The German show jumpers have the best prospects for the home stretch of the European team championship in Riesenbeck.
With four strong rides, Christian Kukuk (Riesenbeck) with Mumbai, Andre Thieme (Plau am See) with Chakaria, David Will (Dagobertshausen) with C Vier and Marcus Ehning (Borken) with Stargold were in second place, which they are already on had fought for the first day in time jumping.
Evi Simeoni
Sports editor.
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Christian Kukuk achieved sovereign laps without mistakes on his home track with his nine-year-old gray stallion and Thieme with his eleven-year-old chestnut mare. In the individual standings, Kukuk is now in second place behind the Swiss defending champion Martin Fuchs. Before the last round on Friday, less than one jumping fault separates the German team from the leading Swiss, but also from the third-placed Swedes.
David Will, who had been in the lead after the first day, slipped back to eleventh place in the individual standings due to a mistake on the penultimate obstacle - but the riders up to 17th place are close together - a single throw can change the picture decisively. Seasoned Marcus Ehning had every effort to keep his inexperienced stallion Stargold in the race. "I already saw myself lying on the ground," he said. After a crisis on the triple bar he got his horse back on track with great mastery.