Michael Jung tops Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH delivered one more masterclass to stay on the high of the leaderboard after the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country immediately (15 June).

Following the morning’s dramatic thunderstorm in the course of the five-star class, the rain made option to give the riders a extra nice run round course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s twisty and intense monitor. Of the 60 cross-country starters, 53 accomplished – with 17 leaping clear and solely two contained in the 6 minute 56 second optimum time.

In a single day chief Michael was second final to go together with 16-year-old FischerChipmunk FRH, having already jumped clear aboard 11-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Energy, who sits sixth forward of the showjumping.

Michael – who’s vying for the German nationwide champion title within the Meßmer Trophy CCI4*-S – was thrilled with each his rides.

“On two traces I did an additional stride; fence 6ab (Willke rail Kombination), I did seven strides with my first horse and it felt good so I did the identical with FischerChipmunk,” stated Michael.

“He was simply wonderful, he gave me an ideal feeling immediately. He was very straightforward to experience, listening, and galloping tremendous, it was only a fantastic feeling. In my head there’s a number of extra weeks, then there’s hopefully someplace we will go…”

Laura Collett and London 52 hold the stress on

Laura Collett, who received final yr’s Luhmühlen five-star class with London 52, confirmed off his versatility, making gentle work of the CCI4*-S to remain in in a single day second. Laura and her personal, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s 15-year-old gelding added 1.2 time-penalties to their dressage rating, to enter the showjumping section tomorrow (16 June) on 26.4. This retains the stress on Michael and FisherChipmunk who’re on 26.1, and may’t afford to have a pole.

Laura described her cross-country spherical as “wonderful”, including: “It was various stress, we’re getting shut now to Paris and choice, and it’s simply making an attempt to not make a foolish mistake.

“However that horse is unbelievable and I’ve to only remind myself how fortunate I’m to experience him, and imagine in him as a result of he’s sensational, and he loves it right here. The mix at fence 6, I considered turning left and he went to show, and I believed ‘Not but’, as a result of we’re not lined up for it. That’s the place he’s received so good that once I look, he turns, so I simply want to verify I don’t do it to the incorrect one! However he’s unbelievable.”

Laura added that London 52 is “such an ideal horse as a result of he’s so adaptable”.

“He can gallop spherical a five-star, however he may be nippy spherical a decent four-star. It rode very intense immediately, issues got here up in a short time, and also you don’t have that slight respiratory area such as you do within the five-star the place you may put your self again collectively and take into consideration the subsequent fence. It comes up on you tremendous rapidly, however he’s so fast considering and all the time in search of the subsequent fence, so I simply want to verify I level on the proper one.”

“My horse of a lifetime”

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir crept up from in a single day seventh forward of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country to fit into third going into the ultimate section. They stopped the clock at 6 minutes 59 seconds, for 1.2 time-penalties. The one rounds contained in the time got here from Germany’s Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale (6 minutes 53 seconds) who’s in provisional eleventh, and New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Damasco (6 minutes 56 seconds), who lie in twelfth.

Yasmin stated Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s 15-year-old was “tremendous at each mixture”.

“We didn’t have any bushy moments. We received a little bit bit near the comb within the water (fence 19ab Longines Wasser), however it was simply because he has such an enormous stride. He’s an incredible horse and I’m so fortunate to experience him.

“He’s quick, he’s courageous, he’s cautious. Probably the most unbelievable half about it’s he simply loves it, he’s such a cross-country horse. He’s my horse of a lifetime. We’ve gone up the degrees collectively just about, and successful my very first senior particular person medal on the 2022 World Championships is one thing I’ll by no means ever overlook.”

Biting at Yasmin’s heels is Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, who rose from tenth after the dressage (on a 28.4 rating) to fourth forward of the showjumping. The pair recorded the identical cross-country time and time-penalties as Yasmin and Banzair Du Loir, and their dressage scores are separated going into the ultimate section by simply 0.3 of a penalty.

Tom stated Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston’s 13-year-old gelding was “daring, straight, and eager” throughout nation.

“He was undoubtedly very recent after having a number of simpler weeks after Kentucky (the place they had been runners-up in April). I couldn’t be happier. I simply misplaced a little bit of time by the woods the place I wasn’t fairly keen to fly down the hills on the final couple,” he stated.

Reward for Mike Etherington Smith’s cross-country programs

“I’m certain the outcomes seem like the monitor has jumped very well, however there are a variety of Olympic combos right here – or vying for spots – so that you’re top-class horses right here this week. Sure after all the fences have jumped nicely, however on the similar time they need to should you experience them nicely sufficient and also you’re on good horses,” stated Tom.

Tom added that each Mike’s programs had been “unbelievable”.

“They’ve ridden as they’ve walked. They’ve been clear and true, there’s been some correct traces, skinnies, hidden fences and use of the bottom, there’s been every thing,” he stated.

“There’s nowhere else we might have had these storms immediately and nonetheless continued with the very best footing going. It’s been unbelievable.”

The highest 5 after the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country is rounded off by Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21. The CCI4*-S trot up takes place at 7am UK tomorrow (8am native time). The showjumping will get underneath approach at 11.15am UK time (12.45pm).

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting workforce for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.