Despite a weak start, the German show jumpers made a solid start to the European Championships. The team of national coach Otto Becker is in third place after the first of three partial tests on Wednesday in Milan.
The first rider made a mistake: Gerrit Nieberg from Sendenhorst received sixteen penalty points in the time class with Ben. “Of course that wasn’t the start we had in mind,” said Becker. Accordingly, Nieberg’s mood was “very bad”. The contrite rider said after the first European Championship ride of his career: “I had imagined it very differently.”
Nieberg increased the pressure on his team with the bad ride. But things went better after that, and after a race to catch up, the team rode into third place. Jana Wargers, who rode after the debutant, had a down with Limbridge, but the rider, who lives in Bocholt, Belgium, was at least fast.
Weishaupt is the best German so far in the individual ranking
Philipp Weishaupt from Riesenbeck with Zineday was the only German competitor to remain without a knockdown, grinned happily and commented: “I’m really very satisfied.” Weishaupt is currently the best German in third place in the individual ranking.
Final rider Marcus Ehning from Borken had a down with Stargold, so that in the end Nieberg’s ride was the so-called discarded result, because only the best three of the four rides per team count in each partial test. “Now it’s time to keep fighting,” said the national coach.
Sweden leads ahead of Switzerland
Before the other two stages on Thursday and Friday, the team from Sweden is ahead of Switzerland. The German team has to do without individual European champion André Thieme in the Ippodromo San Siro. The defending champion from Plau am See is missing because his mare Chakaria is injured. Nieberg replaced him in the team.
