They still have to sleep for one more night, then it’s time for the first competition for the show jumping riders at the World Championships in Aachen. „We are motivated to the fullest,“ said the reigning European champion, Richard Vogel, Compared to spring-reiter.de, the point is clear. On Tuesday, a training session on the sacred and slightly wet grass was scheduled for the show jumping riders. Sophie Hinners, Daniel Deusser and Marcus Ehning took the opportunity. Richard Vogel and United Touch S as well as Christian Kukuk and Checker refrained from a training session. „I rode United today in dressage and he felt very comfortable,“ said the Aachen winner Richard Vogel. Christian Kukuk and Checker, who only shone in the Grand Prix in London a week ago, had also just proven their top form.
Team-mate Daniel Deusser can hardly wait for the start of the World Cup either:
„I decided today to do a few jumps in the warm-up, even though I don’t usually do that. I just wanted to know how my own feeling is; is Otello going well in the course or is he maybe a bit nervous. In the end, it was exactly the same feeling as on the last competitions. But even though I only did four jumps, I came out of it with a very good and also better feeling. Sophie asked me yesterday if I wanted to ride again. And I asked her, would you normally still ride? She said no, but we have nothing else to do. I think it’s very important not to ride the horses anymore just because we have time. There’s still a long week until Sunday. We’re all eating and drinking because there’s so much time,“ laughed Deusser. „I really hope that tomorrow can finally start.“
Marcus Ehning is also looking forward to the World Championships: „Coolio felt very good during the warm-up today. We wish you all the best and hope that we will really have good laps and bring you all joy.“
That is also what Sophie Hinners hopes for.„Of course, I am very proud to be able to start for the German team, and I hope that we can put in very good laps.“
Reserve player Christian Kukuk is looking forward to the goosebumps moments in the stadium: „That’s the feeling you always long for as a sportsman. In case of emergency, Checker and I are more than ready.“
„We are in the same stable as the winning dressage riders,“ he said. National coach Otto Becker and hopes that it is a good omen.
At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the first bell will sound for the first qualifying round for the teams and the individual competition.