Mario Stevens, Holger Wulschner, Otto Becker, Andre Thieme and Maurice Tebbel – after securing victory at Lummen, Belgium. Ph. @FEI/Christophe Taniere
Andre Thieme snatched victory for Team Germany in a thrilling three-way jump-off at the opening qualifier of the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2017 Europe Division 1 in Lummen, Belgium on Friday, April 28, 2017.
The 2016 FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping champions from Germany were level with both France and host nation Belgium on just four faults after the first two rounds, and one rider from each side went into a third-round race against the clock over course designer Eugene Mathy’s track Five teams competed for points towards the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final 2017: Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Spain.
“My Conthendrix has done so many Nations Cups for Germany and he is so consistent, such a fighter – I think he likes me and I really love him. We are just a great team together,” said Thieme.
One rider each from Germany, France and Belgium jumped off against the clock to decide today’s result. Team Germany won through when Andre Thieme and Conthendrix were quickest against the clock in the third-round jump-off.
Belgium’s Pieter de Vos was first to take on the jump-off track, but left the door wide open when a misunderstanding saw his Olympic ride, Dream of India Greenfield, stop at the first element of the double.
Thieme made no mistake when next to go, scorching home in 39.75 seconds to really put it up to Rio Olympic French team gold medallist Penelope Leprevost who was last into the arena.
Despite a tremendous clear round from her feisty 12-year-old mare Ratina d’La Rousserie, she was just over a second slower when breaking the beam putting Team France into the runner-up spot.
There were five teams chasing qualifying points for the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2017 Final today and Germany took the maximum 100 points ahead of France, which earned 90, and fourth-placed Italy that took 70 points. German Chef d’equipe Otto Becker was delighted with his four-man crew that also included Maurice Tebbel riding Chacco’s Son, Holger Wulschner with BSC Skipper and Mario Stevens partnering with Baloubet – “they were brilliant!” he said.
FEI President Ingmar de Vos, who attended the day’s event, said: “This was a great first qualifier for Division 1, and it shows again how wonderful the concept of Nations Cup Jumping is! Having a jump-off between three nations was so exciting – it shows how passionate the riders are to defend their country, and their nation’s pride!”
Up next: FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2017 Europe Division 2 first qualifier in Linz (AUT) and the second qualifier of the North America, Central America and Caribbean league will be staged in Coapexpan (MEX) next week.
Team Result – Lummen:
- Team Germany (0 faults) – jump-off round won in 39.75 seconds
- Team France (0 faults) – jump-off round won in 40.47 seconds
- Team Belgium (4 faults) – jump-off round won in 51.76 seconds
Full results: www.longinestiming.com
Full FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping standings here.
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