Bryan Balsiger (25) and Edouard Schmitz (23): The youngsters compete for the big achievements

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On the winning team in the CSIO St. Gallen Nations Cup victory, Steve Guerdat mischievously emphasized that he was extremely proud of the team, even though he was the oldest. At 40. Guerdat is next to Martin Fuchs (30) the mainstay of the Swiss team.

The veteran Pius Schwizer (60) made it through again, but his top horse Vancouver had to pass injured in St. Gallen. If this trio can count on their best horses, they are all but ready for championships such as the upcoming European Championships at the end of August, Switzerland’s penultimate chance to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Duel for fourth permanent place

And the role of the fourth horseman and that of the reservist? The two youngsters Edouard Schmitz (23) and Bryan Balsiger (25) compete against each other. Both Romands have increasingly jumped into the limelight in recent years. Although it seemed lately that after his participation in the 2022 World Championships in Herning (Dä) and the 2023 World Cup Final in Omaha (USA), Schmitz had a bit of a lead.

In March 2022, Balsiger, who took part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, had to deal with the loss of his top mare Twentytwo des Biches for the first time, who broke her leg in a fall during the Paris tournament. When the Swiss team won the Nations Cup last year at the CSIO home in St. Gallen, Balsiger came on as a substitute. “I thought then that I really wanted to be there next time,” the Neuchâtel resident recalls. It works, he joined the team for Schwizer on Friday and attracted attention with a double clear in the saddle of the mare Dubai Du Bois Pinchet. “This shows that the fifth rider can also be important.”

Strong performance by Balsiger in St. Gallen

But it doesn’t always have to be the role of a reservist. The competition motivates Balsiger. “I know the situation, it motivates me to fight for a place in the team.” For the Nations Cups, the European Championship and then in the summer of 2024 for the Olympic Games in Paris. Good performance in tournaments is important for this. Balsiger can also recommend himself in hunting competitions in St. Gallen, he finished fifth and was the second best Swiss behind the winner Barbara Schnieper (see box below). Schmitz did not drive on Saturday.

After the strong rounds in the Nations Cup, Balsiger was already qualified for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Source : Blick