It's said that the best defense is a good offense, and coming to Rotterdam to defend their title from Gothenburg two years ago Peder Fredricson and H&M All In certainly delivered according to those tactics in the first round of the Longines FEI European Championships 2019 – putting their competitors under some serious pressure. They lead individually going into Thursday's second round. Photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Happy Swedish fans! Team Sweden sit third overall after the first round.
Austria's Max Kühner and Chardonnay 79 blazed around the opening round to finish second, and now sit 0.40 penalty points behind Fredricson and H&M All In.
Taking it easy to the wall... Third placed Ben Maher explained his round at the press conference yesterday: "I just could not take a big risk today on the line with the Longines wall, that is where these guys were better than me. Explosion has won a lot, but he is still young and he’s been a little bit careful sometimes on these jumps."
Germany's Christian Ahlmann delivered one of his trademark rounds, being effortlessly, lightning fast to finish fourth.
Earning air-miles: Steve Guerdat and Albführen's Bianca were best of the Swiss to finish fifth. Only 1.31 penalty points separate Guerdat from the leading position, so it’s tight in the top five after the first round in Rotterdam.
Team Ireland are defending their title from Gothenburg, and hunting Olympic qualification. They sit 6th on the team standings, a little over six penalties behind the leaders. Here Darragh Kenny and Balou du Reventon, best of the Irish yesterday.
The flying feathers! Dani G. Waldmann and Lizziemary were clear and fastest for Team Israel.
Cutting corners! After all, it was a Table C...
The Germans came strong in force, and lead the team competition on 4.22 penalties ahead of Thursday's second round. Here Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.
Kisses for Timon d'Aure, after he helped Team France to sit second on the overall standings yesterday a little over one penalty behind Germany.
Belgium is one of the teams hunting Olympic qualification, they now sit 8th on the overall standings and fight against nine other countries to earn one of three tickets to Tokyo.
The hosts did not get the start they wished for, they now sit 9th overall. Best of the Dutch were Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof's Calimero.
It was not Spain's day, they finished last of the fifteen teams. Here the best of the Spanish: Sergio Alvarez Moya and Jet Run.
Somebody has got to do this job too! H&M Christian K had to step in for H&M All In at the prize giving.
Then