United States Eventing Association

The United States walked away victorious at the first North American based FEI Nations Cup™ at the Land Rover Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan® thanks to super performances by our Rio-bound squad on their direct reserve horses accompanied an individual win by Clark Montgomery on his Olympic partner.

This being the first Nations Cup held outside of Europe was significant enough, but also having it hosted in the U.S. meant the pressure was on to secure this inaugural title on home turf. The U.S. team was made up of Lauren Kieffer on Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, Phillip Dutton on Fernhill Fugitive, Boyd Martin on Welcome Shadow and Clark Montgomery on Loughan Glen. Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair were named alternates as well for this Nations Cup. For team members, this was a good opportunity to work together and get their toes wet before the Olympics next month.

Team USA grabbed the lead after the dressage phase, and left the other teams in the dust as the weekend progressed, finishing on a cumulative team score of 138.3. All four team members also finished the weekend individually in the top ten.

Team USA. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Montgomery and “Glen,” owned by Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft and Holly & Willam Becker, had an ideal run for the United States this weekend, finishing on the lowest score of 37.5. Boyd Martin was the next lowest scorer, finishing in sixth place with Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow on a 50.4. Phillip Dutton finished seventh with Tom Tierney and Ann Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive after tying with Martin on a 50.4 – Martin was given the higher placing for finishing closest to optimum time. Lauren Kieffer rounds out the team finishing in ninth on Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett.

“It’s exciting for us to have visitors come this way,” Dutton mentioned, seeing as though in past the United States has had to travel overseas for team competition. “Usually we have to go to Europe to compete and ride, so thanks to the British team for supporting this. It’s great for the sport, and I think we should all get behind this event and encourage them to keep going bigger and stronger every year.”

Team Canada. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Canada finished this Nations Cup in second place with a combined score of 177.6. The team was made up of Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue D’Argouges (14th – 51.7), Jessica Phoenix and Don Good’s Bentley’s Best (18th, 58.1), Selena O’Hanlon and John & Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High (21st – 62.4) and Waylon Roberts on Anthony Connolly’s Kelecyn Cognac (27th – 70.2). “It’s a world-class event,” said Roberts. “They are really putting the effort in to bring North American eventing up to an international standard, so me and my fellow Canadians are really pleased to be here.”

Team Great Britain. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Great Britain follows in third place with 254.3 points. Their team consisted of Jodie Amos riding her own and Nicoal Coates’ Wise Crack (49 – 3rd), Ben Way riding Posy Kopanski and Peter Finer’s Willows Tipster (69.5 – 26), U.S.-based Justine Dutton riding Patricia Weiser’s Huck Finn (135.8 – 36th) and Rosalind Canter riding her own Zenshera (RF). “It’s been a really big trip for us,” said Amos after finishing third individually. “We couldn’t have been more welcome. The facilities are second-to-none. It’s an incredible opportunity and all of us are so grateful.”

All the North American competitors were thrilled to host the British team and hope to see another at next year’s Nations Cup at Great Meadow International.

Great Meadow 2016: Live Scores | Entry List