August 11, 2023 
“It was a fantastic day and very emotional. I was thinking a lot about my father [Thomas Fuchs] and godfather Willi Melliger who were both on the winning team 40 years ago,” said Martin Fuchs.
For the first time in four decades, the Aga Kahn Cup was turned over to the Swiss when they swept Friday’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Dublin. The last time the Swiss won the class was in 1983, when the team was comprised of Thomas Fuchs, Willi Melliger, Walter Gabathuler and Heidi Robbiani.
Today, Thomas Fuchs is the Swiss team coach and his son Martin seems to be the missing piece they needed to break Nations Cup curses. Fuchs and his compatriots are still riding last month’s CHIO Aachen high where they captured the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup for the first time in 21 years.
In Dublin, the team, represented by Steve Guerdat, Bryan Balsiger, Martin Fuchs and Edouard Schmitz, had one goal: beat the Irish.
As the defending champions from 2022 and the second most winning nation in the history of the class on 24 career wins (only Great Britain has won more, 27 total), the Irish tapped some of their most accomplished riders in Michael Duffy, Michael Pender, Cian O’Connor and Shane Sweetnam. Equiratings gave the team a 20% win chance.
Only the Swiss had better odds at 25%.
“We said before we came here that we really wanted to beat the Irish and we made it work. They are always very strong here and we had to be stronger to win. We are all happy it worked out today,” said Guerdat.
Driven by the desire, it was only Balsiger and 10-year-old gelding Chelsea Z who encountered a touch of trouble in the first round of the Alan Wade (IRL) designed course. With Balsiger serving as the drop score, the Swiss card was on a clean zero and in pole position going into the second round.
“I was a little disappointed after the first round and the mistake I had. It was my mistake in the middle of the triple combination, but I am so proud of my horse and he improves at every show,” said Balsiger.
With Ireland trailing behind on eight faults, and the other six nations collecting rails throughout the course, Switzerland’s odds couldn’t be better. Yet, chef d’equipe Michel Sorg knew that the job was only halfway done.
“We need to stay calm and focused. We all know what can happen in Round 2. Let’s hope we will bring this trophy home after 40 years,” said Sorg after the first round.
Guerdat set the Swiss off on the right foot with a clean and fast round with 14-year-old gelding Venard De Cerisy. He’s now jumped 10 clear rounds in Nations Cup classes this year (Equiratings) and has earned over €1.8 million in prize money with the 14-year-old gelding (Jumpr App).
Balsiger and Chelsea Z followed suit, improving on their round one score. Fuchs sealed the win with 11-year-old Leone Jei, allowing Schmitz and 11-year-old gelding Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof to sit out the second round.
For Sorg, the feeling of that moment was beyond explanation.
“To be honest I have no words. I’m so proud of this team. It was a dream for us to win…it’s fabulous,” he said.
“It was really special to stand on the podium in this amazing arena. It is a dream to win here. Our last win was 40 years ago with Thomas (Fuchs) in the team who is now our national coach.”
Martin also described the serendipitous experience of sharing the generational win with his father as dreamlike.
“I remember my dad talking about this win and I am so happy I can share this with him today and have the same emotions he had 40 years ago,” said Martin.
They might indulge in their victory today, but they still have work to do starting tomorrow. The European Championships in Milan are just on the horizon, and Paris 2024 is around the corner.
“Milano is the biggest goal of this year for us. We want to qualify for Paris and it was important to bring the same four guys here who will be in Milan in a few weeks,” said Sorg. “It is good for the team spirit.”
