Despite fielding two Olympic team members, Britain failed to shine at the Aachen leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ series.
The British team - consisting of Nick Skelton (Carlo), Scott Brash (Intertoy Z), Guy Williams (Titus) and Michael Whitaker (GIG Amai) finished on a total of 31 faults to take fifth place.
It was the French team who were victorious, finishing ahead of series leaders Germany in second and the Irish team in third.
The French Chef d’Equipe, Henk Nooren, was pleased with the performance of his talented side which, up until now, has failed to live up to expectations. “To win a Nations Cup in Europe is wonderful, but to win in Aachen for all of us is the best - the stadium, the atmosphere, it is completely unique,” he said.
Three more legs of the FEI Nations Cup™ series remain - next stop is Falsterbo in Sweden, before the British leg of the series at Hickstead. The final leg will take place in Dublin, Ireland a week after the Olympics.
With Britain currently in sixth place in the series overall, they have some ground to make up in the final few legs of the series.
Result
1, France 10 faults: Old Chap Tame (Eugenie Angot) 0/9, Nippon d'Elle (Roger Yves Bost) 1/5, Mylord Carthago (Penelope Leprevost) 0/0, Lord de Theize (Olivier Guillon) 4/4.
2, Germany 12 faults: Plot Blue (Marcus Ehning) 0/0, Codex One (Christian Ahlmann) 0/0, Cellagon Lambrasco (Janne-Friederike Meyer) 4/8, Cornet Obolensky (Marco Kutscher) 16/16.
3, Ireland 20 faults: Lantinus (Denis Lynch) 4/8, Loughview Lou Lou (D Lennon) 4/16, Je T'Aime Flamenco (B Twomey) 12/0, Blue Loyd (C O'Connor) 4/0.
4, Switzerland 21 faults: Kiamon (Werner Muff) 8/12, Castlefield Eclipse (Paul Estermann) 0/0, Carpalo (Steve Guerdat) 5/8, Carlina (Pius Schwizer) 8/0.
5, Great Britain 31 faults: Carlo (Nick Skelton) 4/5, Titus (Guy Williams) 17/16, Intertoy Z (Scott Brash) 12/4, GIG Amai (Michael Whitaker) 1/5.
6, Netherlands 32 faults: Tyson (Leon Thijssen) 0/12, Sterrehof's Tamino (Marc Houtzager) 4/4, Exquis Walnut de Muze (Harrie Smolders) 4/4, VDL Groep Verdi (Maikel van der Vleuten) 4/DNS.
7, Sweden 36 faults: Casall La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) 4/4, H&M Arctic Aurora Borealis (Peder Fredricson) Elim/DNS, Matrix (Lisen Fredricson) 4/16, Allerdings (Henrik von Eckermann) 4/4.
8, Belgium 40 faults: Bufero van het Panishof (Dirk Demeersman) 8/8, Cabrio van de Heffinck (Olivier Philippaerts) 0/9, Conisha van de Helle (Niels Bruynseels) 8/12, Challenge VD Begijnakker (Ludo Phlippaerts) 7/8.
FEI Nations Cup™ 2012 - Standings after Round 5 at Aachen (GER):
1. Germany - 37
2. Netherlands - 25.5
3. Switzerland - 25.5
4. France - 24
5. Belgium - 22
6. Great Britain - 20
7. Sweden - 18
8. Ireland - 18.
Advertisment(?)
