The Swiss Equipe has to accept a disappointment at the Nations' Cup of the CHIO Aachen. Last year's winners missed out on a place in the second round of the Top 8.
The verdict was harsh: although Steve Guerdat started with a clear round in the saddle on Venard and then Janika Sprunger with Orelie, Romain Duguet on Hunger Games and Martin Fuchs with Commissar Pezi each only had one fault to record, eight penalty points were only enough for 10th and last place.
However, the result need not worry with a view to Paris. None of the horses selected for the Olympic Games were in the Swiss team.
The one million euro competition was won by Ireland (0 penalty points), ahead of the outsiders from Mexico (4) and Great Britain (4).