Americans in Aachen, Day 1: Mclain Ward Victorious, Beezie and Laura Top Ten

The Americans made their mark in Germany on the eve of the FEI Nations Cup event Wednesday, cleaning up in the early Grand Prix classes.

Mclain Ward won the final class of the day, The Landrat Hermann-Josef Pütz Memorial Grand Prix aboard HH Carlos Z. Mclain was one of 21 pairs that went clear in the first round, but in the jump-off no one could come close to Mclain and Carlos in speed. The pair stopped the clock at 27.7, almost two full seconds in front of their closest competitor.

Laura Kraut and Confu and Beezie Madden with Breitling Ls were also in the money, taking 5th and 6th place respectively with clear rounds and jump-off times just over 30 seconds.

In the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe Grand Prix, the Americans were once again in successful, landing 4 of the 5 team members in the top twenty out of a deep class of more than 60 riders. Laura Kraut and Cavalia took 9th as the fastest of the four-faulters, once again followed by Beezie and Quister in 10th. Kent Farrington and Uceko and Mclain and HH Azur took 16th and 19th respectively.

Our friends to the North brought it home for the New World, however, as Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 topped the Turkish Airlines Grand Prix with a clear round and blazing jump-off time, and pocketed more than 15,000 euros in the process.PC: CHIO Aachen/Andreas Steindl

Thursday Schedule

With the exception of the German-only U25 class first thing in the morning, there will be American pairs competing all day in the jumping classes at Aachen Thursday. Beezie and Laura both have horses in the Youngsters Cup, and Beezie, Lucy, and Laura will all be competing in the Stawag Grand Prix just prior to the Nations Cup. You can see times for all the classes below (all times listed are US Eastern Standard Time)

Keep an eye out for our Day 2 Nations Cup Report, and Go Jumping!