Germany Wins Nations Cup in La Baule Just Ahead of France
La Baule 2024 – With eight penalty points, the German team has secured victory in the Nations Cup in La Baule, France. The star performers were Philipp Weishaupt and Zineday, who delivered one of the five double-clear rounds. However, the other three combinations also performed well with just one pole down.
André Thieme kicked off the competition for the German team in La Baule, delivering a faultless round with Chakaria in the first leg. In the second round, they accrued four penalty points. Kendra Claricia Brinkop was the second rider for Team Germany, with the nine-year-old Tabasco de Toxandria Z by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve, incurring a single pole down in the initial round. Adding to the clear round in the second leg, the duo from the Stephex Stables turned out to be the fastest four-fault pair in the end.
Five riders managed to achieve a double-clear round, including the German anchor rider, Philipp Weishaupt, with Zineday. Completing the quartet at the Nations Cup in La Baule were Marcus Ehning and Coolio. Despite a minor fault in the first leg, the duo showcased a strong performance after a successful indoor season, securing victories and placements in various competitions.
France claimed the second spot with four penalty points, as the Germans narrowly snatched victory on French soil. While the French team had two double-clear rounds, the initial rider, Simon Delestre, accumulated five penalty points in the first leg. The remaining French riders managed to deliver clear rounds, but it was not enough to surpass the Germans.
Belgium secured the third position with a total of twelve penalty points. The team, led by Peter Weinberg, showcased a commendable performance with a mix of clear rounds and minor faults, securing a spot on the podium.
Overall, the Nations Cup in La Baule 2024 was a thrilling competition with top-class performances from the participating teams, ultimately culminating in a victory for Germany.
By Jan Tönjes
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief since 2012, with a background in German and English studies, has been a horse journalist since 1988. Previously worked for public broadcasters such as ARD, SFB, RBB in Berlin. A family man, radio enthusiast, experienced TV presenter, horse breeder, podcast host, and recipient of awards such as the Silver Horse and Alltech Media Award. President of the International Association of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ).