Switzerland wins the opening leg of the Longines EEF Series 2022 in Mannheim.
The inaugural leg of this series, which was created by the European Equestrian Federation, ended in a jump-off between the hosts from Germany and the Swiss team.
The MVV- Reitstadion in Mannheim hosted the first leg of the Longines EEF Nations Cup Series 2022 today, with an exciting final round.
The inaugural leg of this series, which was created by the European Equestrian Federation, ended in a jump-off between the hosts from Germany and the Swiss team.
Alain Jufer, riding Dante MM, gave Switzerland the win by riding a perfect clear round in his third and decisive round, stopping the clock at 41.03 seconds, beating the German Team's youngest rider, 24-year-old Sophie Hinners, who rode a perfect clear after her previous two, but stopped the clock at 42.01 seconds riding her stallion Million Dollar. Sweden finished third in the Nations Cup with ten errors.
In a class with 10 teams competing, both Switzerland and Germany had finished the first two rounds of the Nations Cup with four faults (Austria, Croatia, Germany, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovak, Switzerland and Hungary).
Elin Ott/Nanu II (0/0), Niklaus Schurtenberger/Quincassi (4/0), Edwin Smits/Best Of Berlin BS (0/4) and Alain Jufer/Dante MM (0/0/0) competed for Switzerland, with Beat von Ballmoos as Chef d'Equipe.
Kendra Claricia Brinkop/Narcos v. Smidshoeve (4/4), Patrick Stühlmeyer/Carmina (0/0), Sophie Hinners/Million Dollar (0/0/0), and Andre Thieme/Conacco (0/0) represented Germany, with Chef d'Equipe Marcus Döring.
The class that kicked off this year's series included top-level riding as the highlight. Over superb courses created by German Chef de Piste Christa Jung, the teams competed in two rounds and a jump off. The first course of 12 jumps and 15 attempts, with technical issues scattered throughout the course and no traps. The courses enabled the horses to build confidence by allowing them to ride ahead. This allowed new horse and rider combinations to gain experience on a course that had all of the characteristics of a top-level course, including technical questions and delicate jumps, and finishing having jumped well from the first to the last jump, leaving riders and horses with a positive impression and a constructive experience, as evidenced by the 30 clear rounds over the first two rounds. Only Elin Ott, 23, of Switzerland, riding Nanu II, Patrick Stühlmeyer, of Germany, riding Carmina, and Sophie Hinners, of Germany, riding Million Dollar, and Santiago Diaz Ortega, of Colombia, riding Chasandro Boy, had double clears.
Unlike the previous year, the MVV- Reitstadion in Mannheim was finally packed with fans. The fantastic atmosphere and enthusiasm that has always been a part of our sport were provided by the approximately 7,500 spectators.
Starting list and result on Longines Timing - CLICK HERE
PHOTOCREDIT: YADEL MÖHLER PHOTOGRAPHY
