The Swiss team won the Nations Cup in Aachen on Thursday evening (29.06.23) with a strong performance. Thanks to two double clear rounds by Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs, the team was able to secure the renowned prize in the Aachen Soers.
Niklas Schurtenberger and Edouard Schmitz completed the team and collectively ensured that Switzerland deservedly finished on top of the podium with just four penalties. Behind them landed Great Britain and Belgium. In the end, the German team only managed fifth place.
Tactics from the national coach
For the German national coach Otto Becker, the nomination of the team was a tactic from the start. Jana Warges, Hans-Dieter Dreher, Mario Stevens and Marcus Ehning finally started. Also because other riders like Gerrit Nieberg and André Thieme are already qualified for the Grand Prix of Aachen on Sunday.
But also because, in the opinion of the national coach, these four “simply deserve it through their performance.” Only Wargers was also there when the German team won in 2022, for Dreher and Stevens it was the first appearance at the Nations Cup.
The best German in the first round was Hans-Dieter Dreher, who finished his run without making any mistakes. Wargers and Stevens, on the other hand, had four penalties. The veteran Marcus Ehning got the strike result due to two discarded rods. With eight penalty points, Germany initially shared fourth place.
Moment of shock by Lars Kersten
The audience in the sold-out Aachen Riding Stadium experienced a moment of shock during the first round when the third starter from the Netherlands, Lars Kersten, fell off his horse Emmerton and he galloped towards the stadium exit without a rider.
It didn’t let itself be caught by the folders and ran uncontrolled towards the box. A few seconds earlier the gelding had refused an obstacle. At the second attempt she refused again and it threw the Dutchman out of the saddle. After great concern for horse and rider, the stadium announcer gave the all-clear: “Emmerton is fine, he ran to his box and has calmed down in the meantime.”
Emotional moment during the break
It got emotional during the break when the 2018 World Champion, Simone Blum, said goodbye to her mare Alice when she retired. During her last ride through the stadium there was a standing ovation from the Aachen audience.
The second round went better for the German team. Last year’s winner Jana Wargers convinced with a flawless ride and Marcus Ehning also remained without a fault. Since both Dreher and Stevens each tore a pole, the German team finished the Nations Cup in fifth place with a total of twelve penalties.
Fuchs leads Switzerland to victory
The decision to win then lay with the Swiss Martin Fuchs. In the case of a clear round, Switzerland would no longer be able to take the win, and if there had been a knockdown, there could have been a tie against France. But on his gelding Commissar Pezi, Fuchs kept his nerves, rode flawlessly and made not only his team but also the Aachen Soers celebrate.