Luhmühlen’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, has visited the venue for its 60th anniversary. After a tour of the modernised showground, she walked parts of the cross-country course, accompanied by Luhmühlen’s event director Julia Otto and course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, viewing some of the obstacles fitted with the MIM Safety System. She also revisited the Meßmer water complex, which she still remembers from competing here in 1975.
“It’s a real pleasure to be back here,” the Princess said at an official welcome ceremony. “Much has changed over the years, here in Luhmühlen and in eventing. There is so much that is excellent about Luhmühlen: the course, the way it’s run, the hospitality and the way everyone is treated. Over 60 years there have been so many people who rose to the occasion – that’s quite extraordinary. For everybody in the eventing world, Luhmühlen has been an important venue.”
Later, she presented rosettes to children taking part in the Kids’ Cross-Country Fun, a lead-rein class over tiny cross-country jumps, which was judged by Olympic gold medallists Michael Jung and Hinrich Romeike.
