A three-rider Swedish team finished fifth, led by the 2012 Olympic silver medalist Sara Algotsson-Ostholt riding Reality 39.
Great Britain, who won the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2015, slipped from fourth after dressage to sixth out of nine teams with refusals at fence 18 for both Gemma Tattersall (Quicklook V) and Dani Evans (Smart Time). Izzy Taylor finished best of the quartet in 14th on Allercombe Ellie with the second fastest cross country time (2.4 penalties).
There were 49 clear rounds from the 71 cross country starters and 59 completions, but the optimum time proved influential around Olympic designer Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) track, which is always technically demanding thanks to its winding route around the ancient forest of Fontainebleau.
The course at the next FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2016 venue, Ballindenisk (IRL), a typically, bold Irish track designed by Peter Fell (IRL), could not be more contrasting, and promises an equally thrilling competition next month (22-24 April).
Results
1 Germany 161.2 penalties
Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam, 40.1; Sandra Auffarth/Opgun Louvo, 45.9; Jorg Kurbel/Brookfield Bouncer, 75.2 (Andreas Ostholt/So Is Et, 78.7)
2 France 167.1
Nicolas Touzaint/Crocket 30, 51.6; Thomas Carlile/Sirocco Du Gers, 51.6; Arnaud Boiteau/Quoriano ‘ENE HN’, 63.9 (Gwendolen Fer/Romantic Love, EL XC)
3 Ireland 197.3
Jonty Evans/Cooley Rorkes Drift, 60.7; Cathal Daniels/Rioghan Rua, 67.1; Austin O’Connor/Kilpatrick Knight, 69.5 (Clare Abbot/Euro Prince, 77.7)
4 Australia 204.6
Bill Levett/Improvise, 55.0; Christopher Burton/Haruzac, 63.4; Andrew Hoy/Cheeky Calimbo, 86.2
5 Sweden, 246.9
Sara Algotsson Ostholt/Reality 39, 66.8; Frida Andersen/Herta, 77.3; Jonna Friman/Lady-Grey, 102.8
6 Great Britain, 286.8
Izzy Taylor/Allercombe Ellie, 63.5; Gemma Tattersall/Quicklook V, 93.3; Dani Evans/Smart Time, 130.0 (Laura Collett/Pamero 4, EL XC)
7 Italy, 317.3
Arianna Schivo/Quefira de L’Ormeau, 73.6; Cielia Casiraghi/Verdi, 109.1; Rebecca Chiappero/Quilando Z, 134.6
8 Netherlands, 1,204.5
Merel Blom/Rumour Has It N.O.P., 90.3; Alice Naber-Lozeman/Harry Belafonte, 114.2;
Elaine Pen/Vira N.O.P, EL XC (Tim Lips/Concrex Bayro N.O.P, WD HI2)
9 Belgium, 2,084
Giel Vanhouche/Figaro de Verby, 70.3; Lara de Liederkerke-Meier/Ducati Van Dem Overdam, EL XC; Julien Despontin/Waldano 36, EL HI2
Full results on www.thecrazyride.fr & http://bit.ly/22GDrTK
Standings (after 1 out of 9 events)
1 Germany 100 points
2 France 90
3 Ireland 80
4 Australia 70
5 Sweden 60
6 Great Britain 55
7 Italy 50
8 Netherlands 45
9 Belgium 40
