World
Champagne Nations Cup
By
Mar 10, 2008, 09:50

In what is believed to be a first in the world, free Champagne will be served to spectators to toast the winners of the FEI Nations Cup at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Friday night.

Teams from nine nations including newcomer New Zealand will compete in the Nations Cup, the most significant equestrian team competition in the United States.

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the placegetters in the $75,000 two-round competition at the CN Winter Equestrian festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising.

Argentina, Canada, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Venezuela and the USA are fielding teams that have a minimum of three horse and rider combinations and a maximum of four. Individual riders from Russia and Brazil are also entered in the Nations Cup.

Only one Nations Cup is staged in a country each year and Wellington has been the venue for the United States since 2002. In that time, the U.S. has won twice, Ireland once and Canada three times including the past two years.

When the first horse enters the all new all-weather International Arena under floodlights at 7 p.m., groups of fans, some numbering in the hundreds, will fill the stands rooting for their "home" teams .

A forecast of near ideal weather of temperatures in the mid to low 70s Friday night is likely to dim memories of a torrential downpour that interrupted competition at WEF Thursday.

A festive end of the work week Friday night atmosphere is expected with a live band, jugglers, face painters, hot dog and popcorn carts, strategically located bars and blocks of seats reserved by national groups. The CN Obie train will be central to the festivities, including carrying the T-shirt gun carriers.

A moment equestrian history will also be honored with the formal retirement of Clasiko, the horse that Lauren Hough of Wellington rode in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the gold medal team at the 2003 Pan American Games as well as a two-time winner at the National Horse Show.

In what is believed to be a first in the world, free Champagne will be offered to spectators during the awards ceremony to toast the winning team.

Based on a draw, riders from the nine teams will take turns at jumping the course that is equal to an Olympic competition.

First will be France, followed by Argentina, Ireland, Great Britain, Venzuela, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.A. last.

In this Olympic year and with the equestrian events in China to be contested on virtually the same type of sand ring under floodlights, the Wellington Nations Cup is as close as any horse and rider will get to prepare for the Games.

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