Neal tips Nation’s Cup

By Staff Report June 26, 2011

Nineteen-year-old Los Angeles rider Ricky Neal jumped to victory at the CSIOY Hagen Grand Prix in Germany. Neal was one of five U.S. young riders that participated in a four-city Nation’s Cup tour of Europe this summer. Riding as a team, the U.S. teens showed stellar form, winning in Austria on June 11, taking second in Belgium and France and notching third in Germany.

In addition to Neal, team USA consisted of Catherine Pasmore, Karen Polle, Reed Kessler and Jessica Springsteen.

Neal’s individual win closed things on a high note on June 19, the last day of the tour, sponsored by the United States Equestrian Federation. One of eight riders to make the jump-off, he flew to victory over the course with a time of 44.62 on his 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Transmission. He was more than a second faster than the Netherlands’ Stephanie van den Brink and Wrapper. Germany’s Andreas Kreuzer on Kanazia came in third.

Pasmore jumped a clear first round, and then had one rail in the second. Polle picked up 12 faults in each leg. Kessler had four faults in round one and bounced back with a clear round in the second and Springsteen added eight in each leg.

In team competition, the Netherlands won on an impressive score of four in the June 18 Nation’s Cup contest in Hagen. Great Britain finished close behind on eight.

Overall, the U.S. kids had great summer. Individual highlights included Kessler and Springsteen’s one-two punch at the grand prix in Austria June 12. Kessler rode Ligist to the blue and delivered the only clear round during the jump-off. Springsteen and Cincinnati La Silla finished second over the 1.45m course, which drew a field of 32 riders. Pasmore and Polle scored ninth and tenth, respectively.

The prior week proved even more decisive, with the U.S. taking the top three slots in the SCIO Young Rider Prix Conseil General de la Marne in Reims, France. Pasmore delivered a convincing win on My Boy. Polle rode to second on With Wings, and Springsteen third on Cincinatti La Silla.

Things got off to an auspicious start Thursday, May 19 in Bondheiden, Belgium the first city in the tour. There were 75 starters in the young rider feature class, with Kessler riding to victory on Onisha, just ahead of Pasmore who was second on Van David. Springsteen placed fifth on Vornado Van Den Hoendrik.

“The class didn’t start until 7 p.m.,” Pasmore wrote on her blog. “By the time 20 came back for the jump off, we were jumping in the dark with no lights in the ring! We practically needed night vision goggles!” Polle won two classes the following day, riding With Wings and Whatever.

Pasmore said a highlight of the trip was “getting our USA gear. We all got really nice polo shorts, baseball hats, and the USA rain coat that all the big tour riders get!” After this summer’s performance, there can be no doubt but that the big time is exactly where these five are headed!

Also participating in the tour were Meg O’Mara and Victoria Birdsall, riding as juniors.

Katie Prudent and Michele Grubb served as chefs d’equipe.

http://www.catherineusa2011.blogspot.com/

 

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