VILAMOURA, Portugal --It was an exciting finish in the Jumping Nations Cup Vilamoura CSIO3* in Vilamoura, Portugal for the young U.S. Jumping Team.
U.S. team in Portugal (Photo by U.S Equestrian)A three-way tie for first place resulted in a jump-off between Belgium, Great Britain, and the U.S.
Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski led the team of Zayna Rizvi on Exquise du Pachis, Caitlyn Connors on Falcon de Hus Z, Hannah Selleck on Cloud 39, and Jacob Pope with Highway FBH to a third-place finish out of 14 teams.
The team had also finished third in Jumping Nations Cup Vejer de la Frontera CSIO3* earlier as part of a European tour.
“It was a great team and to see how they came back after three weeks ago in Vejer de la Frontera to have gotten that experience under their belt and to get to do it again was so wonderful,” said Kursinski. “This week was interesting and different because they had the Nations Cup on Sunday. That has a little different feeling to it, and they all handled that well by waiting and waiting until Sunday.”
Rizvi of Wellington, Fla., on Exquise du Pachis was the first rider for the U.S. and had a four-fault round.
Connors of Glen Mills, Pa., on Falcon de Hus Z had a four-fault round as well, and next, Selleck of Westlake Village, Calif., on Cloud 39 had two fences down for eight faults.
Pope of Columbia, Md., on Highway FBH got the team back on track with a clear round.. so the U.S. sat in a four-way tie for fourth place on eight faults at the end of the first round.
“TODAY I think they all came out eager to try to win,"said Kursinski. "There were just little mistakes here or there.It was so exciting to have Jacob come back and jump that clear and get us in the eight to come back for the second round. The pressure was on, and he handled that beautifully. That’s why I had him in the anchor spot.”
Zayna Rizvi and Exquise du Pachis (Photo by Moura Tours)Rizvi on Exquise du Pachis went clean to start off the second round, and Connors on Falcon de Hus Z also had a clear round.
Selleck on Cloud 39 (followed suit with a clear round, then Pope and Highway FBH had a rail down for four faults to close out the second round.
“It was so great for everyone to come back fighting,” said Kursinki. "For Zayna to come back and to jump clear, then Caitlyn clear, then Hannah clear. Hannah was under the weather, but she fought for it that time and was great. With three clear rounds and not being able to better our score, we didn’t need to have Jacob jump again but did it as part of the whole team experience. I said, ‘You’re here. Let’s get the experience with two rounds.’”
After the second round, the U.S., Belgium, and Great Britain were in a three-way tie on eight faults for first place, requiring a jump-off with one rider from each team to determine the podium placings.
The U.S. Jumping Team’s Rizvi went first in the jump-off, finishing with four faults in a time of 33.04 seconds—the fastest time of the jump-off—for third place.
Belgium’s Jeoren Appelen on Monte Blue PS was next, going clear in a time of 35.12 seconds for an eventual second place after Great Britain’s Mark Edwards on Flying Tinker II clinched the win with a clear round in a time of 33.30 seconds.
“To finish up third and be on the podium a second time on the tour was so exciting,” said Kursinski. “I’m so proud of them. They really fought for it. We got the clear rounds in the second round, and of course, Jacob in the first round. They really deserved to be here. People were saying how well they rode and noting the American system and style with loads of great compliments from other athletes around the world over here.”
