Team Brazil Makes History at Hickstead

Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) riding Sirene de la Motte (Photo: FEI / Liz Gregg)

The Brazilian showjumping team comprised of Marlon Zanotelli, Pedro Veniss, Yuri Mansur and Pedro Junqueira Muylaert made history today at Hickstead when lifting the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time. They were the clear winners of the seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2017 Europe Division 1

According to Veniss this was the first Brazilian team ever to compete at the world-famous British showground, and the first time for each of the four horses and riders to tackle the notoriously difficult Hickstead fences. And on a truly tough afternoon when wet and windy weather led to Kelvin Bywater’s 12-fence track being relocated for the second round in order to ensure better ground, they didn’t just come out on top but they did it emphatically.

Winning Team Brazil! Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Pedro Veniss, Petro Junqueiera Maylaert,Yuri Mansur (Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg)

Adding nothing to their first-round score of just four faults they overtook the Germans who fell apart in the closing stages to finish a full 10 faults ahead of the eventual runners-up from The Netherlands, while Switzerland and Ireland filled the next two places when posting 16 and 17 faults apiece.

"We are definitely going to celebrate tonight because tomorrow is a whole new day and it’s not often that you can win a competition as big as this so we have to be happy when it happens!"
Marlon Zanotelli (Brazil)

There were six Division 1 teams in action along with the Brazilians who compete in the South America League and the hosts from Great Britain who have been fighting hard since relegated to Europe Division 2 last season.

Team Brazil taking their victory gallop (Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg)

It was anchorman Pedro Junqueira Muylaert’s (31) single error with Prince Royal Z at the very last fence that Brazil carried into the second round after Zanotelli’s mare Sirene de la Motte and Veniss’ mare For Felicila both jumped brilliantly clear. Yuri Mansur’s Babylotte had three fences down, but this pair turned that all around at their second attempt so Junqueira Muylaert didn’t have to jump again because double-clears from Zanotelli (29) and Veniss (34) ensured Brazil already had the victory in the bag.

Dutch chances seemed dim after collecting 14 first-round faults for sixth place at the end of the first round, but when they added no more that would prove good enough for second spot at the end of a day of mixed fortunes for many. Harrie Smolders' second clear with Don VHP Z was followed by fault-free runs from both Ruben Romp and Audi’s Teavanta ll who posted just a single time fault first time out, and Jur Vrieling whose stallion VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnet threw in an objection to the open water in round one but then popped it like a puddle in round two.

Result:

1. Brazil 4 faults: Sirene de la Motte (Marlon Zanotelli) 0/0, For Felicila (Pedro Veniss) 0/0, Babylotte (Yuri Mansur) 12/0, Prince Royal Z (Pedro Junqueira Muylaert) 4/DNS.
2. Netherlands 14 faults: Don VHP Z (Harrie Smolders) 0/0, Glock’s Cognac Champblanc (Gerco Schroder) 13/12, Audi’s Teavanta ll CZ (Ruben Romp) 1/0, VDL Glasgow Vh Merelsnet (Jur Vrieling) 13/0.
3. Switzerland 16 faults: Saura de Fondcombe (Nadja Peter Steiner) 0/4, Sherazade du Gevaudan (Romain Duguet) 8/0, Casanova FZ (Philipp Zuger) 8/13, Dsarie (Beat Mandli) 0/4.

Full result here 

For more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk