German show jumpers are aiming for a team medal at the World Championships with more than 40 selections and one newcomer.
National coach Otto Becker named this requirement before the start of the World Cup in Denmark. “But the minimum goal is Olympic qualification,” explained the coach. This requires a fifth place in the team competition.
“It will be a very tight box,” Baker said. There are many strong teams and “balanced areas”. Team competition at the World Championships in Herning consists of a time competition on Wednesday and two rounds of the Nations Cup on Thursday and Friday.
Baker enlists a team with three experienced riders and newcomer Jan Wargers (30) with Limbridge. European champion Andre Thiem (47) with Chakaria, Christian Ahlmann (47) with Dominator and Marcus Ehing (48) with StarGold also belong to the team. “We have a really good team,” Ehing said.
“So far I’m comfortable,” Wars said before taking part in his first World Cup. “It was a dream of mine to be there. When it actually happened, it was a surprise,” she said. The 30-year-old rider hails from Amsterdam, but has lived and worked in Boucholt, Belgium, for several years.
The team is “priority” in the rankings, insisted the national coach before the first three stages of the World Cup. Then on Sunday the individual will be decided in two more rounds – and only in jump-offs if necessary.
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