CSIO5* Lummen: FEI Nations Cup begins tomorrow

Lummen will play host to the first stage of the CSIO5* Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup for the European Division 1 from tomorrow. However, before that there were also CSI1*, 2* and CSIYH1* trials taking place yesterday ahead of the main event.
Today meanwhile, some of the protagonists of tomorrow’s FEI Nations Cup will be in action. This year’s edition has a new format and 95 broadcasters have been added to the list, an increase of 30% from last year.
The holder of the title is the French Team who arrive with a strong line-up as follows: Penelope Leprevost, Timothèe Anciaume, Aymeric de Ponnat, Anne Sophie Godart and Jerome Hurel. 4 of these riders will represent their nation tomorrow at 16.00 against the other 7 teams.
The Irish team has fielded a respectable side with the 2002 World Champion Dermott Lennon, expert rider Billy Twomey along with the 19 year-old Bertram Allen who cannot be underestimated. This youngster, who is the understudy of Twomey, has already won a series of 3* international GPs in addition to being the current World Champion with the 6 year-old  Barnike at Lanaken. Voted talent of the year for 2013, he’s one to watch. The rest of the team is made up of Mark McAuley and Thomas Ryan.
Holland will field some new faces with Anne-Liza Makkinga, Johnny Pals alongside the more recognisable Robert Vos, Bart Bles and Jur Vrieling. For Team Great Britain meanwhile, cousins Robert and William Whitaker will be competing alongside William Funnell, Guy Williams and Roe Spencer.
All the action can be followed on the FEI Video Channel while the highlights will be shown on Eurosport.
source: www.jumpinglummen.be