Germany's Olympic team win in style

Equestrianism

Germany gained a commanding victory in the Nations Cup on their showground here yesterday, beating the Swiss, the European champions, and leaving Britain trailing in sixth place, writes Genevieve Murphy from Aachen.

The Germans sent out their probable Olympic team: Franke Sloothaak on San Patrignano Joly (who jumped a double clear), Lars Nieberg on For Pleasure (four faults and clear), Ulrich Kirchhoff on Jus de Pommes (another double clear) and Ludger Beerbaum on Ratina (who had one clear round and was not required to jump again).

Ronnie Massarella, the manager of the British team, did not use any of his likely Olympic horses and he refused to be intimidated by Germany's sterling performance.

Massarella had other problems yesterday. Dollar Girl, tentatively selected on Thursday evening after she had crashed through a fence, was sore yesterday morning and had to be replaced. The team manager brought in Geoff Glazzard and Hello Oscar, who are both competing here for the first time. They had five fences down in each round.