Rotterdam has hosted Britain’s dressage and show jumping teams this week for Nations Cup duties ahead of the Olympic squad selection. However, the teams in both disciplines failed to produce any exceptional results.

The Dutch rule the dressage

While Holland’s team of Edward Gal, Imke Schellekens-Bartels, Anky van Grunsven and Hans Peter Minderhoud topped the teams with 73.660%, Britain were left in seventh. The squad, made up of Emile Faurie (Elmegardens Marquis), Michael Eilberg (Half Moon Delphi), Nikki Crisp (Pasoa) and Gareth Hughes (DV Stenkjers Nadonna), accumulated a score of 68.121%.

All four of these British riders were on the long list for Olympic selection, but after the team was announced earlier today it transpired that not one of them will be representing our country in London. Click here to find out who did make the grade. 

Britain’s winning record matched

Up until now Britain held the record for the most Nations Cup wins in Holland with a total of 14. However, Germany equalled that record today, ending on a score of four, as they beat Sweden by a single penalty.

The British team didn’t come close to extending their record as they finished sixth on 18 penalties. The team, which comprised Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos), Peter Charles (Murka’s Vindicat W), Tina Fletcher (Hello Sailor) and Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Kalico Bay), were called up to compete in Rotterdam in hopes of clearing up Olympic selection dilemmas.

Scott Brash produced the standout performance of the team, picking up four faults in the first round and going clear in the second. Peter Charles also clocked up just four penalties across the two rounds, meaning that selectors will be thinking long and hard over the next week about which combinations they want on the Olympic squad.