‘This is what you live for’

A victorious US team celebrate victory on home soil by the tightest of margins after an evening of twists and turns

- JENNIFER DONALD

WITH a vocal home crowd to propel them, the US squad of Lillie Keenan (Argan De Beliard), Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25), Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 and McLain Ward with Ilex delivered a dazzling victory in the second leg of the Longines League of Nations (LLN).

“To win on home soil and to have everyone see one of the best venues in the world is so special, because we all share an incredible sport,” said 28-year-old LLN debutante Lillie, who referred to Argan De Beliard as her “trusty team-mate”. “The more pressure the better for us.”

But in a dramatic evening of twists and turns, the contest remained close at every stage and Germany were left ruing a first-round time-fault that kept them one point off the victors in the final standings.

Ten teams came forward to tackle Alan Wade's track for the first round of the $770,000 (£594,000) contest and at the halfway stage the US held the lead on a zero score, one point clear of Germany. Defending champions Ireland were tied with Great Britain on eight.

Whether the setting Florida sun and the changing shadows it cast in the ring affected some horses’ performances was open to debate. But there were plenty of high scores, notably from the Dutch squad, who missed out on round two along with Switzerland, whose first two riders Edouard Schmitz (Quno) and Janika Sprunger (Orelie) were eliminated at the treble combination.