DUBLIN, Ireland --The U.S. team of Karl Cook, Paris Sellon, Natalie Dean and Laura Kraut, with chef d'equipe Robert Ridland, won the historic 100th anniversary of the 250,000 Euro Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin on Friday, Aug. 7.
U.S. team, Karl Cook, Natalie Dean, Robert Ridland with the trophy, Laura Kraut and Paris Sellon on the podium in DublinThe U.S.finished on zero faults to win over Ireland with four faults and Switzerland with eight faults.
It was a nail biting competition that came down to the very last horse to go to decide the results.
This trophy is the most coveted and iconic award in show jumping," said Ridland. "To win it on its 100th anniversary is incredible."
“It’s always special to win such a prestigious Nations Cup, but I think the most important thing was that all four of our rider's scores counted Sometimes when you win three riders are good and the fourth had a bad day, but today all four contributed. Winning the Aga Khan is special."
Cook on Caracole de la Roque,and Sellon on Chad Blue PS both jumped clean in both rounds.
Dean on Mr. Bombastic was clean in round one, while Kraut on Baloutinue had four faults, leaving the U.S. tied with Ireland on zero faults after round one.
IN ROUND TWO, afer Cook's and Sellon's clean rounds, Dean had four faults, while Daniel Coyle and Jordan Coyle for Ireland also went clean, but then Shane Sweetnam had four faults, so the U.S. and Ireland remained tied for first with each team's anchor rider left to go.
Kraut, called in once again to deliver under pressure, did just that and went clean.
If Cian O'Connor had gone clean, there would have been a jump-off for the win, but he had a rail down and the U.S. won.
“Our team rode beautifully today, and it showed in the results." said Ridland. "The first round was impressive, and when we needed the anchor ride in the second round, Laura produced and Balou jumped great.”
"I love Dublin," said Kraut. "The crowd here is the best. It was a typical Alan Wade course, with no falls but fences falling everywhere."
"I'm so happy with my horse," said Sellon.
"It's great to win in Dublin," said Dean.
"Caracole is such an amazing horse." said Cook. "Alan's course was tough but fair."
Cook had also posted an impressive win on Foxy de la Roque the day before, winning the 56,000 Euro Palace Hotel Stakes in an 11 horse jump-off.
Cook was clean round in 37.11 to beat Kevin Staut of France on Flexi K, clean in 38.48, while Ridrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Major Tom was third, clean in 38.72.
"What a great win that was," said Ridland. "Karl and his wife just had a baby two months ago, and she and the baby and his whole family were here to see him win."
To make Sellon''s double clear in the Nations Cup even more impressive, this was her first time riding on a senior U.S. team.
"Paris has been based in Europe,and this is a relatively new horse for her," said Ridland.
Sellon's father James Burrows, was the TV Director of Cheers and Friends.
"There was a lot of pomp and circumstance before the class and during the presentation, which made it all the more special," said Ridland. "Paris was handed the gold Aga Khan Trophy to carry during the parade of winners. Charlie Jayne had carried the trophy a few years ago when we won,, and his horse reared and the trophy went flying, so I said to the official. 'Do you want to see the trophy broken again,` and he said 'You broke it before and we fixed it, and we can fix it again."
One of the fun things about today was that the six teams competing in the first Aga Khan Trophy 100 years ago were all competing again today," said Ridland. "The Swiss won then, and they were third today."
This is the second time in just two years the U.S. has hoisted the historic Aga Khan Trophy as winners of the Jumping Nations Cup of Dublin CSIO5* and the ninth time overall.
"We'll be back to try to win it a 10th time," said Ridland.
