IRELAND couldn’t quite live up to their favourites tag at the FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen last weekend, but they did secure the all-important qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during a thrilling week at the German home of show jumping.

It was the home team of Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42), Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) and Richard Vogel (United Touch S), who remarkably completed both rounds of the team final over two days without lowering a single rail, making Germany the only nation to achieve the feat and take an emphatic victory in front of 40,000 adoring fans.

“I have no words for this team,” German chef d’equipe Otto Becker admitted. “I’m really proud of what they did, especially today. To win at home in Aachen, when I see the crowd, and especially in the rain at the prize giving, they were all there. This is something special.”

As for Irish chef d’equipe Jessica Kürten, she too was thrilled her team fought back against the odds after losing Darragh Kenny on Friday morning to finish seventh. She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve made qualification for the Olympics in LA in 2028. It was really exciting sport all week and we had to fight to get into the final, then came the the bad news that we needed to go without Eddy Blue in the final tonight.

“That hit us very hard, but in true Irish style, everybody pulled together and gave it their absolute best shot to earn us the qualification. I think when we’re very realistic, we have to be delighted that we’re going to Los Angeles.”

Kenny’s decision to pull out of the final round came when Eddy Blue was not feeling 100%. “After careful assessment this afternoon, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw Eddy Blue from this evening’s team final at the World Equestrian Games,” he wrote on social media.

“Whilst he is well and happy in himself, I noticed he was not feeling 100% when I rode him this morning. Following discussion with our team vet, Marcus Swail, and the whole Irish team, we agreed that protecting his long-term health and soundness must always come first. He is a special horse, and his wellbeing has always been, and will always be, my first priority.”

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz at the FEI World Championships in Aachen \ Tomas Holcbecher

Thriller

The 10 nations that survived Thursday’s first-round cut returned in reverse order for the team medal decider, carrying their cumulative scores into a night where every penalty mattered. Ireland missed the first rotation with Kenny no longer competing, so it was Bertram Allen and the 10-year-old gelding Qonquest de Rigo, owned by Aloga Stables, who got Ireland’s campaign underway. They picked up four faults at the triple bar in an otherwise excellent round.

The degree of difficulty around Frank Rothenberger’s (GER) 14-obstacle, 17-effort track was increased significantly and it showed throughout the night with plenty of movement. There were four retirements alone in the first 20 riders, in a course where the first fence fell many times. In the end, 14 combinations produced clear rounds.

Cian O’Connor was next to go with the Karlswood Partners-owned Chatolinue PS and the 13-year-old gelding never looked like touching a pole only for the unluckiest fault at the last. “He felt fantastic,” O’Connor said afterwards.

“The triple combination, he jumped it like a gymnast, and the water comes so quickly after but he felt super. I thought I was doing well after the triple bar-vertical double; that was difficult for me, and I took my time going around, squared up, and the last three jumps he jumped really well. He had a bare rub on the front pole of the last, so a bit of an unlucky rail, but I’m very pleased how he jumped.”

Shane Sweetnam was the anchor rider with James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly and owned by Gizmo Partners LLC, and an added stride to the triple bar going into the double proved costly for him.

“It was a bit of a mistake on my side for that combination; honestly, there was a clear round right there. But he jumped great,” said Sweetnam.“I suppose the most important thing is, we’re qualified for the Olympics. Especially with three men today, we really had to pull it out, and everyone did.”

Cian O'Connor and Chatolinue PS at the FEI World Championships in Aachen \ Tomas Holcbecher

Home town heroes

Germany entered with the advantage and immediately strengthened their position. Ehning and Coolio 42 opened with a clear inside the time before Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair followed without lowering a pole, adding just one time penalty.

Then came Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom. As they sailed over the last, the maths was done, sealing gold for Germany before fourth-line athlete Vogel even entered the arena.

“Simply said, I had goosebumps in the ring,” Deusser described. “It’s the result of a long journey this year. As Germans, it’s really unbelievable. You cannot describe it.”

Vogel and United Touch S followed their teammates’ example, leaving every rail in place but adding two time penalties, which became Germany’s discard score and had an impact on his individual score.

Some 20 years after Germany claimed team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, they returned to the same venue and this time the gold was coming home.

The battle behind Germany remained alive until the closing stages.

Britain stayed in podium contention after clear rounds from Ben Maher (Point Break) and Harry Charles (LT Holst Freda), with Charles finding redemption after a difficult Thursday.

“It’s a proper championship course and the atmosphere is amazing,” Charles explained. “Yesterday was a pretty low day. I’m very happy to get a clear finally. There was a lot of relief after the finish line and the feeling was incredible.”

With Britain’s discard score set at 15 penalties by Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo, anchor Scott Brash and Hello Mango entered with silver and bronze still in play. Their first fence down handed Belgium the opportunity.

Abdel Saïd (BEL) and Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z seized it, delivering a sensational clear to secure silver and leave Britain with bronze.

“We knew it was going to be very close and very tough,” Saïd explained. “We said we would focus, try our best and be on the ball, and it worked out.”

The seven teams who secured their Olympic qualification were Germany, Belgium, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland and France.

Denmark had reason to celebrate too, reaching the top-10 Team Final for the first time at an FEI Jumping World Championship.