Text © World of Showjumping

It was a close-fought battle for the team gold medal at the Longines FEI European Championships 2021 at Riesenbeck International, Germany – with Switzerland and the host nation keeping the spectators at the edge of their seats until the last oxer was jumped. Eventually, it was the combined fighting spirit of four Swiss friends that turned out to be the winning formula – “Everyone here wanted to fight not only for themselves but for the team,” anchor rider Steve Guerdat said with the gold medal sparkling around his neck. “I think it makes us stronger when we fight for four, and not just for ourselves.”

Coming into the second and last round of the team final, Germany was breathing overnight-leaders Switzerland in the neck – sitting only 3.3 points behind in silver position. Then followed Sweden, that was in bronze position – 6.12 points behind Switzerland. Belgium was in fourth, followed by Ireland, France, Denmark, Great Britain, Spain and Austria. 

Frank Rothenberger had again drawn up a challenging course, that was set at 1.60m – consisting of thirteen jumps and sixteen efforts. The Longines oxer-vertical-oxer combination proved tricky, as did the last line, with a water oxer followed by a 27m distance to a tight, tall vertical-vertical combination and then 38m to a wide Longines oxer where the horses had to make one last stretch before they could cross the finish line. 

Expectations were high for Sweden, who had a strong start to the championships – but it was not to be today. Douglas Lindelöw, Angelica Augusston Zanotelli and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson all finished on eight faults – and although Peder Fredricson was clear with Catch Me Not S (Cardento x Ramiro's Son) it did not help much as Belgium came with full force from behind with their eyes set on a medal. 

Yet again, Pieter Devos and Jade vd Bisschop (Ogano Sitte x Grannus) got the Belgians off to the best possible start when delivering their third clear at these championships and this kicked off a string of incredible performances from Peter Weinberg’s team – with Jos Verlooy and Varoune (Verdi TN x Cordalme Z), Olivier Philippaerts and Le Blue Diamond v’t Ruytershof (Plot Blue x Diamant de Semilly) as well as Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento x Tornedo FCS) all finishing on a zero-penalty score to pass Sweden and slotting into bronze medal position on 17.34 points as the remaining anchors entered the ring. Devos has with his fantastic riding in Riesenbeck now pushed himself up to sit third on the individual standing ahead of Sunday’s final. 

The Germans had a good start to today’s last round of the team competition, as both Andre Thieme on DSP Chakaria (Chap 47 x Askari 173) and Marcus Ehning on Stargold (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard) delivered clears – much to the joy of the home crowds who had met up to cheer on their heroes. Thieme now sits second on the individual standing, with only 2.84 penalty points – best of the Germans.

For Switzerland, it was a more rocky start – as their pathfinders Elian Baumann and Campari Z (Contact vd Heffinck x Platini M) had three rails down today, after jumping clear in the first two rounds of the championships. However, Bryan Balsiger and AK’s Courage (Chepetto C x Lennon) put the Swiss back on track with a clear – but there was no room for error from any of the remaining riders if they wanted the gold. “Yesterday he did an amazing clear round, so we did not expect the start we had with the twelve faults from Elian,” Balsiger said. “I just went in and did what I like – ride my horse and do the best for the Swiss team. Today it was a clear round, and I was very happy about Courage because she jumped really good today – doing everything to stay clear. I kept pushing to the last jump.”

In a surprising turn of events, Christian Kukuk and Mumbai (Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve) knocked down their first fence of the championships when taking the back rail of the last oxer in the triple combination with them – and suddenly the Swiss regained control as individual leader Martin Fuchs yet again jumped clear with the incredible 9-year-old Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland) to add nothing to his team’s score. 

Counting in Baumann’s twelve faults as their discharge score, the Swiss only had a margin of error of 3.3 points as the last riders where about to enter the ring. Germany now desperately needed a clear round from their anchor rider David Will to put pressure on 2012 Olympic Champion and former world no. one Guerdat, who had been given the task to go as last for Switzerland – and who is well known for delivering when it matters the most. 

Will started strong, with C Vier (Cardento x Concorde) jumping convincing all the way down to the penultimate combination that already had claimed several victims. Coming slightly deep, the top rail on the a-element of the 1.58m upright fell to the ground and a collective ‘noooooo’ came in response from the crowds. With four faults added to their score, the Germans were now sitting on 12.77 and Guerdat had room for a rail and even three time faults – but nothing more, or the gold would slip out of his hands.

You could hear a pin drop as Guerdat entered the arena at Riesenbeck International. Riding the 10-year-old Albführen's Maddox (Cohiba x Maraton), that is jumping his first championship, Guerdat set off determinedly. However, faith wanted it at its most exciting today and at the gold horse oxer at nine, Maddox pushed the front pole out of the cups and suddenly the pressure increased tremendously for Guerdat who still had the most difficult part of the course in front of him. Pressure is no stranger for the experienced 39-year-old though, who managed to keep it together to cross the finish line on four faults – securing the team gold for the Swiss, their first since 2009 when Guerdat also was part of the squad at Windsor.

“I had pressure, but to be honest not more than my colleagues here,” Guerdat said after. “Bryan did an unbelievable job to get us back into the race after Elian was not as good as we expected – but he has been amazing the first two rounds,” Guerdat said. “I just tried to make the best of it today. It’s not that I really got worried of the mistake that I had, but I got a little bit nervous because I was running out of control with Maddox. He got really strong on the line after the triple combination and I had to stay calm to bring him back home – without thinking of the result really, but just of getting my horse back together with me and that is what I managed to do. The release was big after that!”

About the extremely exciting sport at Riesenbeck International today, Guerdat said: “I think it shows again – and I guess I can speak in the name of most of the riders – why we like to have four riders on the team, because [without it] things would have been completely different and for sure not as tight at the end. We had the experience of the Olympics [Editor’s note: With three on the team and no drop score], there were some good things and some things that need to be improved. I definitely think that we together showed the best of what our sport has to offer today, and I hope that you are all on the same line on this.”

Championship-format-talk to the side, the Swiss were all smiles today with the gold medals around their necks, and also hold the lead individually with Martin Fuchs on top of the standings on only 1.31 points. “Leone Jei has jumped great all the three rounds here,” Fuchs said. “He is just nine years of age but shows all his ability already. His performances over the three rounds have been amazing, and I am really happy to already have secured a gold medal for him. He is such a young horse with such a big future ahead of him, and after the shock we had two weeks ago with Clooney, to stand here with a medal feels great!”

“Obviously, this is a huge moment for myself and for my career, and to win alongside three friends is a great feeling,” Fuchs said. “Also to win after my dad [Thomas Fuchs in 1983] at the European Championships, and bring another gold into the family is great.”

Swiss newcomer Elian Baumann did his first championship for Switzerland with his 14-year-old gelding Campari Z, and was delighted to be part of the team for Riesenbeck – jumping two clear rounds up until today. “I have been riding Campari Z for five years. This year, I managed to make my way to St. Gallen and then to La Baule. Then we got the chance to be on the team for the Europeans, which of course was wonderful. I am very proud of my horse and of the team, and that we could win gold here together!” Baumann said of his fabulous four- and two-legged friends. 

The Longines FEI European Championships conclude on Sunday with the invidual final. The first round is open to the 25 best-placed competitors, while the twelve top-ranked horse-and-rider combinations after the first round come back for round two to decide the medals.