The Winning U.S. Team (Alex Warriner/USEF Archive)

Lexington, KY – The U.S. jumpers showed their depth Friday as they earned top results in two hard-fought Furusiyya FEI Nations Cups. A team of rising stars headed to Bratislava, Slovakia and produced spectacular rounds to earn an American victory at CSIO3* Bratislava’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, while a team of Nations Cup veterans jumped at the CSIO5* Hickstead, earning a second place finish in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines.

CSIO3* Bratislava

The U.S. team of Catherine Pasmore, Quentin Judge, Megan Nusz, and Kirsten Coe, led by Chef d’Equipe Kent Farrington, headed into Bratislava’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup with their sights firmly set on a podium finish. Over two rounds of jumping a testing track designed by Edward Petrovic, the talented squad proved unbeatable to finish on a total of four faults and earn victory over 12 other nations.

Pasmore (Wellington, FL) rode Pasmore Stables, LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Bonanza Van Paemel in the lead-off position for the U.S. producing a faultless effort in the first round and setting the tone for the afternoon. Judge (Wellington, FL) was next up for the U.S. and utilized his experience gained from jumping at many of North America’s most prestigious competitions to jump a clear round of his own with HH Dark de la Hart. Jumping in her first Nations Cup, Nusz (The Woodlands, TX) produced the third consecutive fault-free trip of the first round for the U.S. with the talented Amalaya Investments’ Dynamo. Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL) rode in the anchor position with Ilan Ferder’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Calypso, collecting five faults in the first round.

At the conclusion of round one the United States stood atop the leaderboard and headed into the afternoon’s second round on a score of zero.

In round two, the U.S. combinations continued to jump superbly to clinch their first place finish. Pasmore returned to produce her second clear round of the day, to be one of six to jump double clear. Judge and Double H Farm’s 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion looked to add their names to the double clear list but a single mistake left them on a score of four faults. Nusz again displayed impressive form in Bratislava, as she jumped her second clear of the day with the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Dynamo.

Nusz’s clear effort in round two meant the U.S. could not be beaten and therefore Coe did not need to return to complete a second trip. The U.S. won on a total of four faults.

Finishing in second place behind the U.S. was Brazil on a score of eight faults and Finland collected third place with a total of 12 faults.

To learn more about the CSIO3* Bratislava, visit: http://www.csio.sk/2011/index.php.

CSIO5* Hickstead

The United States sent a formidable team into Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines to jump two rounds of Kelvin Bywater’s difficult course. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, Richard Spooner, Reed Kessler, McLain Ward, and Beezie Madden used their experience to propel the U.S. to an equal second place finish on a score of 12 faults.

Spooner (Agua Dulce, CA) served as the pathfinder over Bywater’s course with his veteran Cristallo. Show Jumping Syndications International’s 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding proved to be strong throughout the course, producing a 16 fault effort in the first round. Kessler (Lexington, KY) rode in the second spot for the U.S., producing an immaculate clear round on her Olympic partner Cylana. Next up for the U.S. was Ward (Brewster, NY) and Sagamore Farms’ 12-year-old Warmblood gelding Rothchild; the pair lowered a single rail, the plank at fence three, for a four fault total in round one. Madden (Cazenovia, NY) entered Hickstead’s International Arena needing to produce a clear with Cortes ‘C’ to keep the U.S. in contention heading into round two. As she has done on numerous occasions, Madden delivered when the pressure was on, guiding Abigail Wexner’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding to a faultless round.

The U.S. headed into Hickstead’s second round in three-way tie for second place on a score of four.

In round two, Spooner and Cristallo produced an improved effort but still finished with a score of eight after lowering two rails on the second half of the course. Kessler and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Cylana repeated Spooner’s effort and also jumped an eight fault round. Returning for a second time, Ward used all of his expertise to produce a faultless effort to keep the pressure on the other nations. Madden replicated her immaculate first round performance, producing a second clear effort of the day to be one of five riders to produce a double clear.

Germany earned top honors in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines finishing on a two round total of four faults. France also finished on a 12 fault total to tie with the U.S. for second place.

To learn more about CSIO5* Hickstead, click here.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray