Lexington, Ky. – The NetJets® U.S. Show Jumping Team of Alex Granato and Carlchen W, Kelly Soleau-Millar and Cacharel, Jennifer Gates and Pumped Up Kicks, and Ali Wolff and Casall, finished with 17 faults to win the silver medal in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Mexico on Sunday, April 22. They collected 90 points to remain in contention for the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in September behind Canada, who won the gold medal on 16 faults. Mexico earned the bronze with 21 faults.
Granato (Wellington, FL) and Paige Tredennick’s nine-year-old Warmblood gelding got the U.S. off to a strong start in the first round, jumping clear. A four fault round by Soleau-Millar (Wellington, FL) and Cacharel, Bridge Brook Arms and Donna Vanderwoude-Dyment’s 10-year-old KWPN mare, and a five fault round by Wolff (New Albany, OH) and Casall, Blacklick Bend Farm’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, allowed the U.S. to drop Gates (Medina, WA) and Pumped Up Kicks’, Evergate Stables LLC’s 15-year-old Warmblood gelding, 12 fault round. The U.S. Team sat in second place on nine faults after round one, trailing Canada with eight faults.
The pressure was on to close the one-fault gap in round two. Granato and Carlchen W continued with another clear round. With a four fault round from Soleau-Millar and Cacharel and an eight fault round by Gates and Pumped Up Kicks, the U.S. needed Canada’s Jonathan Millar and Daveau to incur at least four faults to remain in contention for gold. However, they jumped clear and Wolff and Casall dropped a rail, keeping the U.S. in silver medal position.
“Our main goal was to keep our qualifying position for the final in Barcelona. We extended our margin by 30 points and gave ourself some breathing room,” said Chef d’Equipe, Robert Ridland . “This was the first 5* event for three of the four riders and the first Nations Cup for a couple. We were close; we obviously always try to win, but it was a good day for a young team.”
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