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Showjumping

Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat refuse to compete in Longines League of Nations. "Nations Cups are important to us, just like the traditional venues that host them!"

  • by Equnews Editorial
  • 07-02-2025

Switzerland's Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs have opted not to compete in the Longines League of Nations-series. Today the Swiss Equestrian Federation announced the news. "We have had detailed discussions with Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat," Evelyne Niklaus says in a press Release. "We respect their wish. In other Nations Cup competitions both riders will be full committed to represent Switzerland."

Next week, February 15, the first stage of the Longines League of Nations is set to take place in Abu Dhabi. Over the years more and more venues have opted to drop out of the Nations Cup series. Aachen decided to stop in 2014 and continue with its own Mercedes -Benz Nations Cup. Also Rome and La Baule opted to no longer host FEI Nations Cup events. 

Recently it was announced the FEI decided to no longer appoint a League Of Nations competition to Swiss venue, St. Gallen. In return it opted to host this qualifier event in Polo Club de Saint-Tropez at Haras de Gassin. On this matter Stephan Detry, Belgium's president of the equestrian federation, reacted. "It was never the intention of Haras de Gassin to take in a spot of another organizer. From the beginning the idea was to be an additional qualifier on the agenda."

Also Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs reacted.

Martin Fuchs explains: “Nations Cups hold a very high value for me. I view it critically that the best traditional tournaments, which have shaped the history of our sport, are not considered in the LLN calendar in order to support tournaments that, in my opinion, have little audience and prestige. I will be available for Switzerland in all further Nations Cups this season and look forward to a successful year.”

This is also a crucial issue for Steve Guerdat: “Nations Cups are very important to me, and it is always a great honor to represent Switzerland in a Nations Cup. I fully support Swiss Equestrian. The atmosphere at the Swiss Nations Cup in St. Gallen, for example, or at other traditional tournaments in equestrian countries is incomparable. There are fantastic tournaments with a great atmosphere all over the world. That is exactly what I miss at events that are organized more for an exclusive audience than for the horse-loving public – I cannot understand the FEI’s strategy regarding the Longines League of Nations.”

 

Next week, February 15, the first stage of the Longines League of Nations is set to take place in Abu Dhabi. Over the years more and more venues have opted to drop out of the Nations Cup series. Aachen decided to stop in 2014 and continue with its own Mercedes -Benz Nations Cup. Also Rome and La Baule opted to no longer host FEI Nations Cup events. 

Recently it was announced the FEI decided to no longer appoint a League Of Nations competition to Swiss venue, St. Gallen. In return it opted to host this qualifier event in Polo Club de Saint-Tropez at Haras de Gassin. On this matter Stephan Detry, Belgium's president of the equestrian federation, reacted. "It was never the intention of Haras de Gassin to take in a spot of another organizer. From the beginning the idea was to be an additional qualifier on the agenda."

Also Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs reacted.

Martin Fuchs explains: “Nations Cups hold a very high value for me. I view it critically that the best traditional tournaments, which have shaped the history of our sport, are not considered in the LLN calendar in order to support tournaments that, in my opinion, have little audience and prestige. I will be available for Switzerland in all further Nations Cups this season and look forward to a successful year.”

This is also a crucial issue for Steve Guerdat: “Nations Cups are very important to me, and it is always a great honor to represent Switzerland in a Nations Cup. I fully support Swiss Equestrian. The atmosphere at the Swiss Nations Cup in St. Gallen, for example, or at other traditional tournaments in equestrian countries is incomparable. There are fantastic tournaments with a great atmosphere all over the world. That is exactly what I miss at events that are organized more for an exclusive audience than for the horse-loving public – I cannot understand the FEI’s strategy regarding the Longines League of Nations.”

 
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