The second leg of the Riders Masters Cup, hosted by the Longines Masters Tour, will be held on April 28th in New York City and the American team is out for revenge. This transatlantic battle pits two of the biggest equestrian powers against one another in a European versus American showdown. After the Europeans took the win on their home turf in December of 2017, the American team is ready to use its home field advantage and strike back in a two-round duel.
According to the Riders Masters Cup website, the format of competition is as follows:
“The Riders Masters Cup will pit five American riders against five European riders in ten duels of a two-round class.
The first round is played as table A of a Grand Prix course. The starting order and the composition of the duels are drawn at random. Each duel won in this round brings one point to the winning team.
The second round is against the clock where the strategy and choices of team leaders are paramount. During this round, riders are allowed to switch from a Grand Prix horse to a horse that may be more prepared for speed. The coach of the losing team in the first round designates his first rider to go and the winning team has the advantage of choosing his first direct opponent. It then switches for the next round. Each duel that is won accumulates two points for the winning team.”
Hoping to guide the American team to victory as Team Captain is former Olympian, Robert Ridland. The long list for the American team combines years of experience with up-and-coming names to equal a force to be reckoned with.
The European team is not short on leadership with Philippe Guerdat at the helm as Team Captain. Phillippe has years of coaching at the international level under his belt and intends on seeing the European team through to victory. Europe also have released their long list of riders slated for competition in New York later this month and they are bound to bring the heat to American soil.
Jumper Nation will have all of the news you need and more regarding the excitement to come on April 28th. For more information about the Riders Masters Cup, you can check out their website HERE.
Go Jumping!