Bettina Hoy’s dominance at Luhmühlen continues as the German rider holds on to the lead in both the four-star and three-star classes. She added nothing to her dressage scores on both horses. On Designer 10 she stays on her score of 36.00 and is closely followed by Julia Krajewski (GER) with Samurai du Thot (37.10), and Nicola Wilson (GBR) with Bulana (38.70).
The weather and conditions were perfect and 40% of the competitors jumped clear within the time in the CCI4* class.
Bettina and Designer had a couple of hairy moments, where they seemed a little undecided on which stride to go for, but luckily she remembered Chris Bartle’s “oh-s..t-position“, which stopped her from going overboard. “The rest of the course was amazing,” she says. “Designer gave me a fantastic round. I guess, I just forgot that I have to ride him differently to Mickey, who I rode this morning, but I soon remembered! Unfortunately my watch stopped working around the seven-minute mark, which left me a little unsure about the time, but I know he is a really fast horse, so I knew I would be able to just go for it!“
Julia Krajewski was also buzzing after her round on Samourai du Thot. “Sam gave me a brilliant feeling all the way round the course. He was fit and forward throughout. I could not be happier! It was our first four-star-event after Rio, so I really wanted things to go well. But I knew he was in top form, so I was optimistic they would. The course rode as I had hoped and only once Sam added an extra stride going uphill, which made it that little bit harder, because he is only small. But he was amazing and what ever happens tomorrow, I am very proud of his performance.“
British rider Nicola Wilson also finished the day on her dressage score of 38.70. “I am delighted with this little mare. She is feisty and strong in cross-country and I have spent many hours practising during the winter to bring her nose a little more forward. It was her first four-star competition and I could not be happier. She is a super mare.“
The mare, Bulana, produced by New Zealander Lizzie Green, has never made the time at three-star level but did it today on her four-star debut.
Andrew Nicholson also produced a penalty-free round on Teseo, and has moved up to 19th as a result.
Caroline Powell and Sinatra Frank Baby had 0.4 time faults and are now 23rd. Caroline’s other ride, Spice Sensation, took a dislike to the first water and Caroline retired her.
Tim Rusbridge and Oneforthenotebook jumped clear, but incurred 4.4 time faults, leaving them in 33rd place.
Oliver Townend and the NZ thoroughbred Black Tie jumped clear within the time and are seventh. Shane Rose and Virgil are the best-placed of the Australians, sitting in 14th spot. Katja Weimann had a clear round on BP Flamboyant but 9.2 time faults left them in 24th place.
Mike Etherington-Smith was happy with the way things turned out today, and says it takes a couple of years to get to know a course. “I already have some good ideas for next year. But I’m really happy to have seen so many positive rounds, motivated and confident horses and smiling riders. The weather was perfect and the footing could not have been better. David Evans, Carl Fletcher and their team prepared the footing for anything. They have done an amazing job! The work they have put into building this course is fantastic.” David, Carl and their team have been selected to be the Eventing Course Builders for Tokyo 2020.
CIC3* Meßmer Trophy
Bettina and Seigneur Medicott still lead of CIC*** Meßmer Trophy, staying on their dressage score of 26.30 after finishing on optimum time. They are closely followed by Ingrid Klimke with both her horses, Weisse Düne (32.70), and Horseware Hale Bob OLD (33.30).
“Mickey was fantastic!” says Bettina. “It was so much fun! The crowd was really supportive. The Europeans are of course my dream, especially with this wonderful horse, but the decision lies with the German team trainers.“
Ingrid Klimke is second with Weisse Düne and third with Horseware Hale Bob OLD, on whom she added two penalties to her dressage score. “It is a little annoying about my time faults with Bobby, as the optimum time had been adjusted without my knowledge, which is why I thought I was well within the time. I should have double-checked this morning. Apart from that, the course rode beautifully. The footing was excellent, every jump was thoughtfully built. It wasn’t too easy and concentration was needed throughout. Every question was followed by an easier fence for horses to take a breather. This worked particularly well for the younger horses, which gave them a motivating round.”
In fourth place are Michael Jung (GER) and Star Connection. “The gelding was brilliant, I really enjoyed my round with this fairly inexperienced horse. He answered all the questions really well; he has a lot of potential. I am very happy.“
Julia Krajewski (GER) and Chipmunk FRH also had a beautiful round, just one second over the optimum time, which keeps them in fifth. Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Opgun Louvo and Michael Jung with fischerRocana are sixth and seventh.
Australia’s Emma McNabb had 8.4 time faults, dropping to 19th, with Isabel English and Feldale Mouse jumping clear within the time and rising to 21st.
