The U.S. celebrates their second place finish during the victory gallop (USEF Archive)

Coapexpan, Mexico – The U.S. put forward a determined effort in Friday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition at CSIO4* Coapexpan to earn a second place finish. After round one the Americans stood tied for the lead with the talented Canadian team on a score of five. In the second round both teams were able to produce three clears and remain tied on five faults, necessitating one rider from each team to return for a jump-off.

U.S. Chef d’Equipe Anthony D’Ambrosio sent 2012 Olympic Games veterans Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo back to jump off against Canadian’s 10-time Olympian Ian Millar. Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Coral Reef Ranch’s 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare set a fast pace to finish in a time of 33.40 seconds but a rail jumping into the double combination meant they would finish with four faults. Millar then produced a steady clear with Star Power, leaving all the rails in place and finishing in a time of 41.96 to earn victory for Canada.

Round One

The Americans had the unenviable draw of being first into the ring to take on Frederic Cottier’s 12-obstacle course. Leading off for the United States was Jon McCrea (East Windsor, Conn.), who was making his U.S. team debut jumping alongside his wife Christine, with Candy Tribble’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Special Lux. The pair looked on track for a clear round until lowering the vertical at fence seven resulting in four faults. Jumping in the second spot for the U.S. was Sarah Segal (Flemington, N.J.) and Robert Segal’s talented 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Ramses. The combination proceeded to produce an immaculate clear that never looked in doubt as they were the first competitors to record a fault-free round.

Teammates from the Gold medal winning 2011 Pan American Games effort, Christine McCrea (East Windsor, Conn.) and Madden rounded out the U.S. contingent. In round one, McCrea left all the rails in the cups with Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Zerly but collected a single time fault after finishing just over the 75 second time allowed. Jumping in the anchor position for the U.S. was Madden who piloted her 2011 Team Gold and Individual Silver medal winning partner to a four fault performance after lowering the oxer at fence 10.

Round Two

The U.S. returned with a hard fought effort in round two as they looked to edge the Canadians for the victory. Jon McCrea got the Americans off to a strong start, producing faultless round with Special Lux. Segal followed with her second flawless round of the afternoon to keep the U.S. neck-and-neck with Canada as well as making her and Ramses one of only three pairs to produce a double clear on Friday.

Christine McCrea and Zerly started off their second round in strong form but rails at seven and 9A meant they finished with an eight fault total.

Madden returned in the second round to record a clear with Coral Reef Via Volo ensuring the U.S. would finish on a two-round total of five faults.

With their second place finish on Friday the U.S. earned a further 90 points towards qualifying for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Season Series Final and heads into the third and final qualifier at Spruce Meadows in Calgary Canada, June 12-15, on a total of 180.

By Helen Murray

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