear first round and a four fault second round. Cian O'Connor and Irish Independent Echo Beach were second to go for Ireland and they finished the first round with 16 faults to become the drop score and in round two they finished with 8 faults. Third to go was Captain Shane Carey and Killossery who produced a 4 fault round in their first trip around the track but things did not go so well in round two when they clocked up 16 faults to become the drop score.
On communicating with Chef d'equip, John Ledingham after the event was over and celebrations were underway he said "the team were brilliant and you can quote me". No doubt the Irish will now hopefully put away the infighting which brought them so close to relegation and with the promised review of selection procedures they will 2006 be a united showjumping nation who will shine throughout the Samsung Super League and also at the World Equestrian Games perhaps again producing a World Champion!
The Brits came into this final round sitting in 3rd position and nothing changed after the completion of the final leg where they finished in 6th position. The predominantly Whitaker team which consisted of Michael, Ellen and Robert and rookie Tim Gredley saw veteran Michael finish with a five fault round and a clear while niece Ellen had a four fault and an eight fault round. Robert uncharacteristically finished as the drop score in round two when he clocked up 16 faults after his four fault first round. Young Tim Gredley put in an exceptionally creditable double of four fault rounds.
The Swiss, who came into the final leg in fourth position stayed put after the final rail was jumped when they placed equal second with the USA. Christina Leibherr produced two faultless rounds and Markus Fuchs, who has been on fire this past season, a clear first round backed up by a four fault second round. Lesley McNaught produced a four fault first round but was the drop score in round two when 3 fences fell. Pius Schwizer was the first round drop score with 8 faults and in round two jumped a four fault round.
The French came to the final leg in 5th position and dropped to 6th after the final scores were in after finishing in equal 8th place with the Belgians.
The host nation, Spain fielded a team which saw one of only four double clears produced by first line rider, Rutherford Latham and they finished this leg in 7th position.
The 2006 Teams going forward to the Samsung Super League competition are: USA, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and the final team will come from the B League with the Swedes determined to be the ones upgraded!
Northern hemisphere showjumping now heads indoors for the World Cup league which will produce it's own brand of excitement throughout the coming months.
