Tag Archives: Luhmühlen CCI4*

Andreas Dibowski Wins Luhmühlen for the Second Time

Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me XX (Eventing Photo/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), June 19, 2016 – German rider Andreas Dibowski jumped a faultless clear round in the final Jumping phase to hold on to his overnight lead with It’s Me XX and win Luhmühlen CCI4* (GER), presented by DHL, penultimate leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016.

There was no margin for error for the 50-year-old as second-placed Maxime Livio and Qalao Des Mers (FRA) jumped clear with less than two penalties between the top two.

But Dibowski, veteran of many medal-winning German Eventing teams, held his nerve in front of his enthusiastic home crowd on Susanne Heigel’s 12-year-old ex-racehorse, a son of the Epsom Derby winner Kahyasi.

Dibowski said: “I still cannot believe it. It is quite incredible. My horse performed exceptionally on all three days. He is not a born Dressage horse, but on the Cross Country he is outstanding.”

He explained: “I got It’s Me after his racing career when he was four years old.  When he was five and six he was ill and needed intensive care, and only came back to Eventing three years ago aged nine. He felt very well this morning before the Jumping. He loves the atmosphere in a big arena.”

Dibowski was winning Germany’s premier event for the second time after triumphing in 2011 with FRH Butts Leon.

It’s Me XX finished the Dressage phase in fourth place but moved up to pole position after Cross Country, adding just 0.4pen for being one second over the optimum time.

The experienced French combination of Maxime Livio and the Selle Français 12-year-old Qalao Des Mers, winners of the CCI3* at Saumur (FRA) in 2014, finished on their Dressage score of 44.9 to take second.

Livio said: “My horse is a good jumper, and today he was perfect: careful, powerful and concentrated. He gave his best.”

Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot had led the Dressage but dropped to fifth after Cross Country with 10 time-faults. However, a clear Jumping round elevated them once again to third place.

The 27-year-old was delighted with her CCI4* debut, and said: “I hoped to be among the first five. Now I am on the podium – that is fantastic! Samourai du Thot jumped like a rubber ball today. I could ride fast and it is really fun to jump him when he is like this. I am very proud.”

New Zealand’s Tim Price, who won Luhmühlen CCI4* in 2014, dropped a place from third to fourth this time with a rail down on Ringwood Sky Boy.

Another former winner, Andrew Nicholson (NZL), who took the 2013 event, finished fifth and seventh on Qwanza and Perfect Stranger. Nicholson suffered a neck injury in August 2015 at Gatcombe Park (GBR), but returned seamlessly to the top of the sport and won Bramham CCI3* (GBR) a week ago.

There were just seven clear rounds over Heiko Wahlers’ Jumping track from the 26 competitors who reached the final phase of the CCI4*.

Oliver Townend (GBR), fourth after Cross Country on Black Tie II, withdrew the horse before the final horse inspection, as did Australia’s Emma McDougall, seventh after Cross Country with Belcam Bear.

This was the final time that Captain Mark Phillips will design the Luhmühlen Cross Country course, as Mike Etherington-Smith takes over from 2017. There were no falls and 26 of the 28 Cross Country starters completed with 18 clear rounds, four of which were inside the optimum time.

About the winner

Andreas Dibowski (GER) is based in Dohle, near Hamburg. He has been a regular member of Germany’s international Eventing teams since 1997, and competed at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was part of the team that won the gold medal. He has twice been a member of the gold medal-winning team at the FEI European Championships.

Among his major individual successes are wins in the CCI3* at Boekelo, NED in 2011 on FRH Butts Avedon, Luhmühlen (GER) CCI4* in 2011 on FRH Butts Leon, Pau (FRA) CCI4* in 2010 with FRH Fantasia and the Aachen (GER) CICO3* in 2009 with FRH Serve Well.

He is married to Susanna and has three children. When not competing horses, Andreas enjoys breeding doves and exotic birds.

It’s Me XX is a 12-year-old thoroughbred by Kahyasi out of Itza (Local Suitor) and raced four times unsuccessfully in France  In 2016, he finished second in the CIC3*s at Arville (BEL) and Baborowko (POL).

See the full results on www.luhmuehlen.de.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

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

By Catherine Austen

Luhmühlen CCI4* Media Contact:

Dr. Friederike Stüvel-Huck
media@luhmuehlen.de
+49 (0) 171 5382900

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

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

Andreas Dibowski Takes the Lead at Luhmühlen

Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me XX (Eventing Photo/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 18 June 2016 – The experienced German rider Andreas Dibowski has leapt to the top of the leaderboard with a typically fast and determined Cross Country round at Luhmühlen CCI4* (GER), presented by DHL, penultimate leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016.

Dibowski, winner of Germany’s premier event in 2011, has risen from fourth place after Dressage on the 12-year-old It’s Me XX, formerly an English racehorse by Kahyasi. In a brilliantly accurate performance, he finished just one second over the optimum time of 11 minutes 10 seconds.

“I am super happy,” said Dibowski, who turned 50 in March this year. “My horse did a wonderful job. He may be small, but he has the biggest heart.”

However, the 2008 Olympic team gold medallist has no margin for error in Sunday’s Jumping phase as the speedy Frenchman Maxime Livio, lying second on Qalao des Mers, New Zealander Tim Price (Ringwood Sky Boy), third, and Britain’s Oliver Townend, fourth on the New Zealand Thoroughbred Black Tie, are all within a Jumping fence of the leader.

“My horse is a very good jumper,” warned Livio of his 12-year-old Selle Francais. “If he has poles down it will be my fault, not the horse’s, because he always gives his best.”

Of the Cross Country track, Livio commented: “The ground was very good and it was a nice course. There were more twists and turns that I am used to.”

Price reported that the course was tight for his long-striding horse. “He answered every question though,” added the rider. “It was a matter of keeping the rhythm.”

Julia Krajewski (GER), the Dressage leader, rode a beautiful neat round on the athletic Samourai du Thot, but she got behind the clock and 10 time penalties dropped her to fifth place. However, it was a stylish CCI4* debut.

“I wanted to give my horse a good experience so I didn’t push for the time too much,” she explained. “I am very proud of him.”

Emma Dougall (AUS), third after Dressage on Belcam Bear, also accrued 10 time penalties and is now in seventh place behind Andrew Hoy (AUS) and Rutherglen, who have moved up six places to sixth after finishing just two seconds over time.

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) survived an investigation into whether his first ride Qwanza had glanced off the Ariat Horses fence near the end of the course, but he was judged to have jumped it clear and has moved up a place to eighth at this stage of the competition.

At the end of the day, the veteran Kiwi rider also produced a masterful performance of balance and accuracy on CCI4* first-timer Perfect Stranger and moved up 12 places to 11th.

Julian Despontin (BEL), the Dressage runner-up, is now in 18th place on Waldano 36 with 34 time penalties.

Course Designer Mark Phillips (GBR) played a major part in bringing a CCI4* to Luhmühlen for the first time in 2005 and he should be proud of this year’s track, his last after 12 years, which exerted exactly the right influence.

There were no falls and 26 of the 28 Cross Country starters completed with 18 clear rounds, four of which were inside the optimum time. Six nations are represented in the top 10.

“I owe Mark big thanks,” said Event Director Julia Otto. “We have worked together for many years now and I owe him so much.”

The drop into the DHL water at 28 caught a few riders off balance and Class Hermann Romeike (GER) on Cato 60, eighth after Dressage, had no chance of negotiating the next narrow fence after pitching on landing.

Townend retired his first ride, Dromgurrihy Blue, after a run-out at the skinny fence out of the water at the Meisner Teich (fence 19) and Arnaud Boiteau (FRA) pulled up Quoriano ‘ENE HN’ after an early refusal at fence 5, a house into water. Levett had a run-out at the third element of this complex with his first ride, Improvise, seventh after Dressage and Sarah Bullimore (GBR), 10th after Dressage, had a run-out on Reve du Rouet at the bounce of beer barrels at fence 15.

The home crowd will be hoping to see their local rider take the trophy Sunday, but he will have a fight on his hands with riders of the calibre of Livio, Price and Townend breathing down his neck.

Follow the competition with live coverage on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

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

By Kate Green

Luhmühlen CCI4* Media Contact:

Dr. Friederike Stüvel-Huck
media@luhmuehlen.de
+49 (0) 171 5382900

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

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

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot Lead Luhmühlen Charge

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot (Eventing Photo/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June 2016 – Julia Krajewski, a rising star on the German eventing scene, is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after taking the Dressage lead at Luhmühlen CCI4* (GER), presented by DHL, penultimate leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016.

Krajewski and the 10-year-old Selle Francais, Samourai du Thot, scored the only sub-40 mark and has taken a narrow 1.2 penalty lead over first-day leaders, Belgium’s Julien Despontin and Waldano 36.

“I originally planned to ride in the sunshine, but in the end the rain was helpful as Sam lifted his feet really nicely in the puddles,” Krajewski said. “His trot was particularly expressive, and he stayed really relaxed throughout the whole test. Walk and canter also went really well. He obviously liked the atmosphere from the grandstand and the whole arena.” And on her hopes for the Cross Country with Samurai du Thot: “He is a very gentle horse and we have collected quite a lot of experience at three-star level. He’s fit and I hope we put in a flowing round tomorrow.”

Krajewski, 27, whose parents run a small stud farm near Luhmühlen, has yet to complete a CCI4*, but the German combination recently won the CIC3* at Renswoude (GER).

Despontin and Waldano, a horse previously ridden by Andreas Ostholt (GER), now have a long-standing partnership and regularly shine in the Dressage arena, finishing 20th at Luhmühlen last year.

“He’s a great horse with a big personality,” explained the 26-year-old. “He was a little tense at first so I had to ride the canter work cautiously, but his walk and trot were much improved from last year.”

Australia’s Emma Dougall is in third place on 40.6 penalties with CCI4* first-timer Belcam Bear, ahead of the seasoned German Olympian Andreas Dibowski on It’s Me XX.

Tim Price’s Ringwood Sky Boy, one of the most experienced horses in the field, missed Badminton but is now in with a great chance of a high placing at Luhmühlen. The New Zealand combination is in fifth place on 44.6, just 0.3 ahead of the talented Frenchman Maxime Livio with Qalao des Mers.

Riders have been giving their views on Captain Mark Phillips’ Cross Country course and the general opinion seems to be that it’s a fair track but stronger and with more demanding lines than last year.

“The jumps have been beautifully built and the ground is exceptional,” Despontin said. “If Waldano and I get round and past the Meßmer water complex, we should be able to finish on a decent score.”

Twenty-eight combinations are set to start Saturday’s Cross Country – Germany’s Bettina Hoy (Seigneur Medicott) and France’s Geoffroy Soullez (Madiran du Liot) withdrew before Dressage. First out on the course at 14.00 local time is Britain’s Louise Harwood on Mr Potts.

Follow the competition with live coverage on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

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

By Kate Green

Luhmühlen CCI4* Media Contact:

Dr. Friederike Stüvel-Huck
media@luhmuehlen.de
+49 (0) 171 5382900

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

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

Can Germany Keep Luhmühlen Crown at Home?

Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza. (Eventing Photo/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 16 June 2016 – The good news for competitors at Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL, penultimate leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, is that Michael Jung (GER) can’t win it: the runaway series leader, winner of Kentucky and Badminton, does not have a ride at his country’s premier event.

However, this doesn’t mean that it won’t be a German victory; although many leading riders, including last year’s winner Ingrid Klimke (GER) are running their Olympic prospects in the CIC3*, previous winners Andreas Dibowski and Bettina Hoy plus younger riders Julia Krajewski, Claas Romeike and Kai Rüder are flying the flag for the hosts.

A New Zealand win is also well on the cards, with former winners Andrew Nicholson (2013) and Tim Price (2014) returning to the scene of previous successes.

Price, who could rocket up the FEI Classics™ rankings from current 10th place, rides the experienced Ringwood Sky Boy, a runner-up at Badminton in 2014.

Nicholson, clearly back to his best form after a serious fall last year, comes here on the back of a brilliant CCI3* win at Bramham (GBR) at the weekend. The 54-year-old rides the bright chestnut Perfect Stranger, whose support team can’t be missed in their orange clothing, and the lovely Spanish-bred mare Qwanza.

Australia is represented by Andrew Hoy on the veteran Rutherglen, Emma Dougall (Belcam Bear) and Bill Levett (Alexander NJ and Improvise).

Hoy, a triple Olympic gold medalist, says Luhmühlen is one of his favourite events. “Julia [Otto, Director] does a great job, the organisation is excellent and I love Mark Phillips’s courses here.”

Oliver Townend heads the British contingent, with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Black Tie, which he retired near the end of the course at Badminton when going well, and Dromgurrihy Blue, and Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello) the Irish squad.

There are also riders from Italy, Belgium, Sweden and the US and don’t be surprised if we have Luhmühlen’s first French winner: a trio of in-form Frenchmen, Arnaud Boiteau, Maxime Livio and Geoffroy Soullez, all have winning claims.

After 12 years, this is Captain Phillips’ last year as Course-Designer – he will be succeeded in 2017 by the dual Olympic designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR).

The track will go in the same direction as last year, but riders shouldn’t be complacent. “Last year’s course went well and if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “The questions are still very different, though. The first three fences are the same, after that it’s all new.

“I think the course is very fair to the horses. As ever it’s a true CCI4* test and the riders have to concentrate all the way round. I don’t think there will be one influential fence but a number of significant questions spread evenly throughout the course. Again, we have used frangible devices in every place possible but the most important safety aspect is the riders’ respect for the jumps. It’s a question of the balance between forgiving fences for the horses and questions that are taken seriously by riders.”

The action starts Thursday, with the first horse in the Dressage arena at 1400 local time. Follow the competition with live coverage on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

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

By Kate Green

Luhmühlen CCI4* Media Contact:

Dr. Friederike Stüvel-Huck
media@luhmuehlen.de
+49 (0) 171 5382900

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

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

Montgomery and Loughan Glen Finish Sixth at Luhmühlen CCI4*

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Libby Law Photography)

Salzhausen, Germany – The last phase at the Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL saw a big show jumping course designed by Heiko Wahlers (GER) that determined the final placings on Sunday. In addition to the large track, time was tough to make with nine combinations having double clear show jumping rounds. USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen were among those combinations that delivered a double clear round on the final day. Despite the challenging cross-country phase on Saturday, the pair had an immaculate round to finish in sixth place with a score of 37.50.

Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding began the competition in ninth place with a score of 37.10 in the dressage phase. The pair improved to seventh place after cross country, adding just four-tenths of a penalty point to their score for being a second over the optimum time, before ultimately finishing in sixth place on Sunday.

“He was super,” Montgomery said. “He really understands the CCIs and knows he needs to go in and jump clean on the big stage and he didn’t let me down today. I had heard that the show jumping course at Luhmühlen is big and that was definitely the case, but he jumped great.”

Montgomery and Loughan Glen easily held their own in a field of top international combinations throughout the competition. “It is a great start to have him back in winning form and I’m excited about what the future holds,” Montgomery added.

Ingrid Klimke (GER) and FRH Escada JS won the CCI4* on their dressage score of 32.70.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Klimke Is in the Driving Seat at Luhmühlen

Ingrid Klimke (GER) is pictured here with Horseware Hale Bob on Cross Country at last year’s FEI Classics™ in Luhmühlen (GER). Klimke is now heading back to her home CCI4* presented by DHL this weekend (18-21 June) with “Bobby”, and with an obvious chance to extend her lead of this year’s prestigious FEI Classics™ series. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June, 2015 – Ingrid Klimke (GER), who is enjoying a great run of form, has an obvious chance to extend her lead in the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015 if she can produce a good result at her home CCI4* at Luhmühlen, presented by DHL, this weekend (18-21 June).

Klimke, who won Pau (FRA) last year and recently finished second at Badminton (GBR) on Horseware Hale Bob, rides FRH Escada JS, the good mare on which she won European team gold and individual silver medals in 2013.

No German has won the FEI Classics™ since its inception in 2008, but, going into the fifth leg, the supremely talented rider already has a four-point lead over three-time series winner and world number one William Fox-Pitt (GBR) who does not have a ride at Luhmühlen.

Klimke’s team mate Michael Jung is also expected to climb the leaderboard, on which he is currently lying third. The reigning Olympic and European champion has entered fisherRocana FST and La Biosthetique Sam FBW, the horses on which he finished first and third at Kentucky (USA) in April.

Established German riders Andreas Dibowski, Peter Thomsen and Dirk Schrade plus young talents Niklas Bschorer and Claas Herman Romeike all have rides and their team chef d’equipe Hans Melzer said that he wants to see as many combinations as possible qualified for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio (BRA) where Germany will be defending their title.

New Zealand holds perhaps the strongest entry of all the 13 nations represented at Luhmühlen. Last year’s winner Tim Price, a runner-up to Jung at Kentucky, rides the promising CCI4* debutant Bango, and the 2013 victor, Andrew Nicholson, has the lovely Spanish-bred mare Qwanza back in action.

Surprisingly, neither of New Zealand’s Olympic champions, Sir Mark Todd and Blyth Tait, can boast a CCI4* victory at Luhmühlen in their CVs, but both their respective mounts NZB Campino and Xanthus lll, recently first and third in the CIC3* at Tattersalls (IRL), could deliver exciting results.

The Kiwis also field the 2013 Boekelo CCI3* (NED) winner Lizzie Brown on Henton Attorney General plus world number five Jonelle Price, acknowledged as one of the world’s best female Cross Country riders, on the attractive grey mare Faerie Dianimo.

Event director Julia Otto has expressed her delight at the high-class entry and Cross Country Course Designer Mark Phillips (GBR) has revealed some radical changes made to his track, which runs in a reverse direction to last year.

“It is a completely new approach,” explains Capt Phillips, adding: “The DHL Water Complex doesn’t come up so early in the course, giving horses and riders a better chance to warm up.” He has also redesigned the famous Meβmer water complex, which is lighter and more open after trees have been cut back, and has increased the use of frangible devices in consultation with Technical Delegate Martin Plewa (GER).

The experienced German official commented: “Another safety aspect that is often overlooked is the ground, but, to my mind, the conditions here in Luhmühlen are fabulous. It’s like walking a golf course.”

The action starts with the first horse into the Dressage arena at 1.30pm local time on Thursday. Follow the competition with live coverage on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de.

Download the FEI Classics™ press kit here: www.feipresskits.org/press_kits/subevent/fei-classics.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics and #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Luhmühlen CCI4* Media Contact:

Friederike Stüvel-Huck
media@luhmuehlen.de
+49 171 538 2900

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

USEF Announces Spring/Summer Land Rover Eventing Competition Grants Recipients

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the USEF Land Rover Competition Grants for the spring and summer of 2015.

Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials

The following athlete-and-horse combination has been awarded a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant to compete at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials CCI3*, June 11-14, 2015 in West Yorkshire, England.

Lauren Kieffer (Ocala, Fla.) and Team Rebbeca, LLC’s Veronica
Veronica is a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

*Kurt Martin and Anna Bella were previously awarded a grant to compete at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, but they have withdrawn from the competition.

Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL

The following athlete-and-horse combination has been awarded a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant to compete at the Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL, June 18-21, 2015 in Luhmühlen, Germany.

Clark Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen
Loughan Glen is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.

From the USEF Communications Department

Martin and Shamwari 4 Jump to Third Place at Luhmühlen CCI4*

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (Shannon Brinkman)

Luhmühlen, Germany – Clear rounds were at a premium on Sunday in the final phase of the Luhmühlen CCI4* over Heiko Wahlers’ 13-obstacle track. Of the 31 combinations that went forward into the show jumping, only three competitors were able to jump faultlessly. Leading the way for the American contingent were Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari, 4 who continued their climb up the leaderboard, finishing the prestigious German competition in third place.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a strong performance in the show jumping leaving all the rails in place. However, the pair that has only been together since the beginning of 2014 finished just over the 88 second time allowed to collect a single time fault and finish on a score of 48.8.

“In January we got this horse and 10 people got behind him and believed in him and right from the get-go I knew he was a class horse,” said Martin. “I got here and everything fell into place this weekend, and I’m very happy.”

The pair were making their CCI4* debut together this weekend and rose from 12th after the dressage on the strength of finishing clear and inside the time on the cross country to head into the show jumping in seventh place before rising four more places to finish in the top three. Making the top finish all the more impressive, Martin, a 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and 2012 London Olympics Games veteran, spent much of the spring season out of the saddle after breaking his leg in March.

Finishing in seventh place were Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Bruce Duchossois’ 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Mighty Nice. The combination lowered rails at three, 6C, and 12B to add 12 faults to their total in the show jumping. They finished the weekend on a score of 58.0.

Martin also piloted Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Otis Barbotiere into 15th place. The pair, which represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympic Games, lowered rails at fences two and 12a on Sunday to finish on a score of 73.3.

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Wesko were one of three pairs to jump without fault in the final phase to earn the 2014 Luhmühlen CCI4* crown on a score of 43.8. Finishing in second place was Germany’s Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung and fisherRoscana FST with a score of 45.5.

To learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

US Riders Shine on Cross Country Day at Luhmühlen CCI4*

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Luhmühlen, Germany – The riders representing the U.S. rose to the occasion on Saturday tackling Captain Mark Phillips’ 6,500m 29-fence cross country course. Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 looked like a true partnership, adding no penalties to their dressage score of 47.80 to move up to seventh place.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding are just 6.3 points out of the lead. Martin looked no worse for wear galloping cross country on a CCI4* after breaking his leg back in March. He also sits in 17th place with Otis Barbotiere, Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding, after adding 6.8 time penalties and moving up from 33rd place.

“Both horses jumped their hearts out; I was thrilled with them,” Martin said.

Phillip Dutton produced a fault-free round on Mighty Nice. Though Bruce Duchossois’ 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is green at the CCI4* level, he looked like a seasoned competitor with Dutton in the irons. The pair heads into Sunday’s show jumping phase in fifth place on their dressage score of 46.00.

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

“He’s still green at this level, but he really stepped up today and was great the whole way around,” Dutton shared.

Germany’s Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung and fisherRocana FST remain on their dressage score of 41.5 to lie in first place heading into the final day of competition. Tim Price (NZL) and Wesko are in second place with a score of 43.80 while Bettina Hoy (GER) and Designer 10 are third on a score of 44.50.

The U.S. riders in Luhmühlen and the USEF send their condolences to the family and friends of German rider Benjamin Winter who passed away following a fall on the cross country.

To learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

US Lands Two in Top 12 at Conclusion of Dressage at Luhmühlen CCI4*

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 (Stockimageservices.com)

Luhmühlen, Germany – The United States produced strong performances in the first phase of competition at the Luhmühlen CCI4* landing two riders in the top 12. Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 scored 47.8 from the Ground Jury of Gillian Rolton, Ernst Topp, and Alain James and will head out onto Captain Mark Phillips’ cross country course in 12th place.

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) has spent much of the spring on the sidelines after breaking his leg in March but nevertheless produced his best test to date with the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s gelding on Friday. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran showcased Shamwari’s expressive gaits to leave himself within striking distance heading into the cross country.

The pair is making their CCI4* debut this weekend in Luhmühlen, after the 12-year-old Hanoverian was acquired for Martin in early 2014 after representing Sweden at the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2013 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships.

Lying in 10th after the dressage are five-time Olympian Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice. The winners of the 2013 Red Hills International Horse Trials scored 46.0 and set off on the cross country less than eight points behind the leaders.

“I thought Boyd and Phillip did really good jobs today. Boyd did well to keep Shamwari 4 on track when he got a bit lit up in his test,” said U.S Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor. “They continue to get better and better and are going in the right direction. Phillip did a really nice job with Mighty Nice and he is in the hunt.”

Martin also stands in 33rd with the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Otis Barbotiere after the dressage. The pair performed their test on Thursday scoring 58.5.

Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish holds the lead after the dressage on a score of 38.7, while Germany’s Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung stands second with fisherRocana FST on a score of 41.5. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob head onto the cross country in third place with a score of 42.0.

Martin and Otis Barbotiere set out on Saturday’s cross country at 9:14am local time. Martin will then leave the start box with Shamwari 4 at 11:50am, with Dutton and Mighty Nice rounding out the U.S. effort at 12:18pm.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Luhmühlen CCI4*, visit: http://www.luhmuehlen.de/index.asp?tree_id=65&sprache_id=2.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.