Mannheim, Germany—July 19-20
As she’s done so many times before, Beezie Madden clinched a remarkable victory for the United States this weekend. The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team—anchored by Madden on Cortes ‘C’—was victorious in the 100th Nations Cup of Germany, held at the Mannheim CSIO5* in Mannheim, Germany.
The contest was exciting from start to finish as the talented all-female team of Laura Kraut, Madden, Kirsten Coe, and Lucy Davis were able to stave off the best efforts of top teams from Belgium and Germany for the win.
The U.S. team of (from left) Kirsten Coe, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, chef d’equipe Robert Ridland, and Lucy Davis prevailed in a nail-biting Nations Cup at the Mannheim CSIO5*. Photo by Karl-Heinz Frieler
After two grueling rounds on a hot day, the three teams of USA, Germany, and Belgium all stood tied on a score of 8 faults. As specified by FEI rules, victory is then decided by a timed jump-off between one rider from each of the tied teams.
Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland tapped the master of speed, Madden on Abigail Wexner’s veteran campaigner Cortes ‘C’. The duo did not disappoint as they blazed through the timers fractions of a second ahead of Belgium’s rider, Pieter Devos. German hopes were pinned on Christian Ahlmann on Taloubet Z and for the first part of the course, it looked like the spectators’ wishes were giving them wings. But their dreams were dashed when Ahlmann had a heart-breaking rail in the jump-off at the very last fence, though his time still fell short of Madden’s.
“We all came to the agreement today that this is what we do it for; it was an unbelievable day and unbelievable setting in Germany,” said an ecstatic Ridland. “The roots of the sport are here in Germany, and to be invited is an honor. We sent a strong team because we knew the importance of event. Every rider contributed today with each having a clean round. To win it and win it in a jump-off, we had an incredible experience that we won’t forget for a long time.”
The day began with the U.S. team jumping third in the starting order for the Nations Cup. First to contest for the States was Olympian Kraut on Nouvelle, owned by the Evita Group. Kraut dropped an unlucky rail to receive a score of 4 faults.
Next for the United States was Coe and her big chestnut mare, Baronez, owned by Ilan Ferder, Lovsta Stuteri, and Tal Milstein. Coe rode a solid round to finish with 4 jumping faults and 1 time fault for a total score of 5 faults, which ended up being the drop score for Round 1.
Young Davis rode third for the United States on her lanky chestnut partner, Barron, owned by Old Oak Farm. The duo was flawless in their performance, resulting in a clean score. The anchor ride came from Madden and her formidable partner, Cortes ‘C’. With a foot in the water, the pair finished on a score of 4 faults and the United States was tied for third place after Round 1.
Round 2 of the Nations Cup saw superb efforts from all U.S. athletes. Kraut returned in the lead-off position with Nouvelle to finish a fast, clean round. Coe and Baronez galloped through the timers in the second spot, also to produce a clear round. With two unlucky rails, Davis and Barron finished the round on a score of 8 faults, which proved to be the drop score in Round 2. The pressure was on Madden who marched around the course with her characteristic poise to finish with 0 faults. The U.S. kept their 8-fault total score.
And so it came down to a three-way jump-off for first. Madden entered the jump-off first and turned in a round that put all the pressure on Devos and Ahlmann and ended up being just right for the win.
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Madden followed that up with an impressive second-place finish in the $324,690 Grand Prix of Mannheim the next day. In the grand prix, hometown hero Beerbaum redeemed the Germans with the win on a crazy day of sport.
After the first half of Grand Prix of Mannheim heavy rain showers and stormy winds broke into the MVV Equestrian stadium like the Mannheim region has not seen for many years.
The competition had to be interrupted; no fence was upright. The stabling tents were fine, but the show arena was soaked and in disarray. But after one hour the competition could be continued and most of the 7,000 spectators had stayed in the stadium.
As fourth to the last competitor of the initial round over the by Christa Jung-designed course, Ludger Beerbaum secured himself the 15th and last starting place in the jump-off aboard the Holstein mare Chiara.
Ukrainian rider Katharina Offel took an early lead in the jump-off, but in the end, the battle was between the last two riders to go—Madden and Beerbaum.
First Beezie Madden and Cortes C took the lead from Offel in a clear round in 42.73 seconds. Then came Beerbaum who rode Chiara in—as he said later—probably best jump-off in their career together. The timer stopped at 41.61 seconds and the spectators went mad! The Mannheim CSIO was celebrating its 100th anniversary and the crowd truly appreciated a German victory to conclude the weekend.
Ludger Beerbaum made the German crowd cheer with a rousing victory in the Grand Prix of Mannheim aboard Chiara. Photo by Karl-Heinz Frieler
“It was for me, of course, a big advantage that I could compete as last starter in the jump-off,” Beerbaum said. “I was able to watch Beezie’s ride and it gave me some additional adrenaline push.“
Madden was enthusiastic. “I am very happy how Cortes ‘C’ has jumped today, after he had done three rounds yesterday,” she said. “In the jump-off not everything went fluently, especially not before the double combination, but I am satisfied with the outcome.”
Result 100th Nations Cup of Germany at Mannheim:
1. USA (8 faults after 2 rounds; jump-off 0/32.72) Laura Kraut / Nouvelle (4/0), Kirsten Coe / Baronez ([5]/0), Lucy Davis / Barron (0/[8]), Beezie Madden / Cortes C(4/0/0, 32,72).
2. Belgium (8 after 2 rounds; jump-off 0/34.14) Pieter Devos /Dylano (0/0/0), Judy-Ann Melchior /As Cold as Ice Z (0/[4]), Jerome Guery / Papillon Z (8/0), Jos Lansink / Ensor de Litrange LXII ([9]/0).
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3. Germany (8 faults after 2 rounds; jump-off 4/32.95) Christian Ahlmann / Taloubet Z (0/4/4), Hans-Dieter Dreher / Embassy II (4/[8]), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum / Fibonacci ([8]/0), Ludger Beerbaum / Chiara (0/0)
4. France and Switzerland (20)
6. Italy (26)
7. Ireland (27)
8. The Netherlands (29)
Grand Prix of Mannheim:
1. Ludger Beerbaum (GER) / Chiara, 0-0/41.61
2. Beezie Madden (USA) / Cortes C, 0-0/42.73
3. Katharina Offel (UKR) / Zipper, 0-0/43.66
4. Paul Estermann (SUI) / Lord Pepsi, 0-0/47.06
5. Abdel Said (EGY) / Vingino, 0-0/48.25
6. Niklaus Rutschi (SUI) / Windsor XV, 0-4/41.41
