Rome, Italy – May 27, 2016 – The United States Equestrian Team, led by a masterfully ridden double clear round by McLain Ward and his rapidly rising star partner HH Azur, finished in a two-way tie for second place Friday at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO Roma Piazza Di Siena. Ward’s double clear was one of only three on the day, the others coming from John Whitaker of Great Britain in their victorious performance and the other from French star Penelope Leprovost, as France tied the United States for second place.
Both the United States and France finished on 12 faults on the day, while the Brits were nearly unbeatable, posting a gaudy score of only 4 faults. Germany finished fourth with 20 faults in total.
For the United States, Ward was the anchor rider in both rounds.
In the first round, leadoff rider Kent Farrington, aboard Voyeur, got the United States rolling with a first round clear to start the day. Riding VDL Wizard, Callan Solem dropped a couple of rails to become the drop score in round one while Laura Kraut, riding Zeremonie, had only a single knockdown in the triple combination, putting a four up on the board for the home team. Ward followed with his first clear of the day with HH Azur as the United States wrapped up round one with a team total of only 4 faults.
France, likewise, had 4 faults in the first go round.
But already behind the eight ball, with the British going fault-free in round one, the United States slipped further back when Kent Farrington could not duplicate his first round clear, rolling the rail at the final fence of the second round. Sollem though, improved to just four faults in round two while Laura Kraut had her second round of four faults. With Ward’s second clear, the United States would end their Rome excursion with a credible eight faults in round two and a two round total of 12 faults.
