EEF Nations Cup Mannheim - Team Germany nominated

Hannes Ahlmann, Sandra Auffarth, Katrin Eckermann, Sophie Hinners and Gerrit Nieberg will be riding for Germany, a young yet experienced team.

Hannes Ahlmann, who turned 25 in March, secured third place for the German team in the final of the EEF Nations Cup series in Avenches (SUI) last year thanks to two clear rounds. Sandra Auffarth has won Olympic medals in individual and team competitions for Germany as an eventer and has already jumped for Germany in the League of Nations and/or other five-star Nations Cups. The same applies to the other three. Sophie Hinners was the Nations Cup rider with the most clear rounds ever last year.

Big names on the course

Despite the top line-up of the German team, the competition is fierce. Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Ireland have announced their participation, not only for the Nations Cup, but also for the Grand Prix, the Badenia.

To name a few prominent names – Willem Greve (NED) has entered. Martin Fuchs (SUI) will be competing on the course, his Australian girlfriend Simone Pearce in the arena. Kevin Staut (FRA) will be there, Max Wachman from Ireland, Luciana Diniz for Brazil, Jos Verlooy for Belgium and many more.

“We have a super field of starters on the course,” says tournament director Peter Hofmann, looking forward to the first weekend in May.

And Michael Jung will also try to repeat his Badenia victory from 2021.

Strong entry result for para-dressage riders

Mannheim is a Nations Cup venue not only for the show jumping riders, but also for the para-dressage riders. Peter Hoffmann comments: “42 riders from 14 nations have entered with 51 horses. That is huge. There will probably be five teams competing in the Nations Cup: Germany, Italy, Singapore, Austria and Finland. The German team consists of the riders who became European champions in 2025.”

As a result, German para-sport will be represented in Mannheim by Heidemarie Dresing, Regine Mispelkamp, Isabell Nowak and Melanie Wienand.