FEI Nations Cup™
A Rock Of Pride In Equestrian Sport…
In FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping one truth stands above all others – the well of excitement it evokes in both competitors and spectators has not waned with the passage of time. This century-old team Jumping competition, originally devised as a challenge between military sides, has evolved, developed, grown and thrived over the last 102 years, and continues to provide one of the most recognisable, popular and compelling equestrian spectacles.
Back in 1909 when military teams first did battle in the arenas of both London’s Olympia and the outdoor San Sebastian showgrounds in Spain, it must have seemed the most natural thing in the world to pit countries against one another on horse-back. After all, the horse was still a vehicle of transportation for armies and civilians at the time. How wonderful it is then that our equine partners continue to be treasured for their strength, athleticism, loyalty, character and competitiveness. And how great it is that so many of the best riders in the world still take such pride in stepping out with their fellow-riders to fly their national flags with such enormous pride.
The FEI Nations Cup™ format is designed to ensure that only the best of the best qualify for each successive series, and this year the list of countries lining out in the summer-long battle for supremacy includes France, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain and the United States of America. Belgium and Denmark earned their places through promotion from the long, tough second-division series in 2010. And, while the Belgians have previously experienced the fluctuating fortunes experienced by so many of the teams in recent years, the Danes will be making their debut – and it’s likely to be a tough one.
The FEI was born in 1921, 13 years after the first Nations Cups were staged and, embracing the success and popularity of this exciting team competition from its infancy, has worked hard to ensure that it has remained one of the great showcases for equestrian sport. The decision to introduce a relegation/promotion system in 2003 proved a winner from the outset – not just with competitors, officials and horse-owners but also with the broader public who fill the grandstands of the most prestigious venues on the circuit. At La Baule, Rome, St Gallen, Falsterbo, Aachen, Hickstead, Dublin and Rotterdam the roars of support from the sidelines are testament to the enduring legacy of those men who first lined out in uniform all those many years ago. Today, however, men and women compete as equals and represent their countries side-by-side.
The French are defending champions as the 2011 campaign gets underway, and are on a roll having recorded a back-to-back double of wins over the last two seasons. But this is a country that knows all about the highs and lows of team sport, having been so dominant in the early years of the Samsung-sponsored series which preceded Meydan’s arrival in 2009, only to fall victim to relegation at the end of 2006 and thus forced to face the long climb back to the top of the game. Their spirited return has been little short of inspirational, and as the 2011 series evolves they will be determined to pick up where they left off.
However horses are unpredictable creatures, riders make mistakes, and the best in the world know that there is nothing certain until the last obstacle has been cleared and the applause has faded. This is the great challenge of the FEI Nations Cup™ which has long since taken its place among the elite tournaments on the international sporting calendar, and which continues to delight, more than a century after it all began.
