Photo via the FEI
From Heather Reimer of GermanEventing.de:
It was not raining when Luhmühlen woke up this morning and everybody could look forward to a final day full of excitement. Most of the horses were looking very fit this morning. It took two people to hold Nicola Wilson’s Oppositions Buzz he was just raring to go again. Whenever I see this horse I just have the feeling he loves eventing and is really enjoying himself. However Piggy French seems to be getting into the habit of losing things when she presents Jakata, it was a stocking at the first vet check, which was gallantly rescued by the trainer much to the amusement of the spectators and as her scarf flew away today people started to wonder what she will lose next. Three horses withdrew before the final vet check this morning and two were not passed so a total of 51 horses were listed to take part in the show jumping.
The show jumping course designed by Heiko Wahlers proved to be fairly challenging. The first 21 riders started before the lunch break and it soon became apparent that the course wasn’t easy and after the first riders all finished with not only jumping faults but also time faults the allowed time was upped by 4 seconds. Jane Doherty (IRL) riding The Only One rode the first clear round and during the morning session there were only two other clear rounds and they were from Carlos Diaz Fernández (ESP) riding Iberon CP and the Swedish team rider Dag Albert riding Mitras Eminen.
Tim Lips (NED) started the afternoon session and unfortunately took a pole on the first jump of the triple combination. The first German rider to enter the arena was Kai Steffen Meier who was placed 52nd after the dressage, moved up to 26th place after the cross country and now rode a good round finishing with just two time faults and a well earned 20th place. Kai was followed by the next German rider Julia Mestern riding FRH Schorsch and she went clear. The first French team rider also went clear and Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz left the arena with 4 faults. The remaining two French team riders also went clear and as Piggy French picked up 4 faults, the British Teams hopes of a silver medal started to fade and the pressure was on William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain. The last Italian team rider Stefano Brecciaroli riding Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve put on a super performance and also went clear. There were just 7 riders to come, three German team riders, 2 German individual riders, the last Swedish team rider Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and of course William Fox-Pitt for Great Britian. Dirk Schrade individual rider for Germany went clear, William Fox-Pitt entered the arena knowing that he had to go clear for Britain to win silver, but it was not to be, at jump 3 a pole fell and Britain dropped down to bronze medal position. Frank Ostholt the last individual rider for Germany was next and rode a brilliant clear round to finish at least 5th. It was then the turn of the first German team rider Sandra Auffarth riding Opgun Louvo and as she went clear the excitement in the arena started building up. Just three riders to go. Sara Algotsson-Ostholt(SWE) riding Wega rode an impressive ride until the first fence of the last combination where Wega suddenly decided she didn’t like the round blue water on the left side of the jump and Sara had no chance of preventing the refusal at the second element. She finished the course with a total of 18 faults and dropped down to 12th place. Just two horses to go with Sandra Auffarth sure of a bronze medal. Michael Jung and Sam went clear and the last rider to enter the arena was Ingrid Klimke riding FRH Butts Abraxxas. The first pole to fall was at 4 and before she finished the course another 5 had hit the ground…..
World Champion Michael Jung (GER) is also now Individual European Champion, with Sandra Auffarth (GER) second, a great achievement at her first big Championship and the individual rider Frank Ostholt(GER) 3rd and Germany is European Team Champion, France 2nd and Great Britian 3rd.
[Individual Results, Team Results, FEI TV Coverage]
It has been a great Championship with a lot of excitement and awesome sport. I am sure that everyone that has attended has enjoyed the very special atmosphere here, despite the rain.
At the prize giving ceremony the French officially revealed their secret weapon and their lucky mascot was carried into the arena.
I have really enjoyed sharing my experiences with you and I hope you have enjoyed reading them.
