Gerco Schröder and his mount Glock's London were the last to go for the Dutch but a slight error at a triple combination saw a pole hit the ground to spoil what would have been four perfect runs.

While Schröder missed out on matching his team mates' clear rounds, the work had already been done as the Dutch dominated at the Real Club de Polo.

Newly crowned individual world champion Jeroen Dubbeldam and his mount Zenith SFN led the way with an impressive trip around the Santiago Varela designed course.

They were followed by Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi and Jur Vrieling on VDL Bubalu leaving The Netherlands atop the final standings and sharing the €500,000 (£390,000/$630,000) prize money.

Jeroen Dubbeldam led the Dutch challenge for gold at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona
©AFP/Getty Images



"Today I had to make up for some mistakes I made on the first day [Thursday] - as I said already I just wanted to check if the other boys were sharp, and they were," said Dubbeldam.

"But today I had to be sharp as well because today the pressure was on and it was top sport.

"We knew we needed for sure three clear rounds to win, and it did turn out to be necessary to have three clear rounds.

"I think we have a wonderful team - these guys here are not only unbelievable riders, they are also unbelievable mates, fantastic friends and fighters.

"We fight for each other and I am very proud of this Dutch team."

Two clear rounds from Tiffany Foster on board Tripple X and Eric Lamaze on Zigali PS helped Canada claim the runners-up spot.

Despite perfect runs from Malin Baryard-Johnsson on H&M Tornesch and Henrik von Eckermann on Cantinero, Sweden had to settle for bronze after Alexander Zetterman and his mount Cafino picked up 12 faults, while Peder Fredricson and H&M Sibon picked up eight.

Tiffany Foster and Tripple X went round with a clear run to help Canada claim the runners-up spot in Barcelona ©FEI



The Swedes scraped onto the final podium spot by one fault, ahead of Belgium whose best round came from Judy-Ann Melchior on As Cold as Ice Z with one fault.

Germany finished the day in fifth followed by Great Britain, Italy and Brazil.

"We saw really fantastic sport, great horsemanship, and we had fantastic victors in the team from The Netherlands today," said FEI Jumping Committee chairman John Madden at the conclusion of the event.

"They proved it at the World Equestrian Games [in Normandy] and they proved it again here."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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