BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Belgium won their second Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup title in four years on the tense and thrilling final afternoon at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona on Sunday.
With all eight nations that qualified from Friday night's first round starting again on a zero scoreline, and just one more round of jumping to decide the new champions, it was a roller-coaster ride over a big, challenging track set by Spanish course designer Santiago Varela.
The Belgians had mixed fortunes, Niels Bruynseels kicking off with a superb clear from Gancia de Muze but both Pieter Devos (Claire Z) and Jos Verlooy (Caracas) each leaving three fences on the floor.
Belgium's last rider Nicola Philippaerts kept a cool head to bring H&M Harley v. Bisschop home with a foot-perfect run that would prove plenty good enough to clinch it.
"We call ourselves the 'Never Give Up Team' because in the middle we had two with 12 faults already but still we were fighting to the last rider, so this victory means a lot to us," said Peter Weinberg, Belgium's team manager.
Italians should have won the title with a clear run from their anchor rider and last man into the ring, Lorenzo de Luca (Ensor de Litrange). But the star man knocked down the final two rails.
Four teams finished the Nations Cup on 16 faults, leaving France in second place, Ireland in third, Italy in fourth, and defending team champions the Netherlands in fifth when the combined times were put into consideration.
Other top eight nations competing were Sweden, who finished on 20 points for sixth place, followed by Austria in seventh on 20 points and Switzerland on 32 for eighth.
Only four riders produced clear rounds including Belgium's Bruynseels and Philippaerts.
This was Belgium's second time to claim the Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping title in Barcelona, their last in 2015.
Weinberg said, "It was an interesting day, first ups and then in between downs, but in the end we won anyway so it was really great sport."
