Meydan Nations Cup™ Series: Swiss Favourites to Win Third Leg

The host country is firm favourite to win the third leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series in St Gallen, Switzerland tomorrow. Already heading up the leaderboard after two excellent early-season performances, the Swiss are drawn seventh to go following today’s draw.

The starting order is as follows: 1, France; 2, USA; 3, The Netherlands; 4, Great Britain; 5, Ireland; 6, Germany; 7, Switzerland; 8, Sweden; 9, Italy; 10, Belgium.

Record-breaking

All eyes will be on Markus Fuchs as he competes for a record-breaking 145th time in a nations cup competition. “To have Markus on my team tomorrow is a great honour” said Swiss Chef d’Equipe Rolf Grass. “It is his last time to ride on a team for his country and he has made us so proud for very many years so I hope we can do him proud and that we can take a place on the podium tomorrow” he added. Fuchs will be joined by Daniel Etter, Steve Guerdat and Christina Liebherr in a particularly strong side.

However Mr Grass knows that the opposition is world class and that victory will not come easily.

The Americans have sent their winning team from Rome last week – “they will be difficult to beat, and I also have a lot of respect for the teams from Great Britain and from France. We hope we can go really well, but tomorrow is another day and it will be another tough class” Mr Grass pointed out.

Young Team

While the home supporters will have plenty to cheer about as 53 year old Markus Fuchs enters the arena tomorrow, there is also great excitement in the Swedish camp as they have such youth on their side. At just 19 years of age, Alexander Zetterman picked up only four faults on his senior nations cup debut with his father’s great campaigner, Isaac, in La Baule last month. Sweden finished second in a thrilling finale at the French fixture and team manager, Maria Gretzer, has selected him once again this week.

As the action begins tomorrow afternoon at 13.30 local time, Switzerland leads the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ table with a 3.5 point advantage over the second-placed Americans while France lies a close third. For Ireland and Italy a good result is vital because they are currently lying at the bottom of the leaderboard and must improve if they are to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

Quotes

Rolf Grass, Swiss Chef d’Equipe – “Choosing my team has been difficult – Pius Schwizer was double-clear in La Baule but I could only have four riders tomorrow and Markus Fuchs must be one of them. I know Pius is disappointed that he will not be competing, but I believe he will be happy to come back in the team later in the season”

Rob Ehrens, Dutch Chef d’Equipe, when asked why he decided to put Nathalie Van de Mie as the last rider on his team -“I always begin with Angelique Hoorn because she is very good with time and then Marc Houtzager goes in second. Albert (Zoer) can only ever be third! That’s just the way it is so the only place left for Nathalie is fourth. She is a very good rider and I know she will hold the place very well”.