A strong Mexican team just edged out the team from the United States to win the Nations Cup in Coapexpan, Mexico on May 5 by one fault.
Coapexpan
was the second of three Nations Cups in North America from which only two nations can qualify to compete in the final in Barcelona, Spain in the fall.While the U.S., still leads in the series, it makes the final Nations Cup in Langley, Canada on Friday, June 2 a make-or-break competition for the U.S.
Both Canada and Mexico are sending strong teams, and Canada, having missed qualifying for Barcelona for the past two years, will be determined to win on their home turf to qualify for this year’s final.
If Canada wins, the U.S. has to finish second to qualify ahead of Mexico.
After two Nations Cups, the U.S. has 180 points, Mexico has 170, Canada has 160 and El Salvador has 55.
In Mexico, Alison Robitaille of Wellington, Fla., on Ace anchored the U.S. team and was one of only three riders to have a clean round.
Peter Lutz of North Salem, N.Y., on Robin de Ponthual had four faults in the first round but was the drop score of 12 in the second.
Quentin Judge of Ridgefield, Conn., on HH Conrad had 1 and 4, Adrienne Sternlicht of Greenwich, Conn., had 4 and 4, and Robitaille had 8 to be the drop score in the first round and then produced a clean round in the second for a total two round score of 17.
For Mexico, Antonio Maurer on Galileo de Laubry, Patricio Pasqual on Babel, Federico Fernandez on Landpeter Do Feroleto and Antonio Chedraui on Ninloubet had 16 faults without Chedraui even having to go in the second round to win.
This is a special place for Chedraui as his father created the Coapexpan Equestrian Club in Xalapa in 1996 and Antonio has served as President there.
The 51-year-old Beijing Olympian also produced one of the three clear rounds over the course designed by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge.
“THIS WAS a young team,” said chef d’equipe Robert Ridland. “They finished only one point behind Mexico.”
“We’ve had three Nations Cups (two Barcelona qualifiers, at HITS in Ocala, Fla., and Mexico, and one at the Winter Equestrian Festival),” said Ridland. “We’ve been second in each, and we’ve had 12 different riders. It’s important to spread the opportunities around.”
“Adrienne rides with McLain Ward, and McLain flew down to Mexico and supported the team,” said Ridland. “This was Adrienne’s first time on a Nations Cup team. The first time is always a new experience. She had a good day. Not a great day, but a good day.”
“Alison is in a bit of a comeback,” said Ridland. “She had four clean rounds. She had a great week. All four of our riders were in the money in the Grand Prix.”
In the 90s, Robitaille was the alternate for the Olympics, was named the Female Equestrian of the Year in 1997 and rode on the Pan American gold medal team in 1999, but since then she married and had two children before resuming her competitive career show jumping.
“The event in Mexico was a very, very good event,” said Ridland. “The weather was superb.”
“There will be more than three teams in Canada,” said Ridland. “It’s my understanding that there will be five teams. If any of those come between Canada, Mexico and us it could change things.”
Qualifying teams get points for the actual place they finish overall among all competitors in a Nations Cup.
Points are awarded 100 for first, 90 for second, 80 for third, 70 for fourth and 60 for fifth.
The team for Canada is Margie Engle, Sternlicht, Katherine Tyree and Heather Caristo Williams.
“If we do what we’ve done in the other three Nations Cups, finish second, or if we win it, we’re there,” said Ridland. “Canada knows what they have to do, and they’re sending a strong team. Mexico will have three of the four riders that were on the Coapexpan team.”
“This is definitely a competitive league,” said Ridland. “Mexico has made it to the Finals the last two years.”
“It’s going to be a battle down to the finish,” said Ridland. “Our destiny is in our hands.”