Facts: They are fighting for places
Olympic gold trio Henrik von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson and Malin Baryard Johnsson will jump for Sweden in the WC if they and their horses stay healthy and in shape.
Here is a bunch of riders who want to join the fight for the other two places in the team:
Jens Fredricson. Third in the World Cup final this spring and convinced in the return with Markan Cosmopolit at Stockholm’s stadium.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. For many years given team anchors in the championships. Join as a reserve for the Olympics in Tokyo.
Angelica Augutsson Zanotelli. Back in earnest and with the EC squad in September last year.
Evelina Tovek. Has for several years been involved in national team contexts but did not get the chance in the championship. Reserve in the EC team 2021.
Petronella Andersson. Reliable in team jumps and with the team that came second in Aachen last summer.
Angelie von Essen. Experienced rider who has been selected, but missed the championship. Join the team in Aachen 2021.
Douglas Lindelöw. Has a championship routine, including from the European Championships 2017 (Swedish silver). Rated from the Olympics last year but in the EC squad.
Wilma Hellström. Matched diligently in the national jumps this summer. Promising young rider.
How hard can it be? More complicated than you might think. The strength of Swedish show jumping complicates Ankarcrona’s choice.
The trio Henrik von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson and Malin Baryard Johnsson have lots of championships behind them and are currently impressing a lot, most recently in the Global Champions Tour at Stockholm’s stadium.
They are given if nothing unforeseen happens.
Behind them are several competent riders and horses, crews that stand well in high international competition.
Keeps many on their toes
Only in a month, with weeks left until the championship, does the league captain nail down which five (one will be a reserve) are included in the team.
The reason why he waits so long is about form, the desire to keep as many people up to date as possible and the ever-present risk of injury to both riders and horses.
– I do not make lists, but I would like to say that seven riders, even eight, are relevant.
TT: Why so many?
– Who wants to put Zlatan out of the national team? But to get on the field, he had to be whole. It’s the same thing here. I can not focus on a few riders, because if something happens … if I lose two riders, it can be 50 percent of the intended team.
– Everyone invests hard, puts in time, energy and money and must feel that they have the chance, but the closer we get, we change some plans so that the rider on the day I announce the squad will not feel “What the hell …”
Goes on gut feeling
Ankarcrona could make it easy for themselves and just go for results.
– You can put a computer to print the team, but regardless of the results, I pick out the one I think will be best for the team. I want to be clear about that, that this is the overall picture I am looking at.
TT: Has your gut feeling let you down?
– I do not actually think so. Sometimes it has really stood and weighed and it may not have turned out as I thought but in the end it still turned out damn good. Was it me who made it so or other circumstances? You do not always know that.
TT: How important is the reserve?
– I think everyone is important in a squad, even number five. It either helps or upsets. It can be a topping calf, a good person who I might think can be something for the Olympics in two years or it is someone who is strong enough if needed or can support the other riders best.
The team is presented in Falsterbo
For Ankarcrona, it is not enough for the reserve to assume its role in the best way. He also assesses people around the rider, groom, family, horse owners.
TT: Do you in the squad have to keep a distance from all the stakeholders around each rider?
– You have to. We depend on many. Without horse owners and sponsors, we have no sport. It’s important to do a lot for everyone at the right time, but when it’s a sport, it’s a sport.
TT: When do you think you will nail the World Cup squad?
– I expect to be ready before Falsterbo and present the team there.