Equestrian sports: Show jumping riders celebrate bronze at EM in Spain

The German show jumpers have missed the first team gold at the European Championship since 2011. The team around single Olympic champion Christian Kukuk won bronze in A Coruña in Spanish. Gold went to Belgium with the German coach Peter Weinberg off the UK.

“It was very tight, that was clear,” commented national coach Otto Becker. The coach did not want to complain about the missed chance. “We won a medal,” emphasized Becker: “We congratulate the others.”

The third EM day started differently than hoped for. Starter Marcus Ehning, who remained flawlessly in the previous days with Coolio, received a drop. In his tenth EM, the 50-year-old from Borken did not ride as confidently as usual in the decisive round of the team competition.

“In the end I was still happily served with four penalty points,” commented Ehning. “I didn’t get a good round today, I rode very unhappily.” It was unrhythmic, Coolio “didn’t really know what to do. He saved me a few times.” Before the current European Championship in Spain, Ehning had already won seven team medals, including three golden ones.

EM debutante remains flawless

It was better for Sophie Hinners than Ehning. The 27-year-old showed a flawless round with My Prins. Her friend Richard Vogel, who had to ride the last German starter, celebrated the flawless round on the edge of the course. “The joy is very, very big,” said Hinners: “We had a great round, were able to ride a zero round home and now keep our fingers crossed for what is still coming.” And added: “Now it depends on Christian and Richi.”

Christian Kukuk, the first of the two mentioned, did not fulfill the wish. The double Olympic champion did not get out of the course with Just Be Gentle and collected four penalty points. After all: after the ride of the 35-year-old single Olympic champion, it was prematurely clear that Germany had a medal. “I’m annoyed a bit,” Kukuk commented – not yet knowing what color the medal will have.

The German final rider Richard Vogel kept his nerve. The 28 -year -old showed a strong performance with United Touch and rode to the finish without errors – and thus remains in one place in singles. After the ride of the last British, Scott Brash with film, it was clear that Germany only fetched bronze.

Further medal chance in singles

After the team decision, there is still the single final on Sunday. Only the best 25 combinations of the previous three sub -exams qualify for this.

Hans-Dieter Dreher has already left. The 53-year-old from Eimeldingen was 51 of the individual ranking after the second exam with Elysium, but only 50 couples were allowed to start in the third exam. “He can no longer move up,” said national coach Otto Becker. Dreher was not part of the German quartet in A Coruña and was allowed to ride as a single starter.

Three drops are too much

“That was unlucky, the rides were good,” said the national coach. However, a total of three ekvets in two jumps were not good enough for a better placement. Dreher remains in A Coruña and rides in exams of the supporting program.