DRAMMEN, Norway--U.S. team member Alise Oken on Gelvera won the CSIO3* Grand Prix in Drammen and Alessandra Volpi on Haya Loma N finished third on Sunday, June 4.
Alice Oken on Gelera (Photo by Astrid Marie Ardal)This was the U.S. Jumping Team's last CSIO3* European competitions under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski.
The highlight of the tour was winning last week’s European Equestrian Federation Nations Cup at CSIO3* Uggerhalne.
The U.S. Jumping Team of Oken, Volpi, Jacob Pope, and Nikko Ritter had a tough first round in Friday’s EEF Nations Cup in Drammen but an improved second round served as a valuable learning experience.
There were seven in the jump-off in the CSIO3* Grand Prix, including the U.S.’s Oken and Volp.
Volpi of Woodside, Calif., on Haya Loma N had the fastest four-fault jump-off round with a time of 41.42 seconds to finish third.
Oken of Charlotte, N.C., on Gelvera was clean in 44.08 seconds to win.
It was the first time a U.S. rider had won Drammen’s Grand Prix since 2001.
“I HAVE had Gelvera for about four years now. I know her really, really well, and I trust her a lot,” said Oken. “On Friday, I didn’t have the result I wanted in the Nations Cup, so I really felt like I had something to prove today. I feel like she exceeded my expectations and she jumped incredibly. I’m so proud of her and happy with her.”
Alessandra Volpi on Berlina (Photo by Astrid Marie Ardal)“Everybody here cheering each other on, helping in the warm-up ring. It was very, very exciting,” said Kursinski. “Alise’s mare had been a little difficult in the first round of the Nations Cup, so they redeemed themselves and proved that they deserve to be here. Alise rode beautifully and the mare went great. Alex was faster in the jump-off but had a jump down. She really went for it and had the time, but that’s show jumping and that can happen. To end up first and third with just two entries in the class today, it was a wonderful, wonderful ending to this tour.”
Though the U.S. Jumping Team did not have a repeat win in the second Nations Cup of their European tour, they overcame adversity from the first round to deliver improved performances in the EEF Nations Cup Drammen.
Lead-off rider Oken on Gelvera had a stop between fences one and two during the first round to finish the course on 43 faults, then came back in the second round to have a four-fault round.
Jacob Pope of Columbia, Md., on Highway FBH had four faults in the first round and came back to go clear in the second round.
Nikko Ritter of Wellington, Fla., on Aquiles del Caribe Z had faultsin the first round but came back to have only four faults in the second round.
Volpi on Berlinda, the anchor rider, was clean in both rounds.
“I think being on a Nations Cup team abroad in Europe is just an experience they can’t get at home,” said Kursinski. “For our riders to get this whole experience of what it is like traveling, being out of your comfort zone and your own country, and then becoming a real team player and working with a team. It was really a wonderful spirit and cohesiveness with all the riders working together. Even when some of the trainers left, the riders helped set the jumps with the grooms—a total team feeling. I think that kind of energy is extremely important to succeed and for their futures.”
“It was interesting because a couple of the European chefs were so thankful that we would bring a team this far for their riders to see our riders and also good for our riders,” said Kursinski. “We compete so much amongst ourselves, so, for the U.S. riders to have this kind of experience, there is no substitute for it. It is an amazing experience for all of them. It is just a steppingstone for all of their futures.”
