At the start of the European Championships, there are disappointed faces among the German show jumpers. The first rider makes a mistake. But then it works better.
Despite a weak start, the German show jumpers got off to a good start in the European Championships. The team of national coach Otto Becker is in third place after the first of three partial tests 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 coach Becker. 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. Jana Wargers, riding after the debutant, had a down with Limbridge, but the rider, who lives in Bocholt, Belgium, was at least fast. “I was hoping for a zero-fault ride,” said Wargers. “But I was still able to make up time.”
Weishaupt remains without a discard
Philipp Weishaupt from Riesenbeck with Zineday was the only German starter who didn’t have a knockdown, grinned happily and commented: “I’m really very satisfied.” The start of the test was also a drop of bitterness for him: “Of course it’s a shame when it starts like this.” Weishaupt is currently the best German in third place in the individual ranking.
“That’s not reassuring for the team,” said final rider Marcus Ehning at the start of Nieberg. The rider 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.
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.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
