The Belgian team came out on top in the first leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series in La Baule, France this afternoon. This was a tough start to the season, with fortunes fluctuating as the competition progressed, but it was Ludo Philippaerts double-clear, one of the just two on the day, that sealed the result for the team which only returned to the elite level of nations' cup show jumping last season after relegation in 2005.

Switzerland, Ireland and the USA shared runner-up spot while the Swiss rallied brilliantly after finding themselves at the bottom of the order at the end of round one.

The Belgians however were already looking strong and lay second following clears from both Philippaerts and his stallion Cavalor's Winningmood and Judy-Ann Melchior with Aktion Pur Z so that they only counted the eight collected by Philippe Le Jeune and Vigo d'Arsouilles as the three mistakes from Niels Bruynseels and Item de Quintin were discarded.

Earlier on Friday, Eric Lamaze and Narcotique de Muze II finished 3th in a class 1.50m.

Result Samsung Nations Cup :
1. BELGIE 12 ptn (8 + 4)
Philippe Le Jeune/Vigo d'Arsouilles 8 + 0
Niels Bruynseels/Item de Quentin 12 + 8
Judy-Ann Melchior/Aktion Pur Z 0 + 4
Ludo Philippaerts/Cavalor 0 + 0

2. Zwitserland: 20 (16 + 4)
Christina Liebherr/No Mercy 4 + 4
Jane Richard/Jalla de Gaverie 8 + 0
Pius Schwizer/Nobless M 8 + 4
Steve Guerdat/Jalisca Solier 4 + 0

2.ex. Ierland: 20 (12 + 8)
Edouard Doyle/Utopia 4 + 4
Shane Carey/River Foyle 4 + 16
Cian O'Connor/Irish Independent 12 + 4
Denis Lynch/Lantinus 3 4 + 0

2.ex. Verenigde Staten 20 (8 + 12)
Anne Kursinski/Roxana 112 4 + 4
Charlie Jayne/Urbanus 8 + 0
Kate Levy/Vent du Nord 4 + 12
Will Simpson/El Campeon's 0 + 8

5. Nederland 21 (13 + 8)
Angélique Hoorn/O'Brien 4 + 4
Vincent Voorn/Armanie 12 + 4
Marc Houtzager/Opium VS 5 + 0
Gerco Schröder/Berlin 4 + 8

5.ex. Frankrijk 21 (8 + 13)
Kevin Staut/Kraque Boom 0 + 8
Timothée Anciaume/Jarnac 9 + 5
Patrice Delaveau/Katchina Mail 8 + 8
Michel Robert/Koro d'Or 0 + 0

7. Groot-Brittannië: 23 (6 + 17)
Nick Skelton/Russel 0 + 5
Tim Gredley/Omelli 16 + 9
Ben Maher/Rolette 1 + 8
Robert Smith/Ronaldo 5 + 4

8. Duitsland 28 (12 + 16)
Thomas Voss/Leonardo B 5 + 8
Thomas Muhlbauer/Asti Spumante 4 + 4
Max Kuhner/Arcantus GK 4 + 4
Otto Becker/Cordina 4 + 8

9. Zweden 32 (8 + 24)
Peter Eriksson/Jaguar Mail 4 + 8
Rigmor Arvidsson-Maggi 12 + 12
Lotta Schultz/Calibra II 4 + 12
Helena Lundbäck/Bukowskis Erdblume 0 + 4


Résultat EP 6 Prix du Conseil Général de LoireAtlantique Table A against the clock
Height/Hauteur: approx. 1.50m
1.El Campeon's Tosca SIMPSON Will USA 0 57.34 €4625
2.Olea 0003 BICOCCHI Emilio ITA 0 58.93 €3700
3.Narcotique de Muze II LAMAZE Eric CAN 0 59.28 €2775
4.Eurocommerce Milano SCHRODER Gerco NED 0 59.45 €1850
5.Mme Pompadour M ROBERT Michel FRA 0 59.73 €1295
6.Bluebai DOYLE Edouard IRL 0 62.03 €1110