A challenging course put the riders under pressure in the CSIO3* Titan Containers A/S FEI Nations Cup of Denmark on Saturday, but an experienced German team with a talented debutant secured the victory at Equitour Aalborg.
Riders from 13 nations (RSA, SWE, DEN, NED, GBR, BEL, FIN, NOR, ITA, GER, POL, FRA and IRL) met in the trilling and hair-raising FEI Nations Cup where the course proved to be very challenging for all teams. The German team consisted of three experienced riders and the Nations Cup debutant Gerrit Nieberg riding Contagio (Colman x Lordanos). He proved himself with two spectacular clear rounds which was instrumental in ensuring German victory. Gilbert Böckmann on Pikeur Lord Fauntleroy (Lord Pezi x Contendro I) with a score of 12-4, Thomas Kleis on Chades of Blue (Chacco-Blue x Diamant de Semilly) with a score of 0-8 and Lars Nieberg on Foster (For Edition x Adlantus AS) with a score of eight faults in round one notched up a total of 20 penalties which was good enough for the win.
"It was our goal to do well in the Nations Cup and now we have won, so I'm of course pleased," said German Chef d'Equipe Heinrich-Hermann Engemann. He noticed that it is not usual to win a Nations Cup with 20 penalties. It was a good, but difficult course the Danish course designer Bo Bak Andersen had built in today's Nations Cup.
"It's a very nice facility here, and with some minor adjustments it can be very good," stressed the experienced German.
This was the third leg in Europe Division 2 this season, and the second and last in Group D.
Europe Division 2 has been divided into four groups this season, for the purpose of qualifying eight teams – plus the home team if not already qualified – for the Division 2 FEI Nations Cup qualifier at CSIO5* Budapest in Hungary, on Sunday 12th of August, where these teams will compete for two tickets for the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.
The lowest ranked team on the overall standings for Europe Division 1 prior to the 2018 FEI Nations Cup Final will be automatically relegated to Division 2 for the 2019 season, and the best placed team at the 2018 Division 2 FEI Nations Cup qualifier in Budapest will be promoted to Division 1.
Source: Press release from Equitour / Photo © Ridehesten.com