Tag Archives: Michael Jung

Michael Jung Leads Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Michael Jung riding La Biosthetique Sam.

(Badminton, UK, 4 May 2013) Michael Jung (GER) riding La Biosthetique Sam is in 1st place after the Dressage phase at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA) riding Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve is in 2nd place, with Dirk Schrade (GER) riding King Artus in 3rd place. Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize contenders William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Parkland Hawk is lying in 5th place, with Andrew Nicholson (NZL) riding Nereo in 6th place.

Rider Quotes

Michael Jung riding Sam

Q.  Michael – that looked great – how was it?

My horse was very concentrated and I feel it in the warm up – he’s very relaxed and concentrate to me and not to the spectators – I can ride him and touch him to the legs OK and he feels really good.

Q. Any difficult moments?

Yes, just in the walk and the stop and rein back. Yes, ok he is a little bit nervous but I think it was very good for the horse for this stadium.

Q. What about tomorrow – what are your thoughts on this particular horse?

I think it’s a very, very nice cross country – you have long ways – you can go really fast forward and you can have time enough to prepare the next jump. It’s a really good building from the course designer. You have a few jumps to go into the course and many tricky fences but I think we can see a very nice course.

Q. What will you do tonight?

Eat, drink, relax and then have fun tomorrow!

Andrew Nicholson riding Nereo

Q. Andrew – quite a good mark – how was the test – did you feel it went as well as it could have done?

The walk isn’t the easiest – naturally he hasn’t got a brilliant walk, just with the photographers and the clicking of the cameras it got him a little jig joggy and it make the rein back a bit quicker than it should be, but otherwise I thought he was very good.

Q. Quite a few riders have mentioned the clicking on the cameras – is that more unusual?

That’s part of these big events – now I suppose there are more taking photos – it’s all noticeable, but just part of the sport. If the wind was perhaps blowing in a different direction then you never know, but it’s part of it all and you’ve just got to take it as it is.

Q. At the moment we believe you are lying into 6th place – what are you feeling now on the whole competition, trying to win your first Badminton and the Rolex Grand Slam prize?

“What score is Michael on?” He’s on 36.0. “And what am I on?”  40.3. “It’s near enough!”

I don’t like being in the lead after the dressage – I was in the lead after the dressage here once before and I finished second. And I was in second place in Kentucky last week and then won – so I’ll stick to that!

Q. What are you going to do now?

I’ve pretty thoroughly walked the cross-country course and know where I’m going on there. The horses will just be worked a bit tomorrow and then we’ll come out and scorch around there!

William Fox-Pitt riding Parklane Hawk

Q. William – are you disappointed with the mark, did you feel you did better?

I’m very pleased with Parklane Hawk – he did a lovely test. It’s a shame that he made a bit of a fluff of the rein back – we don’t normally do that. I think it was just nerves and the excitement and you’ve got all the cameras this year right behind them. I could feel him not really focusing on me and he lost his focus of attention for a second – but he came back really well and I was very, very pleased with how he went.

Q. You mentioned the cameras – does it still effect such experienced horses?

I think not normally it would. He is a thoroughbred horse, a sensitive horse – for my other horse Oslo it probably wouldn’t affect him at all – he is a real show-off and would have benefitted from a good blasting wind and a few more people cheering because he is that sort of horse. Whereas Parklane Hawk would definitely have felt it a little bit. But he has done three majors and coped very well with them – he’s got a very good brain.

Q. You held it together in there nevertheless, so what about tomorrow?

I’m looking forward to tomorrow – it will be an exciting day. I am looking forward to riding both my horses around Badminton – neither of them have done Badminton before, but both are really up for the challenge and are fit and well.

We are hoping that it is a tough course – I certainly am, especially not being in the lead after the Dressage myself, so I shall be hoping it causes plenty of trouble!

Q. I have to mention the Rolex Grand Slam – is it on your mind at all?

Once the dressage is over – you’ve got to do your best – the order has been set and you just have to get on with it. I think now what will happen will happen – they’ve definitely put up a challenge out there and let’s hope it proves one!

Results after Day 1 Dressage

1 Michael Jung/Sam (GER) 36.0
2 Stefano Brecciaroli/Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve (ITA) 36.8
3 Dirk Schrade/King Artus (GER) 39.2
4 Jonathan Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 39.7
5 William Fox-Pitt/Parklane Hawk (GBR) 40.0

For more information on the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

Two Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Contenders

With two of three successive wins of the Rolex Grand Slam – the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – William Fox-Pitt is the current live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Due to adverse weather conditions, the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was unfortunately cancelled. Therefore, Fox-Pitt has had to wait until the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials before he can contend for the coveted US$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam Prize.

However, now that Andrew Nicholson, who won the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has also accomplished the feat of successively winning the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, there are now uniquely be two live contenders for the sport’s most coveted prize at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

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Jung Sets Up a Thriller at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam take the lead after Dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 4 May, 2013 – Olympic, World and European Champion Michael Jung (GER) punched the air in a rare show of emotion as he left the Dressage arena at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), fourth leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Jung, who is competing for the first time at Badminton, was visibly thrilled by the crowd’s response to his superb test on La Biosthetique Sam which earned a mark of 36.0 penalties and gives him a fractional lead going into tomorrow’s Cross Country phase.

“There is a lot of atmosphere here but Sam was relaxed and he did a fantastic job,” Jung said afterwards. “I didn’t know the result when I came out of the arena, but I had a very good feeling about it.”

When asked whether he felt under pressure to prove himself at Badminton, one of the few major prizes missing from his CV, 30-year-old Jung laughed: “Of course I was a little nervous, but I think the riders most under pressure here are Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt!”

Another Badminton first-timer, Italian army rider Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA), was also smiling broadly when he left the arena. He and his magnificent Belgian-bred horse, Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve, presented an elegant picture and surprised no-one when they were the first pair to score under 40 penalties. The Italian duo is lying second on 36.8 penalties.

Brecciaroli, who has won a CIC3* with Apollo on British soil this spring, was second after Dressage at the London Olympic Games last year, eventually finishing 19th. For the last month, the Italian has been based with his close friend Andrew Nicholson (NZL), riding the Kiwi’s horses during his absence on his winning trip to Kentucky, and Nicholson has tipped Brecciaroli to win this weekend: “I’ve been teaching him to go much faster across country!”

Jung’s three Olympic team mates are all in the top 13. Dirk Schrade (GER) and the smart King Artus posted one of their best performances to slot into third on 39.2; individual Olympic bronze medallist Sandra Auffarth (GER) is in equal seventh place with a mark of 41.3 on Opgun Louvo, and Ingrid Klimke (GER) is 13th on Butts Abraxxas.

The ever-sporting Klimke put a good face on what was, for her, a disappointing Dressage mark of 44.2. “It was like sitting on a five-year-old, not a 16-year-old,” she said of her double Olympic gold medal ride. “He was so relaxed outside, but the wind and the clapping made him want to change legs all the time. That was not our best test!”

The rising New Zealand star Jonathan Paget and his Pau runner-up, Clifton Promise, are fourth on 39.7. Paget has been training in Germany with Jung during the winter and his time with the German supremo is obviously paying off handsomely.

The Rolex Grand Slam is proving a thrilling sub-plot at Badminton and the two contenders could not be more closely matched. William Fox-Pitt is in fifth place on Parklane Hawk on 40.0 and Andrew Nicholson, the current HSBC FEI Classics leader, is sixth, a mere 0.2 of a penalty in arrears, on Nereo.

Nicholson is also 14th on Avebury and Fox-Pitt is equal 16th with Oslo in a closely-packed field in which 10 penalties covers the top 16 places.

Pippa Funnell (GBR), the only rider to have achieved the Grand Slam, 10 years ago, pulled off a superb piece of riding to be equal seventh on Redesigned, a horse that has been out of top level competition for three years.

Nicholson, whose best Badminton result is second behind Fox-Pitt in 2004, has been single-mindedly targeting the event for six months. “I’ve got two good horses that I have faith in,” he says.

“Avebury is the friendlier of the two, but he can be naughty if he thinks he can get away with it. If you don’t watch him when you turn him out, he’ll snatch the halter rope out of your hand and go galloping around, having a laugh. Nereo, who is a bit shy, is much more polite and is always 100% on your side.”

Fox-Pitt predicts that the anti-clockwise direction of the Cross Country course – it is reversed each year – offers the more rhythmic track. “I don’t think there’s a bogey fence,” he commented, “but the cumulative effect of so many technical questions will be influential. The last two to three minutes are particularly intense.”

Schrade comments that course designer Hugh Thomas (GBR) has produced every sort of question possible. “I think he will get what every designer wants, with faults around the whole course. It’s very well designed.”

Don’t miss a hoofbeat. Follow the live action on www.feitv.org.

FEI TV will be LIVE for tomorrow’s Cross Country, and Monday’s Jumping (6 May) at Badminton – see start times on www.feitv.org/live.

Follow live results: www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

View full standings here.

FEI TV, the FEI’s official video website, will be LIVE for Cross Country (5 May) and Jumping (6 May) at Badminton – see start times on www.feitv.org/live.

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By Kate Green

Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials Media Contact:

Julian Seaman
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+44 7831 515736

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+41 78 750 61 45

The Germans Simply Do It All Again to Clinch Double Gold at Greenwich

(L to R) Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt (silver), Germany's Michael Jung (gold) and Germany's Sandra Auffarth (bronze). Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

London (GBR), 31 July 2012 – Team Germany repeated their 2008 Olympic medal-winning performance when claiming Eventing team and individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic equestrian venue in Greenwich Park today. Such was their supremacy that they clinched the team title even before their last rider went into the ring, and Michael Jung set a new record in equestrian sport when becoming the first-ever event rider to hold Olympic, European and World titles at the same time. What a way to celebrate his 30th birthday!

The finale brought four fabulous days of Eventing sport to the perfect conclusion. After the destination of team gold had been established, the battle for silver and bronze was waged between Great Britain, Sweden and New Zealand, and it was the host nation that was eventually rewarded with silver while the Kiwis claimed the bronze.

It seemed that Sweden might be compensated for being pushed off the team medal podium when Sara Algotsson Ostholt went into the individual final as sole leader after Germany’s Ingrid Klimke left two fences on the floor in this morning’s team medal decider. But a last-fence error saw the Swede having to settle for silver, while Jung showed his extraordinary class to clinch the gold, with his team-mate Sandra Auffarth securing individual bronze in equally convincing fashion.

Continue reading The Germans Simply Do It All Again to Clinch Double Gold at Greenwich

Michael Jung Thrills Home Crowds with Another Luhmühlen Triumph

Germany’s Michael Jung gave the home fans lots to cheer about as he steered Leopin FST to victory in the CCI4* at Luhmühlen. (Photo: Peter Nixon/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June 2012 – Michael Jung (GER), riding Leopin FST, added yet another accolade to his glittering career when he won the CCI4* at Luhmühlen (GER), the penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, much to the delight of a loudly cheering home crowd.

Earlier in the day he had won the German national title with Weidezaunprofi’s River of Joy, and his assured performance over the weekend will make him an obvious favourite to win gold at the London Olympic Games in six weeks’ time – the Jumping phase even takes place on Jung’s 30th birthday, July 31.

“It’s very nice to be sitting here,” said Jung. “I have some wonderful horses that are in great form. Leopin was fantastic on the Cross Country and it is nice to know that he can do everything. I just made a little mistake in the Jumping, coming in too fast to the combination, where we had four faults.”

The Jumping phase at Luhmühlen, on an all-weather surface in the revamped main arena, proved influential, with a tight time, and there was some re-arranging of the top 10 placings.

Continue reading Michael Jung Thrills Home Crowds with Another Luhmühlen Triumph

Michael Jung Takes Control at Luhmühlen Again

Michael Jung (GER) secures Cross Country win on Leopin FST at HSBC FEI Classics in Luhmühlen (Photo: Peter Nixon/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 16 June 2012 – Michael Jung (GER) rode a copybook Cross Country round on Leopin FST at Luhmühlen (GER), the penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, and is now in line for a third major victory at the venue which launched his stellar career.

He won here in 2009, his first attempt at CCI4* level, on La Biosthetique Sam, the horse he is likely to partner at the Olympics, and the pair went on to capture the FEI World Cup Eventing final and the European bronze medal that year, before becoming world champions in 2010 and European champions in 2011 at Luhmühlen.

“I had a little problem at the first water complex when Leopin landed steeply over the boat fence, but apart from that he was really good,” said Jung. “We are more together as a partnership than we used to be. I’ve been riding him across country in a double bridle and that has been much better.”

Continue reading Michael Jung Takes Control at Luhmühlen Again

Germany Triumphs at First Leg of FEI Nations Cup Eventing

Germany’s Michael Jung clinched 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Cross Country at the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing in Fontainebleau. Photo: PSV J. Morel

Lausanne (SUI), 26 March 2012 – Reigning World and European Champion Michael Jung led Germany to a convincing victory at the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing held in Fontainebleau, France.

Jung had three rides and dominated the contest from the outset, finishing at the head of the field with his Badminton entry, Leopin, after adding just two Cross Country time penalties to his first-phase mark of 37.4.

Jung’s teammates Andreas Ostholt (Franco Jeas, individual seventh) and Andreas Dibowski (FRH Fantasia, 22nd) completed with a healthy margin of 14.8 penalties ahead of The Netherlands.

France netted third on 226.2 penalties after Australia, which was on target for second following the Dressage, dropped out of the reckoning when Wendy Schaeffer was eliminated on the Cross Country.

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FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2011 – Le Lion d’Angers (FRA)

GERMANY’S JUNG AND BRITAIN’S KING TAKE THE TITLES by Louise Parkes

Michael Jung won the 6 Year Old title with the Hannoverian mare, Rocana FST. Photo: FEI/www.equi-photos.com

Lausanne (SUI), 24 October 2011 – Germany’s Michael Jung won the 6 Year Old title with the Hannoverian mare Rocana while Great Britain’s Kitty King claimed the 7 Year Old honours with the Dutch-bred mare Zidante at the 26th FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers over the weekend. This specialist fixture is widely recognised for identifying the rising stars of the future. Proof of this is clear in the number of horses which progress from Mondial du Lion to produce results at European, World Championship and Olympic level. Frenchman Nicolas Touzaint is the most prolific winner in the history of the event having won six gold medals between 2000 and 2005, including the 6 year old championship in 2000 and the 7 year old championship in 2001 riding Galan de Sauvagère, his double individual European gold medal winning mount. Jung won the silver medal in both the 6 and 7 year old categories with his 2010 FEI World Eventing Championship ride La Biosthétique-Sam, and 2011 Lexington CCI4* winner, King’s Temptress ridden by Great Britain’s Mary King, is another Le Lion graduate.

The ‘Mondial du Lion’ has taken place every year since 1986 at the same venue – the Isle Briand Estate – and is always staged at the beginning of the French All Saints holidays. The winner of the inaugural fixture was the current coach of the French eventing team, Laurent Bousquet, on Jim Pam. That year 43 combinations lined out, a number which rose so rapidly it had to be capped at 110 by the FEI. The Championships have also proven increasingly popular with the public, with attendance figures rising from 5,000 in 1986 to a record 41,000 in 2009.

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Jubilant Germans Take Double Gold at HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen

Germany claimed team gold and all three individual medals at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships - (from left) Sandra Auffarth (silver), Michael Jung (gold), Frank Ostholt (bronze). Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 28 August 2011 – There were jubilant scenes as Michael Jung (GER) was crowned European Champion and his team deservedly took gold in a nail-biting finale to the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen (GER).

Although a German victory had never been in doubt, the final score sheet was considerably re-arranged after the unfortunate Ingrid Klimke (GER), who had led the first two phases with such flamboyance, suffered the devastating experience of hitting six fences and dropping to 11th place.

The individual medals were still a German whitewash, though, as the hugely talented Sandra Auffarth jumped clear to take individual silver and Frank Ostholt moved up two places to achieve his first individual medal.

Ostholt’s wife, Sara, who was best of the fourth-placed Swedish team, also suffered a dramatic drop down the order. There had been a run of clear rounds as the higher-placed riders found the key to this technically-demanding track. Algotsson-Ostholt had her much-admired mare Wega jumping beautifully until a misunderstanding on the approach to the final double at fence 11. The mare hit the first part and then ran out at the second element. Eighteen penalties dropped her to 12th place but the team held onto fourth and, more importantly, earned their ticket to next year’s Olympics in London.

“It’s very disappointing for my wife,” Ostholt said. “I know how she’s feeling and feel very sorry for her. Most of the year she’s always been ahead of me. Normally her horse jumps so well so it was a real surprise. She’s completely devastated, but pleased that Sweden has qualified for the Olympics.”

Continue reading Jubilant Germans Take Double Gold at HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen

Record-breaking Germans Lead the Field at HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships

Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas lead the individual standings at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships and Germany is on top in the teams after the Dressage. Photo: Peter Nixon/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 26 August 2011 – Outstanding performances by Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and Michael Jung have put the home side into a fabulously strong position before tomorrow’s Cross Country phase at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen (GER).

The host nation, bidding for a first European team gold since 1973, is now more than 20 penalties ahead of defending champions Great Britain as the first team to score under 100 in the Dressage at European level. The Italians, who won silver in 2009, hold a fractional advantage in third over Sweden, who last won gold back in 1993.

Klimke is no stranger to brilliance in the Dressage arena, but even she was overwhelmed by FRH Butts Abraxxas’s mark of 30.0, which included six 10s: three for the entry and halt; two for her final halt and one, from Ground Jury member Christoph Hess, for her riding.

“Hans Melzer [German team trainer] told me I should do a 29, so he put me under pressure,” Klimke revealed.

The ever-smiling Klimke also admitted to despondency after her fall at Badminton (GBR) in April, in which she suffered a knee injury which kept her out of the saddle for 12 weeks.

“I was very depressed about it all because I just love to ride,” she said. “But then Abraxxas was in good shape at Aachen and Malmö and now I’m just thankful to be here.

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Fabulous French Passes the Test with Flying Colours

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (front) presented the medals as the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**) drew to a close in London (GBR) today. Pictured on the podium: (left) Great Britain's Pippa Funnell who finished third, (centre) winner Piggy French from Great Britain, and (right) second-placed Michael Jung from Germany. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

London Prepares Series (GBR), 6 July 2011 – Great Britain’s Piggy French held firm to scoop the honours in the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (CIC**) today with a fabulous double-clear jumping performance from DHI Topper W. Germany’s Michael Jung (River of Joy) finished second ahead of Britain’s Pippa Funnell (Billy Shannon) in third, but all the athletes were in agreement that the real winner of the Olympic Test Event has been Greenwich Park, the fabulous London venue which will host next summer’s Olympic equestrian events.

“Of course it was special to win here – we are all competitive and it was great for a British rider to put a stamp on it – but this has really been about checking things out before next summer’s Games and from that point of view it’s been a huge success,” said French this afternoon. In the lead from the outset on Monday, she had a heart-stopping moment this morning when DHI Topper W was held over during the final horse inspection, but in the end nothing could prevent her from claiming the top step of the podium.

FIRST TIME OUT
A total of 35 riders lined out in the final jumping phase, but just 12 managed to stay clear first time out. Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt lost her grip on second spot with a single mistake from her talented young mare, the seven-year-old Mrs Medicott, and Clayton Fredericks, lying overnight fourth for Australia, slipped from contention when Bendigo did likewise. This allowed Michael Jung to move into runner-up spot, but French had a fence in hand as the closing stages were played out. Funnell, now in third with the handsome Kannan mare Billy Shannon, piled the pressure on the two ahead of her with a lovely tour of the second-round track. Jung didn’t flinch to stay clean and the pressure was all on French when last into the arena. Setting off in a quiet rhythm however the 30-year-old rider calmly held her nerve to take the win she well deserved.

“Topper has matured so well over the last few months – he could be a contender for next year,” French said afterwards. “That’s still a long way away and horses are great levellers so who knows what can happen between now and then, but I reckon he’s got what it takes. I just hope we haven’t peaked too early!”

Continue reading Fabulous French Passes the Test with Flying Colours