Falsterbo (SWE), 13 July 2012 – Sweden snatched victory in the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 on home turf at Falsterbo today. As the competition progressed it seemed that glory was destined for France for the second week in succession, but in the best tradition of top Nations Cup competition it was unpredictable to the very end, and the result came down to a three-way, third-round race against the clock.

And it was London-bound Jens Fredricson who clinched it for the host country, in confident and convincing style, riding his super-fast 14 year old gelding, Lunatic.  This was Sweden’s fourth FEI Nations Cup victory on home soil in the last 10 years and the host country fielded its full team of Olympic riders, although not all were partnering their Olympic mounts.

Great Britain slotted into runner-up spot when William Funnel’s pathfinding jump-off time with Billy Angelo was almost three seconds off the pace and the French, who had looked sure-fire winners in the opening stages, had to settle for third as Jerome Hurel and OHM De Ponthual left a pole on the floor third time out.  “This was no Olympic Games,” said Fredricson afterwards. “You certainly can’t compare it to what we will expect in London, but it was so great to win at home in front of our own crowd and it’s the perfect result with the Olympics only a few weeks away now.”

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