HSBC FEI Classics™ Eventing: Luhmuehlen Cross-Country

German riders are still in the lead at Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by E.ON Avacon Vertrieb (GER), third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™, but they are different ones from those that led the Dressage after an exciting day’s Cross-Country sport has dramatically turned the leaderboard around.

Olympic gold medallist Andreas Dibowski (GER) riding Euroridings Butts Leon has risen from 12th after Dressage to first place, leading his compatriot Michael Jung (14th after Dressage) on La Biosthetique – Sam FBW by just 1.7 penalties, both riders being the only ones to achieve the optimum time of 10 minutes 23 seconds.

Britain’s Mary King and her home-bred mare Kings Temptress (13th after Dressage) were next fastest, with 3.2 time penalties, and are now in 3rd place, just over the price of a Jumping rail behind the leader, with her Olympic team mate Kristina Cook up four places to 4th on Miners Frolic, all a great result considering the top four horses are contesting their first 4*.

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Dirk Schrade (GER) has moved up one place to 5th on Gadget de la Cere AA, but the sole American, William Coleman, has shot up 10 places to 6th on Twizzel and Australian Paul Tapner has also gone up 10 places, to 7th, on Inonothing. Irishman Austin O’Connor has made a leap of 17 places to 8th on Pocket Rocket.

The Dressage leader, Frank Ostholt on Air Jordan 2, is now in 9th after a refusal at fence 24b, the influential Eon Water. Second-placed Simone Deitermann (GER) on Flambeau H 3 retired after two refusals, at 8b, the second part of the Jeep Water, and fence 21b, the acutely angled “M”, where Course-Designer Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) had accurately predicted the competition could be lost.

Andrew Hoy (AUS), equal 3rd after Dressage on Grand Joca, was eliminated for three refusals, at the Brushes at fence 9 and twice at fence 15, Luhmühlen’s famous Milford Water. Susanna Bordone (ITA) and Carrera, also equal 3rd, were eliminated for three refusals at fences 7, 8 and 9. Kai Ruder (GER), 7th after Dressage, was eliminated for a horse fall on Leprince des Bois at fence 25, the Downhill Log in the woods and Beeke Kaack (GER) on Sinjang 2, 9th after Dressage, was eliminated for 3 refusals at the Brushes into the water.

Oliver Townend, the HSBC FEI Classics™ leader, will need luck on his side in the final Jumping phase if he is to gain any more points. First out on the course, he retired Jackson d’Allez after refusals at 8b and 20, the Lotto Turn. He is lying 16th on Sportsfield Sandyman, the horse he borrowed from Paul Donovan (IRL) with the hope of gaining further HSBC FEI Classics™ points, and 17th on Golden Hue.

Competition Statistics

– 36 horses started the Cross-Country

– 17 finished

– 2 inside the optimum time of 10min 23sec

– 11 clear rounds

– 6 had 20 penalties

– 4 retired

– 13 were eliminated

Quotes

Andreas Dibowski: “I was very happy to be able to have a little time to see the other riders going round and work out how I was going to ride certain fences. I got the most out of my horse and feel really happy to get round.”

Mary King: “I thought it was a true four-star track and very intense from fence 7 through the middle section. I’ve not ridden Kings Temptress at 4-star before and she’s such a beautiful mare and very gentle, so I just wanted it to go well for her. I’m chuffed to bits. I was able to get near the time because she’s very easy to ride, with a snaffle mouth and she doesn’t pull so that makes a lot of difference — you can keep coming to the fences.”

Will Coleman: “It’s four years since I’ve been at this event and the growth of it is pretty incredible. It’s a true 4-star track – Luhmühlen has definitely arrived as one of the premier events in the world.”

Julia Otto, Event Director: “It was a very interesting day today, a big day, but a super one I think. People were still coming into the showground until lunchtime — it was a good crowd (estimated at 18,000).”

Results

1 Andreas Dibowski/Euroridings Butts Leon (GER) 45.3 + 0 = 45.3

2 Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam FBW (GER) 47.0 + 0 = 47.0

3 Mary King/Kings Temptress (GBR) 46.5 _ 3.2 = 49.7

4 Kristina Cook/Miners Frolic (GBR) 46.5 + 6.8 = 49.8

5 Dirk Schrade/Gadget de la Cere AA (GER) 41.7 + 9,2 = 50.9

6 William J Coleman/Twizzel (USA) 47 + 6.8 = 54.6

7 Paul Tapner/Inonothing (AUS) 48.3 + 8.8 = 57.1

8 Austin O’Connor/Pocket Rocket (IRL) 61.5 + 7.6 = 69.1

9 Frank Ostholt/Air Jordan 2 (GER) 33.5 + 16.8 + 20 = 70.3

10 Sacha Pemble/I’ve Been Dun (IRL) 66.7 + 12.8 = 79.5