Like in the Deutsche Bank Preis, the “Against the clock” class on Wednesday, Ehning was eliminated after Nolte’s Küchengirl, his mare, had refused twice, and thus, again increased the pressure on his team colleagues tremendously. “Up to the combination, I had a top feeling, I cannot explain it”, Ehning was as at a loss as Kurt Gravemeier, the federal coach: “This horse has performed extremely well this year, never had a failure.”

 (c) cms-medien.de

However, a few hours later, Gravemeier could be very happy, when Ludger Beerbaum, who is starting for the Reiter-Verein Mannheim, had it in his hands to arrange a happy end from the German point of view. After Christian Ahlmann (Marl) with Cöster had awoken some hopes with a clear round, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly with another clear round increased these hopes of the host’s team enormously. And when Ludger Beerbaum, the first of the world’s ranking list, also went clear with Goldfever, the 16-year old stallion, the “gold project” was again on target. “It took a load off her mind” commented the native-born American her feelings after the clear ride of her brother-in-law. With 5.18 points, Germany is in the lead of the team ranking before the decisive second round on Friday, followed by the Netherlands, who could finish part one of the Preis von MVV Energie with a “completely clean record”. With Vincent Voorn, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Albert Zoer and Gerco Schröder, the World Champion team achieved the feat to perform four clear rounds (7,37), and, thus, displaced Switzerland (8,13) on the third position. “It is really enormous that all four riders went clear. And especially, that they did it in a very competent way”, said Rob Ehrens, the Dutch Chef d’équipe about the performance of his team. That indeed, many female and male riders had a clear round, Ehrens did not ascribe to the course requirements. “It was definitely not the case, that the course was too easy, but the conditions are just perfect here and the footing is absolutely fantastic“, he paid the biggest compliment to the hosts in the MVV riding stadium.

A statement to which Christina Liebherr from Switzerland could only agree. The Swiss rider, who again went clear in the Preis von MVV Energie, is still in the lead of the individual ranking after the second of five rounds. “The course is not easy at all, however, there are a lot of good riders and horses participating here.” Liebherr, who was born in Stuttgart, has the best chances – after having won double silver at the last European Championship in San Patrignano, to grab at the gold medal. However, it is also still in reach for Ludger Beerbaum, for whom Mannheim is the sportive home town, and who is in second position with 1.11 points in front of Stefan Eder (Österreich/1,12) and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (1,54).

Quelle: mps-agentur
Photos: www.reitsportfotos.eu