Julio Arias Cueva and his mount “Filou du Manoir” delivered the sole faultless performance for the Spanish squad at the Longines League of Nations Final, anchoring the home team’s efforts on the Olympic jumping track at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona. Spain concluded the 2026 edition of the team championship in ninth place with a total of 36 penalties, while Germany claimed the overall title after overcoming Brazil in a sudden-death jump-off.
Equine Action at Real Club de Polo
The CSIO Barcelona wrapped up its four-day international calendar under sunny skies following earlier weather disruptions, featuring a demanding 1.60-meter course designed by the team of Spanish course builder Santiago Varela. As the host nation, Spain stepped out first in the opening round. Armando Trapote and “Matilda” initiated the home team’s challenge with a single rail down at fence 5b, incurring four faults in a time of 68.14 seconds. Carlos Bosch followed with “Jolie van der Berghoeve Kar,” accumulating 12 penalties after faults at obstacles 2, 9, and 10 in 68.43 seconds. Luis Jesús Escobar added another 12 penalties aboard “Edesa’s Jento de Belle Vue” following errors at fences 2, 5a, and 8, stopping the clock at 67.55 seconds. Julio Arias Cueva then steadied the Spanish rotation, steering “Filou du Manoir” through a clean round in 68.15 seconds to leave the team with 16 penalties and a provisional sixth place at the halfway mark.
Spain Drops One Rider Before the Second Rotation
Under the competition’s specific rules, each finalist nation dropped one rider ahead of the second rotation, advancing only three combinations to the decisive phase. Spain elected to bench Luis Jesús Escobar for the concluding round. Armando Trapote returned to open the second phase with “Matilda,” collecting 12 penalties in 67.67 seconds after faults at obstacle 2, the second element of the triple combination, and the final fence. Carlos Bosch and “Jolie van der Berghoeve Kar” improved upon their earlier score by dropping only two rails—fence 2 and the entrance of the double—to finish with eight faults in 68.78 seconds. Anchoring the team once again, Julio Arias Cueva piloted “Filou du Manoir” to a second clear round, crossing the finish line in 68.90 seconds to cement his status as the only Spanish competitor to keep all the fences intact across both rounds.
Germany Seizes the Title in Barcelona
In the subsequent jump-off, the German squad outpaced the Brazilian riders to secure the championship victory. Belgium rounded out the podium in third place with a cumulative total of five faults, leaving Spain in ninth position overall as the international show jumping season reached its climax in Catalonia.
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