Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup: Denmark finish ahead of Italy and Czech Republic in Budapest.

Denmark have ridden to victory in leg number 5 of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 2 in Budapest.
After an intense duel for the precious points up for grabs with the Czech Republic and Italy, the Danes took first place in the Hungarian capital.
The Danish team, led by Lars Pedersen, collected 4 penalties fewer than the Azzurri and Martin Ohnheiser’s Czech Republic to claim the win, while the latter two nations shared second place with 16 penalties each out on the course designed by Germany’s Werner Deeg.
Denmark’s team was made up as follows: Soren Pedersen with Tailormade Chaloubet, Rikke Haastrup with Qualico du Bobois (the best performer in the team with a double clear), Thomas Sandgaards with Amarone and Andreas Schou with Allstar.
Italy will be pleased with their podium finish considering it was an experimental line-up that took to the course in Hungary. Led by coach Paolo Adamo Zuvadelli, the Italian quartet that finished behind the Danes was as follows: Massimo Grossato with Undorado Z, Luca Marziani with Saxo Des Hayettes, Massimiliano Ferrario with Loro Piana Rigoletto della Florida (Italy’s best performer) and Giovanni Lucchetti with Bella Strade.
Focusing on the winners, Denmark’s coach Lars Pedersen expressed his satisfaction following the victory with a new line-up and in fact it was the first time that Pedersen, Haastrup, Sandgaards and Schou competed together. A special mention to Rikke Haastrup, scoring her first ever double clear in a Nations Cup leg. The result was achieved with her 11 year-old stallion Qualico du Bobois, paired to the Danish horsewoman for the past 4 years.
RESULTS:
1st Denmark – 12 penalties.
2nd Czech Republic – 16 penalties. 
2nd ITALY – 16 penalties.
4th Austria – 18 penalties.
5th Hungary – 20 penalties.
5th Turkey – 20 penalties.
7th Portugal – 21 penalties.
8th Norway – eliminated.
9th Russia – 12 penalties in round 1.
9th Slovakia – 12 penalties in round 1.
11th Greece – 20 penalties in round 1.
12th Bulgaria – 22 penalties in round 1.
13th Poland – 23 penalties.
See here for a full breakdown of the results: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/1048/docs/NCFinalResult.pdf
Also in Budapest yesterday and on the same course, there was a victory for Italy’s Davide Kainich in the time trial over 1.50m in the Big Tour with his mount Loro Piana Tamarix FM. Austria’s Max Kuhner with Clooney 35 took second place and Germany’s Andreas Brenner with Trebox Acorada came third. Paolo Adamo Zuvadelli finished a respectable 7th place with Da Vita Z. See here for more: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/1048/sta_erg/03_ergENG.htm?style=longines
Paolo Paini and Clodia CSG meanwhile claimed a podium finish in the Medium Tour over 1.40m in two phases, finishing in third place and behind second ranked Aggelos Touloupis with Coco Chanell 15 and the winner Antonio Matos Almeida with Tidelio Des Nauves.
www.csiobudapest.hu
Pic Tomas Holcbecher/holcbecher.com