The Challenge Cup was contested by the six nations that failed to make tomorrow's main final at the Real Club de Polo and competition went right down to the wire.

The US and Australia matched each other throughout the opening two rides with identical scores, before Julia Hargreaves and her mount Vedor picked up just one fault following their trip round.

Lauren Hough and Ohlala were next up for the Americans, but untidy jumps at the eighth and ninth fences saw them pick up eight faults and leave the Australians in the lead.

Amy Graham and Bella Baloubet ramped up the pressure on the US after registering a clear round, leaving it all down to the final duo of Beezie Madden and Cortes C.

But the duo showed why they claimed individual bronze at last month's World Equestrian Games in Normandy as they put in a superb clear round to force a jump-off.

Each team sent out three pairings for the jump-off with scores and times being added together to decide the winner.

Australian Jamie Kermond on board Quite Cassini opened with a clear run in a time of 44.03sec, but was bettered by McLain Ward on Rothchild who stopped the clock at 40.18.

After leaving two fences on the floor on board Boris lll, James Patterson-Robinson handed the initiative to the US who duly took advantage as Hough and her partner Ohlala posted a clear run in a time of 44.76.

Despite a clear run from Graham and Bella Baloubet, it was left to Madden and Cortes C to once again anchor the American challenge and they went round with a perfect run to secure the title.

Beezie Madden led the US team in Barcelona as they saw off the challenge of Australia ©AFP/Getty Images




"My horse might have done with a class before [yesterday's competition]," said Madden, who also helped the US to team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy last month.

"I thought he jumped very well but he was a bit tense which is the way he is when he's on form - that said I think it was a light four faults I had."

Australian Chef d'Equipe Stevie Macken was pleased with the performance of his relatively inexperienced side.

"The four riders that are here really pulled together and to beat the US would have been the icing on the cake," he said.

"We aspire to be better but we are very happy with today's result."

Below the US and Australian battle for top spot, a disappointing challenge from reigning FEI Nations Cup jumping champions France concluded with a third place finish today ahead of Spain.

Venezuela and Qatar finished fifth and sixth respectively.

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