In the Stutteri Ask Stadium, which is actually a football stadium, equestrian athletes will compete for World Championship medals in four disciplines in Herning from 6 to 14 August: The Ecco FEI World Championships are on the programme. In the interview, national coach Otto Becker talks about the German team in Herning and about his new co-trainer.
Mr. Becker, you spoke of a particularly difficult decision when forming your team for Herning. Why?
Otto Becker: We reorganised the squad in Aachen and all eight Olympic riders would have earned a WEG team place. But we are only allowed to nominate four plus one reserve rider, it was really a difficult decision. Telling them that they won't make the team is always the most unpleasant part of my job.
One freshman and three experienced gentlemen, that's how you could describe your team. What makes this fresher?
Otto Becker: We have known Jana Wargers in show jumping for a long time, she has always ridden remarkably well and now she also has the right horse in Limbridge. The pair has already shown top performances, just think of Aachen: She was in the team for the first time there, was the first team rider to start in the rain and rode a round without any jumping faults - that was great. Jana has strong nerves, a lot of feeling and a good team behind her at Ashford Farm.
The competition has grown steadily. How do you look ahead to Herning?
Otto Becker: We will meet the "usual suspects". Olympic champions Sweden, European champions Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and maybe one or two surprise teams. Experience shows that it will be exciting until the very last ride, and you also need the necessary bit of luck.
This will be your fourth World Cup as national coach - how do you look back on the three you have already experienced?
Otto Becker: In 2010 we won gold in Kentucky, in Caen we were on the ungrateful fourth place. And in Tryon Simone (Blum) won gold and we won bronze with the team. In this series, Kentucky has a special significance - because of the way the riders earned this medal and above all because we had previously experienced one and a half very turbulent years in show jumping, and only after the gold medal was there peace and we could really start working. But we must not rest on our laurels, in Herning we will all be starting from scratch again and we have to be in top condition.
The World Championships in Herning will be your first without your long-time co-coach Heiner Engemann. Is that still in the back of your mind?
Otto Becker: At the beginning it was difficult without Heiner, we were a well-rehearsed team for many years, but we have found a very good successor in Marcus Döring. He has already contributed very well and we will try together in Herning to create the framework conditions for the riders so that they can deliver top performances.
