Team Switzerland take the win for the CCIO4*-S FEI Nations Cup Eventing in Avenches in 2022. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Libby Law
Team announcements season is upon us, and Switzerland are the first nation to deliver their squad for next month’s FEI European Eventing Championships, which will take place from August 9–13 at Haras du Pin, northern France.
Though the Europeans represents a valuable opportunity for the highest-placed non-qualified nation on the final leaderboard to earn a qualification for Paris, Switzerland doesn’t have to worry about that this year: the developing eventing nation qualified for the Olympics at last year’s World Championships, where they finished seventh. Their team for the Europeans is, at its core, exactly the same – though three of the named riders have multiple horses to choose from, including an excellent second in Felix Vogg’s Luhmühlen CCI5* winner, Colero. While nations are permitted to enter six combinations – a team of four, plus two individuals – Switzerland has opted to fulfil just four of those entries.
The selected riders, and their horses, are as follows:
- Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH – 15-year-old Swiss Sport Horse gelding (Greco de Lully CH x Miola, by Apartos) owned by Jean-Jacques Fünfschilling
- Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire – 16-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mr Blue x La Guna de Rueire, by Bayard d’Elle), owned by Peter Thürler and Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser OR GB Keep Cool du Perchet CH – 12-year-old Swiss Sport Horse gelding (GB Konvally x Aquarelle du Perchet, by Akribori), owned by Christina Maier
- Nadja Minder and Toblerone CH – 16-year-old Swiss Sport Horse gelding (Yarlands Summer Song x Medelyne, breeding unknown), owned by Nicole Basieux OR Victoryhope Treille – 14-year-old Selle Français gelding (Epsom Gesmeray x Diabola du Defey, by Oberon du Moulin), owned by Peter Attinger OR Top Job’s Jalisco – 11-year-old Polish Sport Horse gelding (Pauillac de Meia Lua x Ajka, by Jalienny X), owned by Peter Attinger and Martin Zak
- Felix Vogg and Cartania II – 12-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cartani 4 x Z-Schatzi, by Clinton), owned by the rider and Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l. OR Colero – 15-year-old Westfalian gelding (Captain Fire x Bonita, by Bormio), owned by Jürgen Vogg
Dominik Burger, Swiss team chef d’equipe, says, “At the European Championships in Le Pin, we can expect an interesting and difficult cross-country as well as strong competition. We have been able to prepare well in the last few months and at the CHIO Aachen and, after the good results at the championships in recent years, we are highly motivated to get a taste of a team medal.”
The Swiss team will be ably assisted by cross-country coach Andrew Nicholson, dressage coach Gilles Ngovan, showjumping coach Lesley McNaught, and team veterinarian Antonia Müller.
The deadline for nominated entries for the European Championships is the 10th of July, while definite entries close on the 24th. Substitutions can be made up to two hours before the first horse inspection on the 9th of August, in the case of extenuating circumstances, but we can expect to see lots more news and announcements from the nations fielding teams over the next couple of weeks. Keep it locked on EN for all the info as we get it.
