Germany Take Ocala Longines League of Nations Victory

Team Germany, under the direction of Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker, won Leg 2 of 4 in Longines League of Nations™ competition on Saturday at Ocala, beating their second place finish at the event last year. Three clears in the final rotation boosted them to the top of the podium, with the anchor athlete, European champion Richard Vogel, sealing the deal aboard Cloudio, a 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion.

Ireland, coached by Jessica Kürten, finished in second place, thanks to a double clear from Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz as the final ride of the day. The Irish team ended their campaign in the USA on 8 points to Germany’s 4.

Outdoor challenges

Unlike many events, there was no one particular obstacle on Alan Wade’s course that troubled the competitors.

However, jump height, warm temperatures, and lengthening shadows no doubt played a role in shaping the afternoon’s early results. And for some human and equine athletes the Ocala leg at the World Equestrian Center was one of the season’s first forays into outdoor Jumping, after months of competing indoors on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ circuit.

At the interim following the first round, Ireland were in the lead on zero penalties, chased by the Netherlands on 1 time fault for being over the tight 75 seconds allowed.

Germany and Belgium were in third and fourth, respectively, each with 4 points. Great Britain carried 9 points, whilst France sat on 12, Brazil on 18, and Italy on 20.

Switzerland and last year’s Ocala winners the USA found themselves out of Round 2, with the Swiss team saddled with 25 points and the Americans on 49. An elimination for Lillie Keenan after parting company with Argan de Beliard and 33 points for Olympic medalist Laura Kraut following Tres Bien Z’s refusal at the water element saw the home team face uncharacteristic elimination at the bottom of the field.

Round 2 pressures

Round 2 put the pressure on the remaining top eight teams, with only three duos per nation and no opportunity for a discard score.

Team Italy was struggling on 40 points before their last ride. When Piergiorgio Bucci ran into trouble with the great Hantano, he decided to retire and save his partner for another day.

Likewise, Brazil and France couldn’t make a go of a podium finish, ending on 36 points apiece behind the Netherlands on 31 and Great Britain on 21.

The Dutch team were well in the mix for the prize giving after Oslo World Cup winner Sanne Thijssen’s 1-point ride aboard Cupcake Z. But when Camilla van de Helle played up on Kevin Jochems, they put 20 points on the board to move them out of reach of the top three.

All eyes on Vogel and Cloudio

With the Belgian team of Van Beek, Nicola Philippaerts (Katanga v/h Dingeshof), Emilie Conter (Portobella van de Fruitkorf), and Annelies Vorsselmans (Trezeguet) sitting on 12 points, it all came down to Germany’s Vogel and Cloudio.

Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) and Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 had already posted clears. And with last-up Ireland on 8, Vogel had a fence in hand.

Lucky for him, he didn’t need it. A gorgeous foot-perfect ride put the Germans on 4 overall and guaranteed them the top honours.

That left Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam to see if he could keep the lads from the Emerald Isle in second. It was another thrill for the packed Ocala crowd, as they crossed the Longines beam without a rail down to finish right behind Germany, pinning Belgium into third.

Kukuk's joy

Christian Kukuk had gone three months without riding Checker. But he was prolific in his praise for German Jumping great Ludger Beerbaum for keeping him in top shape back at home.

Said the Olympic champion of his partner: “He’s a different level. He makes it look so easy and feel so easy, these courses. You don’t have that so often, so I’m really, really happy and proud of Checker today.”

“I’m also really thankful for the whole team behind that kept him in shape,” he added. “That’s what it’s all about. You need people around you that care for the horses. You’re only as strong as your team behind.”

Andre Thieme was “a little sad” about his rail down in the first round aboard Chakaria. “But now I’m even happier that I got a second chance today and I was able to deliver that clear round,” he said.

Chakaria was previously out for a spell following surgery. “It means everything to me that this horse is back,” said Thieme. “We did so much to bring that horse back. He’s a horse that doesn’t get born every day!”

Dittmer's debut

It was the first Longines League of Nations™ competition for Rene Dittmer, who didn’t ride Corsica X in the second round. “It feels amazing to be in one of these Nations Cups. Unfortunately, I had one down in the first round, so thank you to my team. They did amazing — jumped three clear rounds in the second round. It’s an unbelievable feeling to win here.”

Richard Vogel is no stranger to riding under pressure. “I’m not sure if we love it,” he laughed, “but it definitely keeps us awake. We’re addicted to it, let’s put it that way.”

“I’m thankful for my team,” he commented. “We have great teammates here. I went in with almost a comfortable situation, having one rail to give.”

“But I have to say this format makes it very exciting. Anything could happen, as we saw in the second round.”

“It’s always a pleasure to come here,” said Vogel of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. “We love to come up here and use this incredible facility. For us, for the staff, and for our horses, we couldn’t wish for anything more. We have not enough positive words to describe this facility!”

Germany on top

Team Germany’s performance this weekend has rocketed them to the top of the overall standings for the series on 190 points, ahead of France on 155 and Ireland on 150. They’re followed by Brazil, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, and the USA, in that order.

The next legs take athletes to Rotterdam and St. Tropez, France before the October Final at Barcelona.