At one of the major highlights of the CHIO in Aachen, Germany disappointed as the defending champion. In the Nations Cup on Thursday (06/29/2023) it was only enough for fifth place. The superior winner was the team from Switzerland.
Germany was sixth after the first round, only Hans-Dieter Dreher remained undefeated in front of 40,000 spectators. First jumper Jana Wargers and Mario Stevens each tore a pole, Marcus Ehning two.
In the second round, it was mainly the bitter penalties from Stevens and Dreher that cost Germany a better position. Both made one mistake each. Wargers remained flawless in the final run, as did Ehning as the last rider. Due to the strong performance of the competition, however, it was no longer enough for a top rank.
careless mistake, which Switzerland did not fall under
The German team, which won the title in the most important Nations Cup in the world last year, has to wait for its 30th triumph. On this evening, however, the Swiss were the deserved winners with only one knockdown. Great Britain came second and Belgium came third.
“Last year we celebrated, now it’s the Swiss,” said national coach Otto Becker. “There were a few careless mistakes, in the end we were too far away. We can’t be satisfied.”
Will makes Germany cheer
There was already a sense of achievement for David Will, who ensured the first home win of the German show jumpers at the CHIO. The 35-year-old rider from Marburg won a test for young horses on the third day of the world’s largest horse show.
David Will jumps over a hurdle.
Before the Nations Cup in the evening, Will prevailed on Dax in front of Mégane Moissonnier from France with Safira. Maurice Tebbel from Emsbüren came fourth with Kenzo.
Victory after Grand Prix without placing in the top 3
On Wednesday, the German show jumpers were still without a podium place at the Grand Prix. Gerrit Nieberg, Richard Vogel and Philipp Weishaupt made it to the jump-off after each penalty-free run, but the German trio failed there. Yuri Mansur secured victory in the first major competition of the CHIO week.
