THE FEI, Spanish National Federation and the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona took the decision this week to cancel the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final, which was to be held from October 2nd in the Spanish city, due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

The news, which was not totally unexpected, came as a further blow to teams and riders who are eager to get their Olympic hopeful horses back to five-star and championship level this season.

Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region, which has struggled with a large number of coronavirus cases and entered its second lockdown in late July.

Irish chef d’equipe Michael Blake reacted to the news, saying: “It is very unfortunate to lose such an important fixture but given the way the world is at the moment, it is to be expected. The safety of everyone is of paramount importance going forward. We appreciate it is difficult for riders to make a definite plan as things are changing by the minute. I am in constant contact with our riders and we are looking forward to making the best plan going forward as new information and timeframes emerge.”

Team rider and Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor, who has been based at his Karlswood Stables in Co Meath and jumping on the national circuit since returning from Florida in March, was aiming his Olympic hopeful horse, PSG Final, at the final in Barcelona.

Speaking to The Irish Field, he said: “I think we were all living in hope that the Nations Cup Final would go ahead but with high numbers of Covid-19 cases still currently in Catalonia combined with other commercial factors, I believe the decision to cancel was taken. It’s a big blow to the industry and the international show jumping calendar as Barcelona remained the only dim beacon of hope that we had for a real major championship type event for 2020.

“We are now also realising that coming out of lockdown didn’t mean the virus had vanished but the onus is on each of us to act responsibly in a way that we all play our part to control the spread. Please God the vaccine will be readily available [soon] and will work.

“Personally I’ve studied the international calendar for the coming months and have chosen events to do Fontainebleau and Vejer, both huge outdoor venues with loads of space where we can safely keep to ourselves but at the same time get back out there, develop our horses and be open for business.”

FEI President Ingmar De Vos said: “We have looked at every scenario, including potentially running the final behind closed doors without spectators, but the combination of the situation in Catalonia and the ongoing international travel restrictions has meant that we have unfortunately been forced to jointly agree that regrettably this year’s final cannot go ahead in Barcelona, the risks are simply too great.”

The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) announced in April that, due to the global pandemic, the launch of the Longines EEF Series had been postponed to 2021. As a result, there will be no promotion and relegation this year, meaning that Division 1 will start with the same 10 teams for the 2021 season: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.

Back in action

Team Ireland will however get back to Nations Cup action, all going well, in two weeks’ time at the three-star show in Prague, Czech Republic, followed by another CSIO3* at Drammen on August 27th. Horse Sport Ireland is expected to announce teams in the coming days.

The international calendar has been starved of five-star competition since the Covid-19 lockdown hit in March with just one five-star event taking place in St Tropez, France. That same venue will host the next top-level event from August 26th to 30th, and there is a five-star scheduled for Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, on September 10th, before St Tropez hosts two more in September.

The FEI calendar currently lists just 10 five-star shows from October to December, the majority of which are FEI World Cup qualifiers in Europe. The sole American five-star is set to take place at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina in mid-October.

Commenting on the depleted international calendar, Marion Hughes, who spends her time between her home base in Kilkenny and at shows in Europe, said it is becoming increasingly difficult to move around due to surges in different countries. “We are lucky to have the few shows left on the calendar, as the horses are getting some education at the two and three star events.

“The whole year has been a disaster and it’s hard to keep young riders motivated. In Europe now, I have heard that it’s increasingly hard to cross borders, due to surges of Covid-19.”

Although not welcoming overseas riders, Kilguilkey International will get the Irish international eventing scene back on track next weekend in Mallow, Co Cork. See a preview for the event on page 93. Also in Co Cork, Ballindenisk will host two internationals within a month, the first starting on August 29th.