Barcelona, Decided by the Clock
Jessica Mendoza's mare stole Friday, Germany edged Brazil on Sunday, and the stopwatch had the final say both times.
Barcelona gave us two finishes decided by the clock. On Friday night, Jessica Mendoza & In the Air won the Grand Prix of the City of Barcelona by 0.12 seconds. On Sunday, Germany and Brazil both finished the Longines League of Nations Final on four faults, and Germany had the quicker legs.
One man was in the thick of both. Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom finished second on Friday and second again on Sunday. Close, then close again.
Friday night: five clean, one winner
Thirty-seven started the Grand Prix over the 1.60m track. Five came back without a fault across both rounds, and the top five were split by 1.20 seconds.
| Rk | Horse / Rider | R2 time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In the Air Jessica Mendoza (GBR) |
46.94 |
| 2 | Major Tom Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) |
47.06 |
| 3 | Kentucky TN Cian O’Connor (IRL) |
47.73 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Heights Denis Lynch (IRL) |
48.00 |
| 5 | Gin Tonic van het Gerendal Z Armando Trapote (ESP) |
48.14 |
Speed alone did not win it. Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo posted the fastest second round of the night in 45.68, but a rail left them seventh. Ireland got two in the top four, and the home crowd got Trapote in fifth.
In the Air: the numbers behind the winner
The 13-year-old KWPN mare had only gone clear in two of her last 15 rounds, a 13% clear rate on courses where the field averaged 21%.
Her Elo of 662 sits below her career high of 729. Barcelona asked for two clears in one night. In the Air gave Mendoza both, then beat Pessoa by a stride.
Sunday: Germany win it on the clock
Germany were the only team to finish round one on a zero. Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42 jumped a double clear, so did Jörne Sprehe and Toys, and that left room for Richard Vogel’s four faults with Cloudio in round two. Brazil matched Germany on four, but the Germans came out on top after the jump-off.
| Rk | Team | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Brazil | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Belgium | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | USA | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 5 | Italy | 16 | 0 | 16 |
Nine combinations went double clear in the Final. An exciting pair for the home nation was Julio Arias Cueva with Filou du Manoir, who jumped double clear for Spain on home ground. Italy had the turnaround of the day, going from 16 faults in round one to a score of zero as a team in round two.
Two seconds for Pessoa. Two horses, four clean rounds for O’Connor.
Mendoza took the Grand Prix, Germany took the Final, and Pessoa took second place home twice. Which Barcelona finish had you on the edge of your seat?