FEI Nations Cup 2013 Schedule: Information and Preview for Hickstead Event

Friday sees the FEI Nations Cup visit the All England Jumping Course in Hickstead, England.

The venue is one of only eight global hosts of the Nations Cup Series, the most prestigious Show Jumping series for national teams in the world.

Organised by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, the series visits six regions—Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Asia and Africa—for qualifying before a world final is held in Barcelona, Spain, in late September.

Where: All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, England

When: Friday, August 2, 2pm-5,30pm

Watch: Sky Sports 3 and HD3

Live Stream: www.feitv.org/

Preview

The biggest event of the Hickstead gathering is by far the FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain which takes place on Friday.

The spectacle, which is the only opportunity for British fans to see their team compete in the UK, is vital in determining which countries are relegated and which survive in the competition.

The jumping event, which is solely for teams in division one of the Nation's Cup, sees teams from Great Britain, France, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain and Ukraine compete.

Last time out the German team recorded their second division-one victory of the season in Falsterbo, Sweden.

After withdrawing from the Swiss event in June, Germany have been in excellent form—winning in Rotterdam and finishing third on home ground in Aachen prior to their visit to Sweden.

Although they are still only sixth in the league table, a spot in September's world final in Barcelona is still very much in their sights.

Great Britain on the other hand are languishing bottom of the table, facing a genuine threat of relegation to division two.

As one of only two countries eligible to win points at Hickstead and the last event of the season in Dublin, Ireland, the Brits will be hoping that the home crowd can spur them away from relegation towards the top of the table.