ABU DHABI, UAE--A young,, inexperienced team of four girls finished eighth in the first League of Nations Nations Cup competition in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 13.

French team Their eighth place finish won 50 points for the U.S. as it begins its campaign to be one of the eight teams that qualify for the final in Barcelona.

Ireland and France were on zero faults after round one with Great Britain and UAE  next on four faults.

Sarah Seal on Boreale de Fondcombe and Natalie Dean on Pedro van de Barlebuis were both clean in round one, while Skylar Wireman on Tornado had eight faults and Callie Schott on Uricas v/d Kettevennen was eliminated to finish round one on eight faults , one of four teams with eight faults.

That left the U.S.in a good spot going into round two, in which only three riders for each team competed, so no drop score.

That's when trouble struck for the U.S.

First go go in round two for the U.S., Wireman turned to fence three but met it slightly off stride, and despite Tornado's effort to jump, he ended up stopping into the fence, tossing rails all over and half pulling his bridle off.

 

WIREMAN, only 21 and in her very first international competition, struggled valiantly for about five minutes to get the bridle back on while Tornado stood patiently waiting.

But Tornado was wearing a hood with ear muffs, and the browband had gone up over the ear muffs, and Wireman couldn't get it entirely fixed.

Despite that, she attempted the fence again, but a second stop eliminated Wireman and eliminated the team.

France ended up the winner in Abu Dhabi, finishing on eight faults, with Germany second on 12 faults, and Brazil, also on 12, placed third with a slower time.

Course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany set a demanding test of 12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts, with a time allowed of 73 seconds. 

The French team of Olivier Perreau on GL.clean in both rounds, Nicolas Sers on Eleven de Riverland, clean and four faults, and Simon Delestre on Golden Boy DK, clean and four faults, finished on eight faults to win, while Ireland had 20 faults in round two to finish sixth.

Germany, one of the four teams with eight faults in round one, added clean rounds from Daniel Deusser and Marco Kutcher and four faults from Sophie Hinners in round two to finish with 12 faults and climb into second place.

Brazil, also with eight faults in round one, added clean rounds from Joao Victor Castro Agular Gomes de Lima and Luciana Diniz and four faults from Pedro Junqueira Muylaert to also finish on 12 faults  but in a slower time for third.

Switzerland was fourth with 16 faults, UAE fifth on 20 faults, Ireland sixth and Great Britain seventh with 20 faults. 

Belgium, Italy and Netherlands were eliminated in round one.

“To be here, it’s such a good show and a good facility. I have a very professional team, so I am very happy today," said French Chef d’Equipe Edouard Coupérie. "Thanks to Olivier (Perreau), who was double clear. One of only four for the competition.”

The Longines League of Nations series continues next in Ocala next month, followed by the remaining qualifying legs in Rotterdam, Netherlands in June and Gassin-St Tropez, France in September.

At the conclusion of the four qualifying rounds, the top eight teams qualify for the Final in Barcelona in October.