Finland secured its Nations Cup final place after the Bucharest show. The Finnish federation’s nomination committee with Aki Ylänne, Tom Gordin and Lars Parmler thereafter nominated Maiju Mallat, Noora Forstén, Sebastian Numminen and Mikael Forsten as team riders, within the “definitive entries” deadline, some 2 weeks out from Barcelona.

Monday: read our report from Barcelona

At the end of each year, the 9th and 10th placed nations of the FEI Nations Cup Super-league are relegated down to the promotional league, whereas the two best placed teams of the promotional league move up to the FEI Nations Cup Super-league for the coming season. Finland is among the six best teams in the European league and will now contend for a place among the two best teams in the Barcelona final.

Invited to participate in the final are the six best teams on point standings in the European Promotional League plus the best team on point standings from each of the other Regional Leagues in the Promotional League. Qualified teams participating at the final start with zero points.

Stal Forstén-Pentti is making up a big part of the Finnish team, with Noora, Mikael and Maiju all three jumping in the team. Noora’s horses are Evli Maike, Quinault and Campari, Mikael’s horses are Isaac du Jonquet, Evli Nandele and Vasco, and Maiju are jumping Casandra Z and St Germain.

Report

Barcelona report
The goal in Barcelona was to achieve a top result – a win or a second place – from the Nations Cup. The NC final was the sole goal for all tree of Stal Forstén-Pentti’s riders, meaning horses and classes were matched with this priority, and leaving out big classes on the other days for the NC-horses.

Thursday

On Thursday Evli Maike, Isaac du Jonquet and St Germain all jumped the “small” 1m40 class as warm-up round. All horses seemed relaxed and happy at that stage, despite the long journey. In the 1m45 class we saw Casandra Z, Quinault and Evli Nandele – the last achieving a great 6th place in the command of Mikael. I the eve’s GP-qualifier we had only Mikael, jumping with the fairly unfamiliar Vasco. Mikael is quickly getting a hang of the very sensitive gelding and trust seems to build up between the two. Mikael qualified into the GP on Friday by jumping an unhurried clean round.

Friday

On Friday Noora and Campari jumped a fabulous round (and placing) in 1m40 against the clock, prompting Finland’s chef d'equipen Lars Parmler to consider it as one of the NC-horses. Noora and Mikael decided to leave the call Lars, making the decision as he sees fit. The horses and team’s starting order had to be nominated by 1600 on Saturday.
In the same class we saw also Casandra Z jumping, having one rail down. In 1m45 Noora jumped with Evli Maike and the ever so experienced mare seemed now surprisingly spooky and overly cautious, beyond being careful, which was odd, as the mare jumped so well and relaxed the day before. It was decided to have Maike jump an additional small class on Saturday to get one relaxed round before the Nations Cup. In 1m45 the other contender was Maiju with Casandra Z, having one rail down after a very decent round.

In the eve Mikael jumped the Grand Prix with Vasco. It was the first ever class with evening lights and things went really quite well. Two small hind-leg mistakes, typical for an inexperienced horse on this level, were the only beauty spots on an otherwise really good round. Vasco might become an excellent partner for Mikael on the forthcoming indoor season.

Saturday

On Saturday the first effort was Noora with Maike in 1m40. Noora changed a softer bit to the mare, as Noora thought this could be one reason for the spookiness. With the softer bit all went well and the result was a nice clear round.
The 1m45 winning round was a fairly big-sized and technical course. Noora’s Campari did again a nice round, with two small mistakes such that the rider thought to be at blame for them. Maiju and Casandra Z did also a good jump, with an unfortunate rail down leaving them outside the winning round. Mikael and Evli Nandele did nothing wrong and jumped with ease to the winning round, where horse and rider did an excellent very fast attempt, finishing eventually on 3rd place. Mikael was very happy with Nandele and how the mare now felt.

After the winning round class chef d'equip Lars Parmler told that he had decided on Campari instead of Evli Maike for the Nations Cup. The starting order was common decision and first would go Maiju / St Germain, then Noora / Campari, then Sebastian / Calandro and as anchor Mikael and Isaac. The team got number 3 in the lottery for starting order.

In Saturday-eve’s big 1m55 Queen’s Cup (40.000€) Noora started with Quinault and Mikael with Vasco. Noora being already second rider to go, there was little time and opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the course. The result was an excellent clear round on a course that eventually only 9 riders was able to clear without faults. Noora told Quino seemed to be in great form and jumped the tough course excellently. The stallion uses more time in the jumps than the fastest horses and looses on this point always in the jump-offs, however short turns are done. Noora was still 5th in the jump-off with a clear round, prompting great satisfaction throughout the team. Mikael and Vasco had one unfortunate rail down in the same class.

The Saturday eve was finished with a football eve at the stadium close by, with all of the Finnish team present. It was game between FC Barcelona and Athletico de Madrid. It was a real experience the feel the roam of 79.500 people cheering, as the home team won 5-2. Then it was time for a good sleep back at the hotel.

Sunday

On Sunday the only scheduled class was the Nations Cup, as all of the horses had already jumped plenty of great results in several classes. Unfortunately especially Campari and Isaac du Jonquet seemed all but fresh during the morning riding. The hot weather didn’t help, as especially Noora felt they underperformed with their 20 faults in round one. Noora told the stallion simply felt weary and empty, resulting in over-riding, leading to front leg mistakes at front rails, especially at combinations. It was almost as unfortunate that all three other members also had 8 faults from the rather long and technical course.

There was a still hope to do ok, by lasting also the second round and everyone tried their very best also there. Maiju and St Germain had 2 very unfortunate rails down on 11b and 12 on the last line, doing an equally good and decent effort – and taking down with a very light rub both the same rails as Maiju. It was still a relief for Noora that Campari showed it colors on this level – the biggest ever challenge for this gorgeous stallion, which had had so much bad luck with injuries and accident during its career so far. Sebbe and Calandro also erred on the same big vertical number 12 and furthermore had a mistake at the water. It was an equally gray 8 faults for all three riders so far.

Mikael and Isaac was the last line defense of the Finnish team and Mikael almost pulled it off with the tired Isaac, having only a light contact on the last lines 11c oxer’s front rail – which the tumbled down after a moment of stand still.

Finland’s result was 44 faults, equal with Norway on 4th place. Norway had a better combined time, placing Norway above Finland in the official results. One rail less, would again have given Finland a third spot above Poland on 41 faults. Spain and Canada was the beyond reach this time and their result would have required much better form throughout the Finnish team. It was a bitter sweet moment for the Finnish team. It was the first time ever in this position – the Nations Cup final – after a decent season, with many nice highlights. Stal Forstén-Pentti had 1-3 horses in each of the Nations Cup legs, where Finland competed. Yet many of the mistakes in Barcelona’s final felt avoidable. It’s for sure that year 2010 is potentially a good season for Finland and the Nations Cup, as long as all riders take the task seriously. Now we turn our eyes towards the indoor and World Cup season!

Website of Barcalona:

1. Csio Barcelona

Results and start lists:

1. Barcelona results service LIVE
2. Class 2, Mikael & Isaac
3. Class 4, Noora & Campari
4. Class 8, Mikael & Evli Nandele
5. Class 9, Noora & Quinault
6. Class 12, Nations Cup