Dutch first in FEI Nations Cup jumping final first qualifier

Maikel Van der Vleuten

Barcelona, Oct 10 (IANS) World champions Netherlands have come out on top at the first qualifier of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final, in the inaugural competition day at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona Friday.

The Dutch team, made up of Jeroem Dubbldam (Zenith Sfn), Maikel Van der Vleuten (Vdl Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P.), Jur Vrieling (Vdl Bubalu) and Gerco Schroder (Glock's London N.O.P.), have gone straight to the final of the most important competition in the international equestrian calendar hosted by the club from Barcelona until Sunday, reports Xinhua.

Together with the Dutch team, also the national teams of Sweden, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Brazil and Britain qualified for Saturday's final.

The Spanish team was close to being included in the eight finalists but a final pole drop of Sergio Alvarez Moya relegated the team to the Challenge Cup, together with France, Australia, Qatar, the US and Venezuela. The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final is the globe's top international team jumping event, and 14 countries are fielding teams to fight for the Furusiyya title and more than two million euros in prize money.

The 14 teams competing are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, the US and Venezuela.