Julia Krajewski and Team GB Top Nations Cup at Waregem

 

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Sam on his way WINNING the CICO3* at @eventingwaregem today🤩 it was a very soggy day but we were first out to go and he flew round with the fastest time of the day, also helping the German team to 3rd in the Nations Cup 🥉🏇💨#supersam #welliesrequired #whatrain #fedontopspec 📸 thanks to @eventingphoto _______________ @topspec_horse_feeds @samshield_ger_aut @neue_schule_bits @usg_germany @geke_equigrip @g.passier #tisoware

A post shared by Julia Krajewski (@julia_krajewski) on Sep 23, 2018 at 11:38am PDT

Julia Krajewski bounced back following a disappointing result at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games to win the FEI Nations Cup at Waregem CICO3* in Belgium with Samourai du Thot on a final score of 29.4.

Julia and “Sam,” a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Milor Landais x Melitos du Thot, by Flipper d’Elle), sat in second after the first two phases and delivered the fastest cross country round in torrential rain to take the win.

With Germany drawn first in the order and Julia and Sam serving as pathfinders for the team, they had the very best of the footing on Tom Ryckewaert’s cross country course and stormed home with 4.8 time penalties.

With rain pouring down and conditions deteriorating on cross country, Waregem quickly became a tough mudder. Overnight leaders Michael Jung and Lennox 364 added 28.0 time penalties to drop to 21st place on 51.8. Frank Ostholt and Jum Jum added 8.4 time penalties to move up from 22nd to finish second on 40.0..

While only 13 of the 101 starters in the Nations Cup withdrew before cross country due to the heavy rainfall at Waregem, 44 combinations withdrew from the CIC2*.

Waregem posted a statement on Facebook addressing the weather: “A grateful thank you to all riders that competed under the difficult weather conditions at the cross country in Waregem. A big thank you to all officials, volunteers and especially the fence judges who were working under heavy rain.”

Germany topped the Nations Cup leaderboard at Waregem through the first two phases, but with their team racking up time penalties on cross country, the door opened for Great Britain to take the win on a final team score of 130.4.

France has been on fire this season with four wins in the Nations Cup, but settled for second place in Waregem with a final team score of 136.4. Germany finished third on 148.1.

With one leg to go in the 2018 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series, France still tops the overall standings with 490 points, followed closely by Great Britain with 480 points — well out in front of the other countries.

The stage is set for a thrilling finale in the Nations Cup final at Boekelo in the Netherlands next month as France and Great Britain battle for the 2018 series title.

Waregem Links: Website, Final Results, Team Results, Nations Cup Standings