[via FEI]
Good morning Eventing Nation and I hope you are having a wonderful Father’s Day! One of the year’s few four-stars has just wrapped up in Germany with an unsurprisingly dominant performance from Michael Jung. I joke about Michael being the “terminator” of eventing for a reason, and I mean that in the best possible way. His personality is ice cold, he’s nearly invincible, and he destroys everything in his path.
Michael and Leopin of Germany pulled one rail in the show jumping but held on to win the Luhmuhlen CCI4* by 5.2 points ahead of Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish. Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon jumped one of just three double-clear show jumping rides in the CCI4* for third. The top of the final leader board was nationally diverse. The aforementioned Germans gave hometown Germany two in the top ten, Australia finished with four in the top ten, New Zealand one and Great Britain three. Michael won the Luhmuhlen CCI4* in 2009 and also won the Eurpoean Championships at the venue in 2011.
Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz finished a wonderful weekend in 16th place as the lone US pair to complete the event. Colleen and Shiraz pulled two rails but, with a tough show jumping course, remained in 16th place. I’m continue to wonder why this pair hasn’t seen more attention from the US team, they are one of our most consistent four-star pairs. [CCI4* Results]
Michael Jung also won the CIC3* at Luhmuhlen with Weidezaunprofi’s River of Joy. They jumped a double-clear to win by 7.8 points ahead of Sweden’s Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and Wega. Sara’s husband and German rider Frank Ostholt was 5th on Little Paint. Ingrid Klimke and Tabasco 70 were third, and Sweden’s Niklas Lindbäck and Mister Pooh were fourth. Germany dominated the leader board in the CCI3*, owning 8 of the top 10 spots. [CIC3* Results]
Go eventing.
Update: Check out Horse and Hound’s Luhmuhlen recap for more from Germany. [H&H]
