Aachen, GER – July 18, 2019 – There are moments in life when a few hundredths of a second can really hurt. In the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen, the German show jumping team experienced one of those moments, while Sweden celebrated a perfect victory thanks to a a double-clear performance by Henrik Von Eckermann and one clear effort by remaining team members, Angelie Von Essen, Evelina Tovek and Peder Fredricson each.
Dr. Carsten Oder, Chairman of the Managing Board Mercedes-Benz Cars Deutschland (right) and Carl Meulenbergh, President Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (left) congratulate the Swedish team
Sweden finished on an overall score of four faults to claim the victory in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. One single time fault from the first round prevented the German team from celebrating their fourth triumph in succession. Third place went to the partner country, France on a total score of eight faults. The French team comprised of Pénélope Leprevost with Vancouver de Lanlore, Olivier Robert with Vangog du Mas Garnier, Guillaume Foutrier with Valdocco des Caps and Kevin Staut with Calevo.
After the first four riders all jumped clear, everyone was amazed: Had the course design Frank Rothenberger underestimated the horses and riders that much? Not at all. It turned out that on the contrary he had done a perfect job. Von Eckermann kicked off the competition with Toveks Mary Lou for Sweden, the pair that will enter the ring on Saturday in the Rolex Grand Prix as contenders for the Grand Slam, after they won the Grand Prix in s’ Hertogenbosch. The Westphalian-bred Montendro daughter jumped superbly, but the same also applied for the first German pair, as the reigning World Champions, Simone Blum and DSP Alice, produced another clear round.
Next in the ring for Germany was the “Nations Cup returnee”, Christian Ahlmann, who like Daniel Deusser was representing the team for the first time since 2016. His Clintrexo put in a fantastic performance up until the last fence, when the final pole fell. Ahlmann explained, “I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t make the time so, I rode a little faster to the last obstacle. Then I wanted to pull him a bit, but he didn’t react the way I thought he would. The take-off to the last fence was right, but we didn’t have enough momentum and we knocked the top pole.”
Deusser was the next to ride for Germany with the 12-year-old, Chacco Blue son, Calisto Blue. He flew over the course in huge leaps and reached the finish line clear, but unfortunately he picked up one time fault, proving to be a decisive factor in the end, which ultimately turned out to be the case.
Just like Ahlmann, Marcus Ehning also picked up four faults at the last fence with his self-bred Funky Fred. After the first round five teams were all on a total interim score of four faults and Germany was lying in sixth place behind them on five faults.
The course designer, Rothenberger, raised three of the fences before the second round, this time the riders started in reverse order. The combination between the higher fences, the growing darkness and the floodlights and the dwindling strength of the teams evidently faced the teams with new challenges. More and more mistakes were made, including also refusals. The Swedish team on the other hand remained constant and the German riders also put in excellent performances.
Von Eckermann and Mary Lou jumped in perfect form for a double-clear finish. The newcomer Angelie von Essen, who competed at the CHIO Aachen for the first time after 16 years, also jumped clear effort with her AES gelding, Luikan Q. After jumping clear in the first round, the youngster of the Swedish team, the 26-year-old Evelina Tovek, picked up four faults in the second round with Dalila De la Pomme.
The German riders, Blum, Ahlmann and Deusser all stayed clear. As such, Ehning did not need to ride the second round, because he wouldn’t have been able to improve the team’s result. It all depended on the performance of the other teams.
Ultimately, the Swedish European Champion of 2017, Fredericson and his Namelus R-son, Christian K decided the outcome of the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. Everything started well and despite a few hairy moments, luck was on their sides and miraculously none of the poles fell for the final clear round. That meant the victory for Sweden and second place for the German squad. The crowd celebrated the Swedes with standing ovations and cheered just as loudly for the Germans.
Ahlmann was visibly stirred after his comeback as a member of the national team, “It is something very special when you enter the ring and it is that quiet you could hear a pin drop. It is better than any Championships!”
Ehning, who contributed to all three Nations Cup victories in the past years added, “I am very glad that the two of them are on board again! I don’t want to undermine the performances of the riders of the previous years, but no team in the world can afford to do without such riders!”
For full results, click here.