The US was second today in the Young Riders Nations Cup here in Reims France! The first round left the US Team with 8 faults. Jen had 4, Michael had 4, Karl had 10 and Nick was clear. We were in 4th place behind Belgium with 2, France with 4 and Switzerland with 5. Italy followed with 9 and Germany with 16. Denmark and Norway did not make the second round.
As we know in Nations Cup Jumping, things can change in a hurry! In the second round, the first rider for the Swiss and our first rider Jen Waxman were clear. Belgium had 8, France had 4 and Italy had 8 and Germany had 16. Michael Murphy then stepped up to the plate and produced the US second clear round of the second round. Belgium had 9 and France 8. When when the Swiss had 6 we realized that the US was almost in a position to win it all and at least a great chance at a top three finish. An unfortunate 12 faults from Karl left the final placings in the hands of the the final riders. They don’t call the fourth team position the “Anchor” for nothing! When Nick entered the ring for the US a clear round would give us the top spot. A very late rail left him with four faults and the US with only four for the second round after dropping Karl’s score. This left the US with a total two round score of only 12 faults. Only the Swiss could beat us and it would take a clear round to do it. Their Anchor rider Jennifer Meylan and Candella were up to the task jumping a perfect clear to secure the win for Switzerland on 11 faults (she had jumped the first round with only 1 time fault and was the best two round score of the day).
It was a great end to a fantastic week for the US Young Riders. The US was in the top three of virtually every class! After the forth place in the Nations Cup in Moorsele Belgium 2 weeks ago, the Team is aiming for Gold this week!
- Courtesy of my dad, Jay Land
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