During his comeback in the German show jumping team, four-time Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum contributed to a strong second place for his team in the Nations Cup in Hickstead.
The 58-year-old from Riesenbeck on Mila, together with Marcus Ehning on A la carte, Tobias Meyer, who lives in the Netherlands, on Greatest Boy and Philipp Weishaupt on Asathir, only had to admit defeat to the French.
The decision was only made in the jump-off, in which Meyer was just a second slower than Frenchman Marc Dilasser. After two laps, France, Germany and Brazil were tied. “All four rode superbly, it was a great team effort and we deserved second place,” said national coach Otto Becker about his team. “In the jump-off there is always a bit of luck involved, but I’m very happy with our great performance.”
Tobias Meyer error-free
Outstanding rider was Meyer. The former German champion not only stayed in the jump-off, but was also flawless in the two normal rounds.
Because of the upcoming World Cup from August 6th to 14th in Herning, Denmark, the national coach had renounced his best couples and had therefore asked Beerbaum to step in among others. After Olympic bronze with the team in Rio 2016 and victory in the Nations Cup final in Finale in the same year, he announced his retirement from the German team. In Hickstead, Beerbaum had four penalties in the first lap, and he shot clean in the second lap.
For the German show jumpers, the qualifying phase for the final of the Nations Cup series in Barcelona at the end of September has ended with the start in Hickstead. Germany is currently at the top of the rankings.