(LRK3DE Facebook)
Prior to the start of this highly-anticipated event that was nearly cancelled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic, Canada has already lost two entries in the CCI5*: Waylon Roberts has sold Lancaster to a young rider, and Holly Jacks-Smither’s horse More Inspiration was found to have a heart murmur while being examined by vets at the venue and was subsequently withdrawn.
The last two editions of this event in 2018 and 2019 saw Oliver Townend (GBR) on Cooley Master Class emerge as the winners. Competition will be fierce this year as this pair will be back to defend their title, joined by previous top-five finishers Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg TSF, Tim Price (NZL) with Xavier Faer, Marilyn Little (USA) riding RF Scandalous, Philip Dutton (USA) aboard Z, plus other formidable contenders.
Possibly a lucky break for this year’s competitors is the fact that Germany’s Michael Jung, who won this event three times in a row (2015, 2016, 2017) aboard the great eventing mare fischerRocana, has recently retired the 16-year-old.