The following pairs will represent Germany at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair (10-13 September):
- Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo
- Michael Jung and FischerTakinou or Halunke FBW
- Bettina Hoy and Designer 10
- Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS or Horseware Hale Bob
- Dirk Schrade and Hop And Skip
- Peter Thomsen and Horseware’s Barny
The reserves have been named in the following order:
- Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon
- Niklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3
- Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60
These combinations all competed in the Nations Cup at Aachen this week, where German won the team competition, fielding Ingrid (FRH Escada JS), Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo), Michael Jung (Halunke FBW) and Dirk Schrade (Hop And Skip). Ingrid also finished first individually on Escada and second on Hale Bob.
The squad pairs all jumped clear across country at Aachen and finished in the placings. Of the reserves, Andreas had a run-out at the second angled tractor at fence 16b, an influential combination. Niklas and Claas both came through the finish flags, but were later eliminated for jumping the wrong side of flags at corners, the same fate that befell British rider Holly Woodhead on DHI Lupison. Niklas also had a run-out at 16b.
The Germans have won the team and individual gold at every senior eventing championship since 2011. The last team to beat them were Britain at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky.
The last non-German individual gold medallist was Britain’s Tina Cook on Miners Frolic at the 2009 European Championships in Fontainebleau, France. Michael Jung has won every individual gold since then except for last year, when his compatriot Sandra Auffarth took the top spot at WEG in Normandy riding Opgun Louvo. Michael took the individual silver on that occasion with FischerRocana FST.
Full report from Aachen in H&H this Thursday, 20 August.
