Flying Flags in Falsterbo

The Longines FEI Nations Cup series continues the European circuit and lands in Falsterbo, Sweden this weekend. Who are the past heroes of this prestigious event, and can they deliver once more?

Three three-time winners

Since 2010, three nations have managed to claim victory in the Nations Cup of Sweden on three different occasions. 

The home nation Sweden won with plenty of margin back in 2010 and 2012, but then suffered a seven-year wait before they were able to reclaim their crown. The Swedes lined up a strong team in 2019 and thanks to double clear rounds from Peder Fredricson on H&M All In and Malin Baryard-Johnsson on H&M Indiana found themselves on the top of the podium once more.

Team NL have also shown strong form here in Falsterbo in recent year. The Dutch team won the team competition here in 2015 and then claimed consecutive victories in 2017 and 2018.

Germany had been a strong contender for the Nations Cup of Sweden in the past topping the podium in 2011, 2013 and 2014. However, they have not put forward a team since 2017 and unlike Sweden and the Netherlands will not be coming forward this year either.

Three deciding jump-offs

Since 2010, three of the Nations Cups of Sweden have had to be decided by a jump-off.

In 2012, the Swedish, British and French team all completed two rounds of jumping with a total of 12 penalties and had bring forward one rider each to contest a jump-off. France’s Jerome Hurel knocked one rail on Ohm de Ponthual which would see France finish third. William Funnel and Billy Angelo produced a jump-off clear for Great Britain, but their time was beat by over 3 seconds by Sweden’s Jesn’s Fredricson and Lunatic.
The winners of the 2017 and 2018 Nations Cups of Sweden were also determined by a jump-off, both ruled in favour of the Netherlands. In 2017, it was Jur Vrieling and VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnest who took the win out of German and Irish hands. The following year, four nations finished on four penalties and went though to a deciding jump-off. Johnny Pals and Chat Botte E.D. kept the win in Dutch hands beating Ireland once again, but also the home nation Sweden, as well as Italy.

Turning things around in Round 2

Since 2010, seven of the winning teams of the Nations Cup of Sweden had already been leading or joint leading the competition after the first round.

The biggest change from the first round we have seen in the Nations Cup of Sweden since 2010 happened in 2014. Both the Netherlands and Sweden completed the first round with a clean slate and went into round two as joint leaders. Spain and the USA followed them closely as they completed the first round on a total of 1 penalty. With two penalties, Germany therefore entered the second round as the fifth ranked team. Despite this, the team came through to deliver a fantastic second round to ultimately take the win.