CCI4*-S Nations Cup for eventers in Marbach - Standings after dressage
Perfect start for German Nations Cup team in Marbach
from Dominique Wehrmann 
A great start to the Nations Cup premiere by Ben Leuwer with the nine-year-old Zuccini, who is considered a potential Olympic candidate as part of the Road2LA initiative. Photo: Facebook/Eventing Marbach Dressage of the CCI4*-S in Marbach is still going on today, but the team riders have already made their appearance. And it went almost perfectly from a German perspective with four team riders in the top ten. That means the lead before the cross-country with 81.2 minus points ahead of Sweden (94.3) and Belgium (100.5).
Olympic champions Michael Jung and Chipmunk produced the best dressage of all – so far – in the dressage arena in the Marbach stallion parade stadium – 78.85 percent, the equivalent of 21.2 minus points.
The European team champions Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia FRH were the first pair in the arena yesterday morning at 8 o’clock and laid the foundation for the team performance with 29.1 minus points (70.94) percent.
The two Nations Cup debutants, Julia Krajewski’s Irish Tullabeg Platinum and Ben Leuwer’s nine-year-old Holsteiner Zuccero son Zuccini MN, a horse that is part of the Road2LA initiative, achieved exactly the same result: 69.06 minus points.
The other top 3 teams
The Swedes are led by Olympic pair Louise Romeike and Caspian with 29.6 minus points. Riding alongside them are Sofia Sjöbirg on Govalent (32.3), Frida Andersen with Stonehaven Baby Blue (32.4) and Amanda Stamm in the saddle on Courpoubet At (34.5).
Anchorwoman for Belgium is Lara de Liederkerke-Meier, who scored 26.8 minus points with the ten-year-old Diarado son Kiarado d’Arville, finishing behind Michael Jung. Evergreen Karin Donckers, seven-time Olympic participant, who celebrates her 55th birthday in a few days, rode the Vigo d’Arsouilles son Leipheimer van’t Verahof (15) to 33.9 minus points. Valentine Emsens and Maplevalley’s Concorde scored 39.8 and An-Sofie Coevoet on Skylight 43.0.
Further German results
In addition to the team riders, some German individual riders will also be competing in Marbach. Nina Schultes, who became German professional rider champion in Marbach last year, was once again delighted with a great dressage performance by her 19-year-old veteran Grand Prix IWEST. The son of Grafenstolz (half-brother to Badminton star Lordships Graffalo) scored 30.8 minus points, securing the pair a top ten placing in the current test.
Team Olympic champion Dirk Schrade is presenting a four-star debutant in Marbach with the nine-year-old Holstein mare Bacalar by Barcley. They finished their dressage test with 35.4 minus points.
You can find all the results from Marbach here.
With 81.2 minus points, the
