The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team secured a three-way tie for third place with Brazil and Great Britain in the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final Challenge Cup, finishing on a team score of 12 under the lights at Real Club de Polo de Barcelona in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland guided the team, which saw Eve Jobs, Laura Kraut, Chloe Reid and Richard Spooner contest the technical track designed by Santiago Varela of Spain.
The competition order was determined by each team’s placing in Thursday’s qualifier class and ran in reverse standing, with the NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team set at sixth in the rotation. Chloe Reid (Wellington, Fla.) and Luis P, a 10-year-old Deutches Sportpferd gelding owned by Live Oak Plantation, led off for the evening and tallied eight faults. Eve Jobs (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) and her mount, Venue D’Fees Des Hazalles, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Jobs, continued the pair’s strong string of performances, securing the only fault-free effort for the team in a near flawless round.
Eve Jobs and Venue D’Fees Des Hazalles. Libby Law Photography
“This was the perfect ending to a great year so far. I couldn’t have asked for more from Venue, especially at Nations Cup Final. We’ve really had an extraordinary year and I owe it all to her and to my team,” said Jobs. “I only did my first senior Nations Cup competition this year and we’ve really grown from there. We jumped a lot throughout the summer, culminating with the Pan American Games and here. It has really given me confidence and every time I go into the ring she’s right there with me.”
Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Fleurette, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by St. Brides Farm, collected four faults, while Richard Spooner (Agua Dulce, Calif.) and Quirado RC, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Show Jumping Syndication International, rode as the anchor pair for the team and finished the class on eight faults.
Laura Kraut and Fleurette. Libby Law Photography
“Eve had a really solid week. Tonight was a great round and it’s been a really great year for her with the Pan American Games. She performed tonight here under pressure and that’s what you look for when you bring young talent to these kind of events,” commented Ridland. “Chloe and Richard were called up late and it went well. We came close tonight, down to the last rider, and all of the horses improved throughout the week. We had some young riders, younger horses and under the lights was a nice test for them too, so overall it was a positive night.”
The decision was made to substitute McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm and McLain Ward, after a minor injury prevented them from jumping in the evening’s competition.