Tag Archives: FEI Classics

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot Lead Dressage on Badminton Debut

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Thibaut Vallette (FRA) and Qing Du Briot ENE HN. (FEI/Jon Stroud)

Germany’s Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 a close second ahead of defending champions Michael Jung and Sam

Thibaut Vallette, 43, a member of France’s victorious Olympic team in Rio last year and an instructor at the legendary Cadre Noir in Saumur, has made a brilliant debut at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, fourth leg of the FEI Classics™. He leads the scoreboard after the first day of dressage at the 4* event on the 13-year-old Qing du Briot ENE HN, his only ride at this level, on a mark of 38.7.

‘I didn’t expect to do this well, so I am very happy. Coming here is a dream for any eventer. This is the best dressage test the horse has done this year, as we had some difficulties after Rio – the experience made him very tense. But it’s not going to be a dressage competition!’ — Thibaut Vallette (FRA)

The next four placed riders have years of experience and four-star wins under their belt. Veteran German team member Bettina Hoy, who is now the Dutch team trainer, was thrilled to be just 0.5 of a penalty behind in second place on her only top horse, Designer 10.

Defending champion Michael Jung, fresh from victory in Kentucky last weekend and currently second on the FEI Classics™ series leaderboard, admitted that he was feeling some pressure, and his test with the 17-year-old La Biosthetique Sam FBW did contain some tension, but they scored 40.0 penalties and are in third place.

However, all riders who have observed the handiwork of new course-designer Eric Winter agree that it will not be a dressage competition. There are only five combinations on the track, but there are plenty of old-fashioned big fences and some difficult lines designed to slow riders and test the strength of their partnerships with their horses.

‘I am happy my horse is full of energy as that will be good for the cross-country and he is brilliant at that. The conditions are perfect and I’m feeling motivated and looking forward to it.’ — Michael Jung (GER)

Vallette’s Olympic team mate Astier Nicolas, who many people have tipped to be only the second Frenchman to win Badminton (following Nicolas Touzaint in 2008), is in close contention in fourth place with his 2015 Pau winner Piaf de Bneville on 41.5.

Four-time Badminton winner Sir Mark Todd, 61, was thrilled with the performance of the 13-year-old Leonidas ll, currently in fifth on 42.9 after a mistake in the final halt.

By Kate Green

Press contacts:

At FEI:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

At Badminton:

Julian Seaman
Head of Media
J.Seaman2@sky.com
+44 7831 515736

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping

Michael Jung Makes It Three in a Row at Kentucky

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Michael Jung (GER) and FischerRocana FST. (FEI/Rebecca Berry)

Jung retains Kentucky crown, with Livio (FRA) and Tindall (GBR) holding on to second and third

Germany’s Michael Jung smashed yet another record when winning the Kentucky Three-Day Event for the third year running on the 12-year-old FischerRocana, a mare that may not have the biggest movement but certainly has the biggest heart.

Jung did have a jumping fence down, but his supremacy in the dressage and cross-country meant he could afford it and is second in the FEI Classics™ after three out of six legs behind the superbly talented Frenchman Maxime Livio (FRA), who finished runner-up at Kentucky on Qalao Des Mers with a clear jumping round.

“She is a really wonderful horse, a top fighting girl. She jumped wonderfully and was only a bit spooky at the white fence. I really like Kentucky – and not just because I win here! – but because I feel very welcome. You can train the horse for every phase and it’s why I like it and why I come back.” — Michael Jung (GER)

With one FEI Classics™ win each, and a second place each, Livio and Jung both have their sights firmly on the 2016/17 series title. However, only Jung is competing at Badminton next weekend, fourth leg of the series, which could be his opportunity to step up to top the leaderboard.

Both Livio and Zara Tindall, the only British athlete in the field, finished on their dressage scores. Tindall was ecstatic with her third place after a beautiful clear round on High Kingdom and it must have laid the ghost of the disappointment two years when she had to withdraw before dressage when the horse suffered a freak injury.

Matthew Brown (USA) slipped from fourth to sixth after hitting the very first rail with BCF Super Socks, so it was the super-consistent Phillip Dutton (USA), who has now completed Kentucky an amazing 40 times, who captured yet another national title as highest placed USA rider, as he moved up to fourth with a clear round on the 18-year-old Mr Medicott, a horse having his last four-star run after an illustrious career. Hannah Sue Burnett (USA) was fifth on Under Suspection.

The Kentucky three-peat was Jung’s 10th four-star win – William Fox-Pitt holds the record with 14 – and the German Olympic champion, who is only 34, looks to be catching up with the Briton. Just hours after his triumph on American soil Jung was catching a flight to England en route to defending his title at Badminton next weekend.

A record number of spectators watched the 4* Eventing action this year at Kentucky, with 34’000 attending cross country and 24000 at the jumping finale.

By Kate Green

Press contacts:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Marty Baumann
Press Chief
info@classic-communications.com
508-698-6810 x 10

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Kentucky Three-Day

Michael Jung Takes Over Kentucky Lead after Cross Country

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Michael Jung (GER) and FischerRocana FST. (FEI/Rebecca Berry)

Even dual Olympic champion Michael Jung admitted cross country day at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, third leg of the FEI Classics™, was a tough one with Derek di Grazia’s track posing a serious challenge. However, the German maestro is yet again in pole position on FischerRocana FST, despite finishing four seconds (1.6 time penalties) over the optimum time of 11 minutes 17 seconds and surviving a precarious moment when the brave little mare made an enormous leap into the lake.

Jung, currently third in the FEI Classics™ having led the series last year, has a fence in hand to win a record third successive Kentucky on the same horse. His nearest challenger is Frenchman Maxime Livio, current leader of the FEI Classics™ after his win in Pau, who rode a masterful round to finish exactly on the optimum time on Qalao Des Mers to rise from eighth place after dressage to second.

“Today was not our best ride, but we have a true partnership and kept fighting,” said Jung. “FischerRocana looks very well after the finish – she is a tough girl!”

The leaderboard has changed dramatically and a brilliant, committed ride by the sole British representative, Zara Tindall on High Kingdom, has propelled her from 16th to third place. A determined Matthew Brown, previously 19th after dressage, has leapt to fourth place on Super Socks BCF and is the highest placed American rider.

Demonstrating the openness of the competition, Erin Sylvester (USA), who was only 51st after dressage, is now 13th on Mettraise after finishing bang on the optimum time.

There were 26 clear rounds from the 42 finishers and six within the optimum time. Dressage leaders Clark Montgomery (USA) and Loughan Glen lost their chance of retaining their position with a disappointing refusal at a skinny brush at fence 18a.

Three other riders in contention after dressage also disappeared off the leaderboard: both Kim Severson (USA), third on Cooley Cross Border, and Jessica Phoenix (CAN), fifth on Bentley’s Best, retired after run-outs at corners and Elizabeth Halliday-Sharp (USA), fourth, parted company from Fernhill By Night at the Normandy Bank.

The jumping finale, which starts at 1pm local time, is sure to be a tense affair as the magnificent Michael Jung bids to make history – again.

Press contacts:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Marty Baumann
Press Chief
info@classic-communications.com
508-698-6810 x 10

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Kentucky Three-Day

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen Lead at Kentucky

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Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. (FEI/Rebecca Berry)

Montgomery leads on 33.6 ahead of Germany’s Jung on 37.1

American rider Clark Montgomery rode a superbly smooth dressage test on Loughan Glen to take the lead in front of his new home crowd at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. It’s the third leg of the FEI Classics™, a series that links the world’s six major four-star events and provides valuable cash prizes to the top three in the points table.

Montgomery, who has returned to the USA from a spell based in Britain and now lives in Kentucky State, heads the 59 starters at the USA’s premier event on the excellent score of 33.6, but there’s no relaxing when defending champion Michael Jung from Germany is only 3.5 penalties behind. Jung, the dual Olympic champion and 2015-2016 FEI Classics™ leader (he is currently third in the 2016-2017 table), is going for a record third successive Kentucky victory on the same horse, gallant little mare FischerRocana FST.

He has a habit of piling on pressure with faultless jumping performances and Montgomery and Loughan Glen, no strangers to outstanding success in the dressage arena, have a few blots on their cross-country record. However, the dressage leader, who describes that test as “beefy”, was visibly elated:

“My horse felt super. This morning he was pretty tight, but he was ‘up’ which is what we wanted. He felt good in his body, good in his mind.” — Clark Montgomery (USA)

US rider Kim Severson, who has achieved the rare distinction of winning Kentucky three times on the same horse, Winsome Adante (albeit not in succession), is in third place on her rising star Cooley Cross Border.

Speedy Frenchman Maxime Livio scored the first victory in the current FEI Classics™ series, at Pau, France, and brings that winning horse, Qalao Des Mers, for a first attempt at Kentucky. They are eighth on 44.6.

Zara Tindall, the 2006 world champion, is the sole Brit; she was near the bottom of the Badminton waitlist and decided to cross the Atlantic instead with her 2012 Olympic silver medallist High Kingdom. They are currently 16th on 46.6, just 0.3 ahead of fellow traveller Tim Price (NZL) on Ringwood Sky Boy, 17th.

Kentucky’s last home winner was Phillip Dutton way back in 2008; he’s in joint ninth on 44.8 with two of his three rides, Fernhill Fugitive and the 17-year-old Mr Medicott. The vastly experienced rider, a bronze medallist in Rio last year, has this to say about the cross-country, which starts at 10am local time: “You’ve got to keep thinking, not let the blood rush to the head and see how your horse handles the distance. It’s another great course from Derek (di Grazia, designer) and will sort everyone out.”

Press contacts:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Marty Baumann
Press Chief
info@classic-communications.com
508-698-6810 x 10

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

Just Another Day at the Office for Clifford

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Hazel Shannon and Clifford. (Julie Wilson/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 6 November 2016 – When it came down to the final jumping phase of the FEI Classics™ at the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide (AUS), Hazel Shannon (AUS) had considerable room to move with Clifford, the powerful thoroughbred.

They could have knocked down three rails and still won, but the gelding that “always does his job” did just that and added nothing further to his dressage score than 0.4 of a cross country time penalty. Clifford clearly knew where the rails were and, most importantly, kept away from them.

Heart and mind

“That’s Clifford to a tee,” explained Shannon. “He is not extravagant in any phase – he just does his job and I can’t ask for more than that. There is a huge amount of training that has gone into Clifford, but his temperament is such that he allows you to train him. It is not just about raw talent; it is the heart and the mind of the horse that matters and this was just another day at the office for Clifford. He keeps trying and trying, and getting better and better.”

In the end, Shannon and Clifford cruised home to a popular victory 14.50 penalties ahead of their nearest rival.

“My aim is to keep getting better,” continued the 24-year-old Shannon from the far north Queensland town of Mutchilda, who when she finished high school went straight to the Ryans Equestrian Centre in Newcastle, in the southeastern state of New South Wales. She has been at the centre, which is managed by husband and wife team Heath and Rozzie Ryan, for the past six and a half years. Wendy Ward, Clifford’s owner, is the Ryans’ next door neighbour. “There is no way I could have done this without Heath (Ryan),” says Shannon.

FEI Classics™ in Adelaide – the pinnacle 

The top three places in the FEI Classics™ jumping phase stayed the same, with Will Enzinger (AUS) holding on to second place despite a disappointing three rails down. He also rode Britannica MVNZ into fourth place with just the addition of a further four penalties.

“He was a bit off today, but I am over the moon,” says Enzinger of his Wenlock Aquifer. “Some of the more experienced horses are not here because of the Olympic Games, but we are here and all our horses have made great progress. For us, the Adelaide FEI Classics is the pinnacle of the sport and there is nothing like this in the world.”

The 24-year-old professional Andrew Cooper (AUS) looked a picture in the final jumping phase, but two rails on the floor added a further eight to his score on Evergem Perfection, placing him third. Nonetheless he represents the new guard of top-level FEI Classics™ eventers along with Shannon and Enzinger.

Living the dream

Three other combinations jumped clear in this tough final jumping phase. Rohan Luxmoore (AUS), who has declared that he “is living the dream” by competing in the FEI Classics™ in Adelaide for the first time, went clear riding his Bells ’N Whistles, finishing fifth.

Stuart Tinney (AUS) looked impressive on War Hawk to take sixth place, with the sixth clear round coming from Tegan Lush and her Jetball Thoroughbred gelding Tempis Fugit who placed seventh.

The crowds came in their thousands to enjoy the final phase of the FEI Classics™ at the Australian International 3 day Event in Adelaide.

The FEI Classics™ now moves to the United States for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (27-30 April), the third leg of this prestigious series uniting the world’s six four-star eventing competitions.

Full standings for the FEI Classics™ series will be available here: https://inside.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

See full results: www.australian3de.com.au/results.

Social media: #FEIClassics #Eventing #TwoHearts

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Anna Sharpley

Australian International 3 Day Event Media Contact:

Katherine Maitland
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
katherine@lightbulbmedia.com.au
+61 407 721 004

FEI Media Contact:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Clifford Shows His Class on Adelaide Cross Country

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Hazel Shannon (AUS) and Clifford. (Julie Wilson/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 5 November 2016 – Hazel Shannon (AUS) felt the benefit of a Thoroughbred when she rode Wendy Ward’s Clifford to add just 0.4 of a time penalty to take the lead in the cross country phase of the FEI Classics™ at the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide (AUS).

It was the second best cross country run of the day and the chestnut gelding looked like it was making easy work of the cross country course and looked fresh over the line.

“I could not have asked any more of him,” said Shannon. “By the time I got to the end of the course, he did not feel like he had just completed a four-star. He felt as if he could have gone again. Whatever you point Clifford at he will do his best to get over it.”

Shannon and Clifford, who is named after the grandfather of the owner Wendy Ward, now have the lead of the FEI Classics™ in Adelaide by just 2.50 penalties – all eyes are now on the jumping phase.

“He is a careful jumper. We will just go in tomorrow and do our best and whatever happens happens,” concluded Shannon.

Happy horse

Will Enzinger and Wenlock Aquifer, leaders after the dressage phase, were first out on cross country, and made the course look easy coming home with a surprising 3.2 time penalties to slip to second place.

“He was just on song,” said a delighted Enzinger. “Everything I asked him to do he did. I was a bit surprised to get time penalties, but there were a couple of times I just balanced a little bit to make sure I got the line and that’s the price you pay. He is a happy horse and still fresh and I could not be happier.”

From Jumping to Eventing

Interestingly, the only clear round of the FEI Classics™ cross country phase came from the Warmblood, Rebecca Zamel’s Evergem Perfection, ridden by Victorian professional athlete Andrew Cooper. The effort moved them from seventh to third place on 59.70 penalties.

“He was amazing,” said Cooper. “He had two run outs in the four-star last year, which was down to greenness, but he has had a full year of three-star competition and that experience showed. He never looks fast, but he is so adjustable and I took a few inside lines. He can just land and go. He was purchased as a showjumping horse, so I can only hope he remembers that tomorrow.”

Skinny

Rohan Luxmoore, third after dressage, had a run out at 14b (Horseland Hollows) on Bells ‘N Whistles. He was in good company as Stuart Tinney with War Hawk, Shane Rose and Glenorchy South Park, and New Zealand’s Andy Daines on Spring Panorama all had a run out at the same skinny fence.

The cause of the problem was a ditch – an obstacle that has been sorting horses out since eventing began. It did not pose a problem as such, but it did take the horse’s eyes off the skinny one stride away.

It was mild and sunny and claimed to be the best weather experienced on cross country day at Adelaide since the event began in 1997. The beautiful parkland was packed with spectators who enjoyed a day of exciting horse sport.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat! Watch it all LIVE on www.feitv.org.

See full results: www.australian3de.com.au/results.

Social media: #FEIClassics #Eventing #TwoHearts

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Anna Sharpley

Australian International 3 Day Event Media Contact:

Katherine Maitland
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
katherine@lightbulbmedia.com.au
+61 407 721 004

FEI Media Contact:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Will Enzinger’s Aquifer Gets His Nose in Front Again at Adelaide

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Will Enzinger with Wenlock Aquifer. (Julie Wilson/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 4 November 2016 – Australia’s Will Enzinger claimed victory in the dressage in Adelaide (AUS) at the FEI Classics™ – second leg of this prestigious series uniting the world’s six four-star Eventing competitions – with his 12-year-old Thoroughbred, Wenlock Aquifer.

This gelding by Alannan won a maiden race at Adelaide’s Victoria Park Racecourse back in 2006 over 900 metres, and as the first of the ten combinations to contest the four-star dressage phase, Enzinger and Wenlock Aquifer took the lead with 51.80 penalties and held it.

“I am really happy being in this position and Aquifer is well prepared for this competition,” said Enzinger.

“The cross country course tomorrow will be tougher than last year – everything has been tightened up. Where last year we had two strides, this year we have one, and there is more room for error. I just have to go clear and fast.”

The Thoroughbreds usually shine on cross country day, but Hazel Shannon riding the glowing chestnut 11-year-old Clifford now holds second place with 52.10 penalties.

There is nothing extravagant about this Passing Shot gelding, but as Hazel said, “He just keeps doing his job; he has the biggest heart”.

And this is just what is needed to tackle Mike Etherington-Smith’s challenging cross country course, which runs through the spectacular Adelaide parklands surrounding the city.

Victorian veterinarian, Rowan Luxmore currently holds third place in this second leg of the FEI Classics™ series on 53.20 riding his home-bred Irish Sport Horse, Bells ‘N’ Whistles by Ard Black Cat.

”It is a dream to ride at this level,” said Luxmore, who is having his first four-star run this year. “This Adelaide FEI Classics event is amazing for us here in Australia.”

Cross Country phase – true test of #TwoHearts

Adelaide’s biggest ever crowd is expected for cross country day.

Cross Country is the most exhilarating phase of Eventing, requiring determination, courage and unfailing trust between horse and rider to clear one imposing obstacle after another – a true test of #TwoHearts.

See the 2016 virtual course walk here: http://australian3de.com.au/cross-country/.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat! Watch it all LIVE on www.feitv.org.

See full results: www.australian3de.com.au/results.

Social media: #FEIClassics #Eventing #TwoHearts

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Anna Sharpley

Australian International 3 Day Event Media Contact:

Katherine Maitland
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
katherine@lightbulbmedia.com.au
+61 407 721 004

FEI Media Contact:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Australian International 3 Day Event Ready to Celebrate Eventing

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Stuart Tinney and War Hawk. (Julie Wilson/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 2 November 2016 – The Australian International 3 Day Event, second leg of the FEI Classics™ 2016/17, and which takes place around the Adelaide inner city parklands, introduces Eventing to a whole new crowd every year thanks to its unique location and real celebration of the horse.

This year’s four-star field features ten combinations, and there is plenty of quality in that ten. Rio Olympic team bronze medalist Stuart Tinney is leading the pack with Corinna and Darren Huskinson’s War Hawk, a gelding by the German Holsteiner stallion Ramirez and bred in New Zealand, and their win at this year’s Saddleworld Melbourne International 3 Day 2016 in June suggests he will be a serious FEI Classics™ contender this year.

Tinney’s fellow Rio team member and 2015 Adelaide winner Shane Rose will be riding Lee Hokianga and Jamie McDonald’s Thoroughbred, Glenorchy South Park, in his debut four-star. Thoroughbreds have a successful history at Adelaide and the Kinjite gelding could well gallop away with a victory.

Wilhelm Enzinger (AUS) is perhaps the most experienced rider not to have won the Adelaide FEI Classics™ event and he has a double chance this year. Some may remember that he had this chance in 2013, but a broken leg on the eve of the event saw the ride on TS Jamimo go to Christopher Burton (AUS) who claimed the title that year with the former racehorse.

Enzinger has two four-star rides this year, with his own Thoroughbred, Wenlock Aquifer by Alannan – that had its only race win at Victoria Park, the home of the Australian International 3 Day Event – and the ride on Wendy Keddell and Carolyn Jolley’s New Zealand-bred Britannica MVNZ by Silvestone. Both had a run in the four-star last year and finished just out of the top ten, but according to Enzinger, “They are going the best they have ever gone, and I am going to the event confident of a good performance.”

New Zealand talent

The New Zealanders have been known to claim Australia’s premier event and no-one can question their talent. Twenty-four-year-old Andy Daines has spent time riding in the UK with Tim and Jonelle Price and is bringing his and Leanne and David Jensen’s Spring Panorama to tackle their first FEI Classics™. They come full of confidence having won the Taupo NZ CIC3* early in October.

The FEI Classics™ athletes begin their quest for the title in Adelaide this Friday, 4 November, with the Dressage phase in the Victoria Park Main Arena. On Saturday, they will test themselves over Mike Etherington-Smith’s parklands Cross Country course, with the Sunday Jumping phase deciding the title.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat! Watch it all LIVE on www.feitv.org

See full results: www.australian3de.com.au/results.

Social media: #FEIClassics #Eventing #TwoHearts

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Anna Sharpley

Australian International 3 Day Event Media Contact:

Katherine Maitland
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
katherine@lightbulbmedia.com.au
+61 407 721 004

FEI Media Contact:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

First CCI4* Win for Young French Star – Livio Beats Jung to Pau Victory

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Maxime Livio (FRA) and Qalao Des Mers (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 16 October 2016 – To the delight of the French crowd, Maxime Livio (FRA) scored his first CCI4* victory by Jumping clear on Qalao Des Mers at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, the first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2016/17, to finish on his Dressage score of 45.3.

Michael Jung (GER), the 2016 and 2012 individual Olympic gold medallist, held the lead after Cross Country on FischerRocana FST, his 2015 and 2016 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* winner. But Jung lowered two fences on the 11-year-old mare, moving down to third place, and handed the win to Livio.

Maxime Livio, 29, has a superb CCI4* record so far from just three attempts – he finished second on his debut at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau in 2014, and took the runner-up spot with the Selle Français 12-year-old Qalao Des Mers at Luhmühlen in June this year.

He said: “I’ve finished second at this level before, so finally to win is very special. I’ve had a marvellous time at Pau – the ground was well prepared, the courses were great and my horse performed well.”

Jung also finished second to Livio on FischerTakinou, having knocked one fence down on the nine-year-old on whom he won individual and team gold medals at the 2015 FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (GBR). “It is always disappointing to have a fence down, but I am happy with both my horses,” he said.

Jung also led Les 4 Etoiles de Pau going into the Jumping phase in 2015 on FischerRocana FST but hit one fence, handing victory to France’s Astier Nicolas, who went on to win team gold and individual silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) took fourth place with One Two Many, slipping from third place after knocking two show jumps down. Her fellow British rider, CCI4* first-timer Alexander Bragg, finished fifth on Zagreb after a faultless jumping round – one of just seven in the competition.

Camilla Speirs (IRL) was delighted with her Rio Olympics partner Portersize Just A Jiff – the pair rose from 32nd after Dressage to take sixth place with a double clear round in the cross country and jumping phases.

New Zealand’s Jock Paget finished seventh after picking up eight jumping faults with Clifton Signature, while Nicola Wilson filled a second top-10 spot with Annie Clover in eighth.

Thirty-five riders contested the final Jumping phase over a track, designed by Yann Royant (FRA) that was considered to be one of the biggest seen at CCI4* level this season.

Two horses were withdrawn before the final veterinary inspection; 10th-placed Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Sonja Johnson, AUS) and Fleet Street (Roo Fox, GBR) and two more were eliminated at the final veterinary inspection on Sunday morning – Cracker Jack, who lay in sixth place with Boyd Martin (USA), and Cooley Blue Flame, 35th with Katie O’Sullivan (IRL)

About the winner

Maxime Livio (FRA) runs his own stable, Ecurie Maxime Livio, near Saumur with his girlfriend, Jumping rider Mathilde Montginoux.

Maxime competed on French team at the FEI Junior and Young Rider European Eventing Championships, and made his senior championship debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014.

His first major success came with his Les 4 Etoiles de Pau winner Qalao Des Mers in 2014, when they won the Saumur (FRA) CCI3*, but he had received international recognition when taking second place at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau aboard Cathar De Gamel in 2014.

Maxime’s family has no connection with horses, but he started having riding lessons as a small child and participated in all forms of competition. He trained at the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation de Saumur, and spent time with François Roemer and Nicolas Touzaint before setting up his own establishment.

Full results: www.event-pau.fr

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Catherine Austen

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Michael Jung Holds Cross Country Lead at Pau

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Michael Jung (GER) and FischerRocana FST (Trevor/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 15 October, 2016 – Michael Jung (GER) rode two brilliant rounds of Cross Country at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), the first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2016/17, to hold the lead on FischerRocana FST and be within a fence of victory on his Dressage leader, the youngster FischerTakinou, now in fifth place with a few time penalties.

France’s Maxime Livio thrilled the large crowd enjoying the warm autumn sunshine by finishing bang on the optimum time of 11 minutes to rise to second place on his Luhmühlen runner-up Qalao des Mers.

Time proved influential on Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) clever Cross Country course and only one other rider finished on a clean sheet. That was the trailblazer Christopher Burton (AUS), who has now risen 22 places to 22nd on TS Jamaimo.

Jung, the 2015/16 FEI Classics™ champion, finished just one second over time on the 11-year-old mare FischerRocana FST, twice a winner of Kentucky and the individual world silver medalist in 2014.

He gave the nine-year-old FischerTakinou, a far less experienced horse, a beautifully sympathetic, unhurried ride for 8.8 time penalties but he is still within a Jumping fence of his leading ride.

“Rocana was wonderful – she is so simple to ride – and Takinou gave me a good feeling for his first time at this level,” commented Jung.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) on One Two Many and Jock Paget (NZL) on Clifton Signature both rode stylish, well-judged rounds are now in third and fourth places respectively and could put pressure on Jung in the final Jumping phase.

Boyd Martin (USA) on the grey Cracker Jack and last year’s winner, Olympic gold and silver medallist Astier Nicolas (FRA), on the CCI4* first-timer Molokai rose to sixth and seventh places with two time penalties apiece, and Tina Cook (GBR) showed all her class aboard her Olympic reserve, Billy the Red, to rise five spots to eighth.

The Dressage runner-up Alexander Bragg had a great round on the big Dutch warmblood Zagreb, following Jung’s lead in taking a neat line out of the final water complex, and he is in ninth place, 0.2 penalties ahead of Australian Olympian Sonja Johnson, a sheep farmer from Perth, who has climbed into the top 10 on the tiny chestnut Thoroughbred Parkiarrup Illicit Liais.

There were two high-profile departures from the leaderboard. Laura Collett (GBR), eighth after Dressage on Palmero 4, had the bad luck to fall two fences from home at the colourful Artists’ Palette upright fence and Tim Price (NZL), 11th on Xavier Faer, was unshipped when getting an awkward jump in over the log at the last water complex (fence 22a).

Kirsty Johnston, ninth after Dressage on Opposition Detective, had an early run-out at fence 4 when the horse took a strong hold over the preceding drop and ran past the corner.

Karin Donckers (BEL), fifth after Dressage on Fletcha van’t Verahof, is now in 16th place after incurring 13.2 time penalties.

The tight time meant there were big gains to be made on the scoreboard. Among those to leap up the order were Camilla Speirs (IRL) on the diminutive Portersize Just A Jiff and Nicola Wilson (GBR) on Annie Clover, up from joint 32nd after Dressage to 11th and 12th, respectively.

Pierre Michelet had makes full use of the compact site at Pau, which takes in the racecourse, and had produced what riders considered a more technical track than last year. It rode well, and there were 35 clear rounds and 39 finishers from the 48 Cross Country starters.

There’s live action on FEI TV (cross country and jumping) at www.feitv.org and live results on www.worldsporttiming.com.

Full results: www.event-pau.fr

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

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