The inaugural Longines League of Nations Final ended the way every championship should—down to the wire.
The defending champions versus the 2021 champions.
Rising star Richard Vogel against former world no. 1 Harrie Smolders.
Twelve-year-old bay stallion versus 12-year-old bay stallion.
Germany and The Netherlands were tied on 12 faults as the final two riders took to the ring at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona. Under the Nations Cup format, there are no drop scores in the second round. Three riders return for each nation. All scores count.
Vogel threw down the gauntlet with a foot-perfect double clear over Santiago Varela’s course, one of only four on the day, to keep Germany on 12.
“I think he was just flying over that second round. It was incredible to see,” said teammate and reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk.
A clear from Smolders would force a jump off. A single time fault would hand Germany the win.
Smolders and Uricas v/d Kattevennen looked every inch the veteran pair they are as they successfully navigated the tricky double of verticals that caught several pairs on the day. Then three fences from home, they clipped the plank at fence nine, putting paid to Dutch hopes.
Meet your first EVER #LonginesLeagueOfNations Champions, Team Germany!
— Longines League of Nations (@LonginesNations) October 6, 2024
In a competition that kept us guessing to the final combination, it was Team Germany who jumped to victory in Barcelona! Glückwunsch!!
Andre Thieme & DSP Chakaria, groom: Heidemarie Jäckel
… pic.twitter.com/KaFXtxEEm2
It’s Germany’s second consecutive victory at the Nations Cup Final and the first ever for the newly minted Longines League of Nations series that saw the world’s top 10 teams battle over four legs of competition for a place at the 2024 Final.
“It’s a dream come true,” said German chef d’equipe Otto Becker.
“It’s always special to win here in Barcelona. We won in Abu Dhabi, the first leg [of the LLN] ever. And now we won their first Final ever. And I’m so totally happy. I was so excited until the end and my team did a great job.”
And just like in 2023’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final, it was the clear round from anchor rider Vogel and United Touch S that cemented the victory. The spectacular stallion jumped clear in four of five rounds at the Ocala, Rotterdam and Barcelona legs during the 2024 LLN series (Jumpr Stats).
“I have a very special horse,” said Vogel. “I think United showed us one more time today how extra and special he is, especially how he jumped in the second round. There’s not a lot of horses that can come back that strong. So I’m very delighted how he jumped today, and I’m happy that I gave him a good enough ride to jump double clear.”
The Netherlands finished second on 16 penalties. Sweden took third on 20. Series standings leader Ireland also finished on 20 but lost a place on the podium to their 3+ second slower time.