Rotterdam, The Netherlands – August 21, 2019 – Germany took the lead with four fantastic performances in the Speed class on the opening day of the Longines FEI Jumping European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands this afternoon.

Marcus Ehning (GER) & Comme Il Faut

Simone Blum (GER) and DSP Alice were the first combination to go for the Germans and estabished the early lead with a sensational round. And when team-mates Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Clintrexo Z and Marcus Ehning (GER) with Comme Il Faut were even quicker, and then Daniel Deusser (GER) wrapped it all up with a stunning run from Scuderia 1018 Tobago Z, Germany couldn’t be touched at the top of the leaderboard.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) & Clintrexo Z 

However first-day results are reconfigured into points, and when the team competition proper gets underway tomorrow with the first of two rounds that will lead to the medal ceremony on Friday, they have only a narrow advantage over France. And there’s less than a single fence between them and Team Sweden in third place. Great Britain and Switzerland are just over two fences behind, while the defending champions from Ireland and Team Israel are also in hot pursuit in sixth and seventh places respectively.

Daniel Deusser (GER) & Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z

A total of 15 nations started the competition today, and 10 of them are also hunting down one of the three team qualifying spots on offer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. So, just as it was in the Dressage Team Championship earlier in the week, the next two days of competition will be as much about good placings as they will be about getting on the medal podium, and once again Team Germany is in command at the outset.

For full team results & overall standings, please click here .

Source: Press release (edited) by Louise Parkes for FEI – Fédération Equestre Internationale

Photos: © Getty Images / Dean Mouhtaropoulos for FEI