GERMANY SEAL LONGINES LEAGUE OF NATIONS™ TITLE IN BARCELONA JUMP-OFF
Germany’s golden year continued in Barcelona (ESP) on Sunday as Otto Becker’s team added the Longines League of Nations™ 2026 title to their FEI Jumping World Championship crown following a thrilling jump-off against Brazil at the Real Club de Polo.
Marcus Ehning with Coolio 42, Jörne Sprehe with Toys, Richard Vogel with Cloudio and Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames my Prins finished the two rounds of competition on four penalties, level with Brazil, before World No.1 Vogel returned to deliver the decisive clear.
Brazil took second place after finishing the jump-off with one rail down, while Belgium completed the podium in third on five penalties.
For Chef d’Equipe Becker, another major team title provided the perfect conclusion to a remarkable season.
“Teamwork makes the dream work, and this team did it again,” Becker reflected. “All four riders delivered super rounds today, and I’m happy that in the end Richie could make it in the jump-off.
“To win the Longines League of Nations again after the World Championship in Aachen is a great feeling. This team really deserved it, and I’m really, really happy.”
Some of the best combinations in the world had lined up for the season finale and Course Designer Santiago Varela (ESP) ensured they faced a challenge worthy of the occasion.
His track featured 12 obstacles, 15 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 71 seconds, combining height and technicality in a course that asked questions from start to finish. Faults came throughout the course and, with only 12 clears recorded in Round 1, the Final quickly began to separate the field.
Belgium’s Pieter Devos, who went on to jump double clear with Primo DV and help his nation to third place, praised the balance of the track.
“It’s a tough course and we should not underestimate it,” he explained. “There were faults a little bit everywhere, and I really had to do everything I could. It’s the Final, so it’s big and it’s technical.
“There are a few options where you can do one less or one more stride. I actually had a different plan in mind and had to adapt my plan twice in the course.”
Germany emerged from Round 1 as the only nation carrying a score of zero into the second round, with Belgium nipping at their heels on just one time penalty.
With all teams returning for Round 2 and only three Athletes per team jumping, every score counted and there was no room for error.
Germany’s lead disappeared when Vogel and Cloudio, the final combination in Round 2, lowered a rail, leaving them level with Brazil on four penalties and sending the 2026 title to a jump-off.
It marked the second consecutive year that the Longines League of Nations™ Final in Barcelona had gone to a jump-off, once again delivering a dramatic conclusion to the season.
With the title on the line, Brazil turned to Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom, while Germany sent Vogel and Cloudio back into the arena.
There was an added sense of history for Pessoa, who made his Olympic debut in Barcelona in 1992, finishing ninth individually. More than three decades later, he returned to the same city with another major title in the balance and his legendary father Nelson Pessoa watching.
Pessoa and Major Tom were first to go, but a rail at fence one gave Vogel a crucial opening.
“I wanted to be done with my warm-up jumps before Rodrigo went so I could have a close look at how he went and use the second position as an advantage,” Vogel explained.
“Rodrigo has so much experience, a real living legend in the saddle. Unfortunately for him, the first fence came down, so that made my job a little bit easier, but there was still enough pressure to bring it home, especially after I gave it away once.”
Vogel and Cloudio delivered when it mattered, crossing the finish line clear in 40.85 seconds to secure Germany’s second Longines League of Nations™ title.
Cloudio’s contribution across the season was also recognised with the Best Horse award, presented to the horse with the most clear rounds across the qualifying legs. The stallion, owned by Vogel and Will Equestrian GmbH, had been a key part of Germany’s campaign.
“Cloudio jumped fantastic, not only this week but all season,” Vogel added. “He’s been the most successful horse of this League, so I think if someone deserves this win, it’s Cloudio.”
Brazil’s João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima received the Best Athlete award as the only Athlete to produce five clear rounds during the season, while special Best Groom awards were presented to Geraldine Badan, groom for Vogel, Antoni Silva, groom for Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima, and Johanna Berg, groom for Ireland’s Cian O’Connor.
The final standings saw the USA finish fourth behind the leading trio, followed by Italy, Great Britain, Ireland, France and Spain.
After a season of world-class Jumping across three continents, the Longines League of Nations™ 2026 reached its fitting conclusion in Barcelona. Germany had already stood on top of the world in Aachen this summer, and their Barcelona triumph capped a memorable year with another major team title.
--ENDS--
Photo by FEI/Leanjo de Koster
Full results here