 Exciting innovative concept launched for recognising talented young horses
NEXGEN Young Horse Series is set to deliver an exciting new concept, recognising the talents of four, five and six year olds through a series of showcase events in the UK. For the first time, talented young horses and ponies from all three disciplines will be bought together under one roof in a series of five qualifiers, resulting in a final at Hickstead on 15/16 September 2020. The team behind this very continental format is Uptown Eventing’s Rachel Wakefield, Caunton Stud’s Victoria Wright, event rider Julia Dungworth and German dressage rider Martin Schleicher. Martin says “Having grown up with the Bundeschampionat in Germany, I have a real passion about the connection between breeding and sport. The NEXGEN Young Horse Series is an exciting new concept showcasing the top young horses of each Olympic discipline in the UK, in one place.” Julia is quick to point out that “a lot of hard work goes into breeding and working young horses. This series will go some way to recognise that and give both horses and riders a chance to prove their skills.” The format in each section sees the introduction of NEXGEN’S own unique scoring system that is individual for each discipline. Throughout the qualifiers and final, an illustrious list of judges awaits competitors along with a prize pot of nearly £15,000 The final for each discipline, which is to be held at The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, will be streamed live on ClipMyHorseTV giving competitors and equestrian enthusiasts the chance to catch all the action as it happens. “NEXGEN is a brilliant concept and something that's been missing in the UK for a long time. I'm excited to watch this event grow with a passionate team who will bring the UK's young horses to the forefront.” The series kicks off with the first qualifier at Richmond Equestrian Centre on the 31st July and is open to any four, five and six year old horses. The show jumping section of the series is being proudly supported by clothing brand Coldstream Equestrian, with other sponsors set to take the dressage and eventing sections respectively. When asked about this exciting new series, event rider Gemma Tattersall said "This is exactly what we need right now and I'm really looking forward to competing all my young horses in the Series." NEXGEN has also collaborated with British Breeding, allowing them to incorporate the Equine Bridge. The Bridge has replaced British Equestrian’s Pathway Programme and will enable any talented British bred combinations the chance to gain valuable training, veterinary and nutritional advice, along with financial support which is needed to see horses and ponies progress to the highest levels of sport. British Bred horse and rider combinations who qualify for Hickstead can opt to be selected at the final.  David Howden and his family taken in front of Cornbury House 29 July 2020
Launching a brand-new sporting event in 2020 may seem like an unusual thing to do, but one man’s passion for horses and his determination to see an historic equestrian venue spring into life again means that Cornbury House Horse Trials (11-13 September) is set to become a highlight of the eventing calendar. Event President David Howden moved to Cornbury House in Oxfordshire in 2017, and discovered that its beautiful surroundings had been the site of a major horse trials in the 1990s. Given his family’s love of and deep connection with horses, he was inspired to make it so once again. With the help of experienced organisers Richard Clapham and Pattie Biden, cross-country course-designer David Evans and course-builder Adrian Ditcham and their teams, David Howden has brought this exciting dream to fruition. Cornbury House Horse Trials’ inaugural running will take place between 11 and 13 September 2020, and will feature the best possible facilities and conditions for the world-class equestrian athletes expected to compete there – and substantial prize-money for the senior international classes. “It has been quite a challenge; first last winter’s weather held up our plans, and then along comes Covid-19,” said David. “For me, Cornbury House Horse Trials has always been about three things: the riders, the horses and their owners. I really wanted to focus on the sport, and to do that, we needed to be able to produce exactly the right conditions for them, which has meant considerable investment. “We are delighted to be able to offer high levels of prize-money - £2,500 to the winner of the CCI3*-S and £1,250 to the winner of the CCI2*-S - in our first year, and we can’t wait to welcome riders and owners to this spectacular setting in September.” The event site has the ancient woodlands of the Wychwood Forest as a backdrop and looks down on Cornbury House and the town of Charlbury. Although this year’s horse trials is likely to be held without spectators, in accordance with government guidelines regarding sporting events, the event will be filmed and broadcast so that fans and those connections to the participants who are unable to be there don’t miss out. David Howden plans that in future years, the event will reflect his passion for sustainability and the importance of the local community, with locally-produced food and goods available to visitors in an intimate setting but with all the technology and innovation of a major sporting occasion. “We want to offer a lovely day out with thrilling sport in a magnificent setting,” he said. “We are determined to put Cornbury House Horse Trials on in 2020 with the very high standards that we always envisaged.” Cornbury House Horse Trials will stage international classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level, and national novice and intermediate classes. It will also host two NAF-sponsored Youth Performance sections at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S, offering opportunities for the country’s best under-21 riders in a year in which many of their principal targets have been lost. Jude Matthews, CEO of British Eventing, said: “NAF are wonderful supporters of up-and-coming young event riders and we are very grateful to them for their support of these extra classes at Cornbury House. We are also grateful to Cornbury House Horse Trials’ President, David Howden, for providing this brilliant opportunity for our under-21 competitors.” For media enquiries, please contact Catherine Austen. Tel: 07711362832, email: [email protected].  Mid July British and Dutch top dressage riders will perform their Grand Prix tests in the online GP Dressage Challenge organized by CDIO Hickstead and CHIO Rotterdam. From each country up to 20 top Grand Prix dressage combinations will ride the Grand Prix test for the camera in the dressage arenas of the venues in Hickstead and Rotterdam. International judges Stephen Clarke and Mariette Sanders - van Gansenwinkel give their live comments and online spectators will be able to score the tests. Dates and channels for the broadcast with live commentary of the online GP Dressage Challenge will be announced shortly.
Grand Prix riders in both countries including Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), Emile Faurie (GBR) and Dutch chef d'equipe Alex van Silfhout responded positively on this initiative. The complete line up will follow. "The whole equestrian world was so much looking forward to this year. COVID-19 has not only resulted in cancellation of the Olympics and our events in Rotterdam and Hickstead, it was also a great disappointment for the fans that will not see their favorite dressage riders and horses in action probably most of this year", says Patrick van der Meer, sports director Dressage at CHIO Rotterdam. "Together with CDIO Hickstead we now show them how dressage has progressed during lock down." "We're excited about this online challenge between these two top dressage nations", says Dane Rawlins, show director CDIO Hickstead. "For the riders this is a unique measuring moment on their way to Tokyo 2021 and an opportunity to feel the competition pressure which they lack completely this year. And of course for all dressage lovers to get a glimpse from their favorite GP dressage combination." The tests will be filmed prior but with no public. More details on competitors, broadcasting, sponsors, starting orders, etc. will follow and will be published on chio.nl and dressageathickstead.com and on social media (#rotterdamhicksteadgpc). LIVE Stream 7 - 10 MAy 2020 We came up with a completely hair brained idea to get the World's Eventing community together for an actual International 3 Day Event. With massive support from lots of people this week I'm off and running...... The riders have the format although they might be scratching their heads right now but they're up for the challenge. I have a million of other things that need sorting but first and foremost I need you to donate please .... lets make this BIG please
Our chosen charity for Virtual 5* Eventing is NHS Charities Together. We have been looking at various charities that will look after our Medical Staff now and in the future up and down the country. and Having investigated what they will be doing this sits well to cover a wide area of Medical Staff all over the Country. Ellie Orton, Chief Executive, NHS Charities Together said "This sounds really exciting. We would love to be involved as a charity" Please visit our funding page here All monies go directly to the charity. Let's do this...  Badminton Horse Trials, one of the most established equestrian sporting events, is set to enter a remarkable eighth decade, with the Box Office for advance tickets opening to the public on Monday, 13th January, offering discounts for early booking. Badminton, which was recently voted the ‘Best Event Award - Outdoor Eventing’ by the prestigious publication L’Année Hippique, was started by the 10th Duke of Beaufort in 1949 to prepare riders for Olympic Games and has now evolved into the world’s oldest and most valuable horse trials. It’s one of the countryside’s great traditions and this year coincides with commemorations for the 75th anniversary of VE day, on Friday, 8th May. With 2020 being an Olympic year, a highly competitive international field is expected, with riders knowing that a strong performance at Badminton will help catch their selectors’ attention, in the fierce contest for places at the Tokyo Olympic Games. For the first time, visitors on the Wednesday 6th May will be able to book into the Weatherbys Hamilton members enclosure. On Thursday (7th May) Badminton, who will be officially supporting the British Equestrian Federation’s campaign to help send the British team to Tokyo, will showcase all the equestrian Olympic disciplines with a parade of the best horses in Dressage and Show Jumping and Eventing. Event Director Jane Tuckwell commented, “2020 is going to be an exciting year with a number of new traffic and sustainability initiatives which we hope will enhance the visitor experience. We are really looking forward to working with our new Official Event Partners Science Supplements and Mars Equestrian and securing further partners as the year goes on.” Celebrations begin, however, with the popular amateur Cup, now sponsored by Science Supplements, which runs on May 5th and 6th and is a major highlight for grassroot riders.  Lot 011 MBF Desert Dancer sold for €30,000 to World No.1 rider Oliver Townend Top lot was Lot 011, the lovely Ramiro B 3yr old gelding MBF Desert dancer which was knocked down to World No.1 rider Oliver Townend.
63 of the 90 horses that were brought forward to auction were sold, giving a clearance rate of 70%. The average price this year was €13,000, up from €11,000 in 2018. The auction was once again officiated by auctioneer Alastair Pim. Just a few of the lucky riders with a Monart graduate heading their way this year include: Oliver Townend (GBR), Aoife Clark (IRE), Kai Ruder (GER), Julia Mestern (GER), Emily King & Sam Ecroyd (GBR) Vicky Tuffs (GBR), Karl Slezak (CAN), David Britnell (GBR), Giovanni Ugalotti (ITA), Vicky Brake (GBR), Trish and Michael Ryan (IRE). While the likes of Michael Jung, Astier Nicolas and Uptown Eventing were underbidders on several lots during the evening, Astier however did secure lot 108 for one of his clients. Monart were once again delighted to see their graduates find their way to so many top riders and we look forward to following their careers closely over the coming years. The next few days will see all the horses shipping out to their new owners. Dates for next years sale are the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of November 2020 Results below  🥇Tom McEwen with Toledo de Kerser dominated the competition at Le Etoils du Pau 2019. It is the first 5* win for McEwen, following on from top 12 finishes at Badminton and a 4th place at Burghley. 🥈Christopher Burton and Quality Purdey are second with a beautiful round and an unlucky last rail in the show jumping.. 🥉Shane Rose and his fabulous horse Virgil did a beautiful clear round which moved him up three places. Full results  image: Nicolas Hodys Photos Le Etoiles du Pau's CCI5* cross country is over, here is the provisional podium :
🥇Tom McEwen & Toledo de Kerser - 25,7. 🥈Alexander Bragg & Zagreb - 28,8. 🥉 Christopher Burton - 29,8. The show resumes today at 9.30 with the horse inspection. results are here Schedules and results on the website  Monart graduate Shannondale Mari at Mondial du Lion 2019 All sales footage is available to view via www.themonartsale.com - each video can be turned into a playlist to make finding your individual choices easier. Only a few rooms remaining at the Monart Spa for the sale dates (4-6th November) To book yours phone 📞 +353 (0)53 92 38999 - rooms available from €85 per night B&B  image- Nicolas Hody The 5* eventing competition is well underway!
The first fourteen riders on the starting list for the CCI-L 5* competition in the Pau 5-Star event performed their individual tests this afternoon, at the Domaine de Sers. One of the riders to watch in this competition is New Zealander Tim Price, current world number 3 and winner of Le Lion d’Angers World Breeding Eventing championship last weekend in the seven-year-old category. He currently leads the provisional ranking here in Pau, riding his eleven-year-old mare, Ascona M. Ensemble. This year Price and Ascona already won the Lumühlen CCI-L 5*, one of the six most prestigious eventing competitions in the world, an elite circle in which the Pau 5-Star event has its rightful place. In the French camp, the two riders on the starting list for the dressage tests today ranked sixth – Arnaud Boiteau with Quoriano*ENE HN - and tenth - Régis Prud’hon, riding Vanda du Plessis. Tomorrow, Friday 25th October, British rider Michael Owen will be first into the arena for the second part of the dressage tests at 10 o’clock. You will fin all the results here : https://www.worldsporttiming.com/results/les-5-etoiles-de-pau-2019-265/schedule.html  image:(FEI/Libby Law) The legendary Michael Jung leads the German victory lap at the final leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2019 series in Boekelo,
In the thrilling finale to the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2019 series at Boekelo, The Netherlands today, Team Germany posted their fourth win of the season while league leaders Sweden held on to take the series title. However some of the biggest smiles were on Swiss faces when they pulled Olympic qualification out of the bag. There were three teams in contention for the single ticket to Tokyo 2020, and Dutch hopes were dashed when they found themselves lying eleventh of the 12 competing nations after Saturday’s cross-country phase. But Switzerland and Belgium slugged it out to the very end, with the final series rankings swinging the pendulum in favour of the Swiss. The new Olympic format led to plenty of head-scratching during the four-day fixture at which the German team took command at the outset and never flinched. Without a drop score, the multi-medalled Sandra Auffarth (Let’s Dance 73), Michael Jung (fischerRocana FST) and Ingrid Klimke (SAP Asha P) put just 78.10 penalty points on the board after Dressage, with Auffarth also leading the individual rankings on her mark of 24.90. And with a hat-trick of Cross-Country zeros yesterday, this phenomenal threesome looked all but unassailable going into today’s final Jumping phase. However there was plenty of movement below them as the cross-country course designed by Adrian Ditcham played its part. Australia climbed from sixth to second thanks to brilliant clear runs inside the time by Chris Burton (Clever Louis) and Kevin McNab (Fernhill Tabasco), and the Belgians rocketed up from seventh to third, thanks in no small part to a great performance from Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (Alpaga d’Arville) and just 3.6 time penalties for Constantin van Rijckevorsel (Beat It). With a two-phase tally of 117.50 they were lying just over three points behind Australia and just ahead of the Japanese who were in fourth going into the final day, while the Swiss also made serious headway when soaring up from 12th to fifth, their running total of 125.90 leaving them just eight points adrift of their Belgian rivals as the action resumed this afternoon. And it was a real roller-coaster in the battle for the team placings, with the 84-seconds time-allowed proving difficult for many to get. The team partnerships were last to go, and the Belgians dropped down the leaderboard when adding 30.80 to their tally. However despite the addition of just 0.40 for pathfinder Caroline Gerber (Tresor de Chignan CH) for going over the time, the Swiss also lost their grip when putting 30.00 more on the board. Robin Godel (Grandeur de Lully CH) collected 13.20 on his tour of the 12-fence track while Tiziana Realini (Toubleu de Rueire), who had produced one of those precious cross-country clears, posted 16.4 to bring their team total of 155.9, leaving the Swiss just behind their Belgian rivals in seventh place at the end of the day. However the Olympic spot would be earned by the country lying highest of the unqualified nations in the final FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2019 standings. The Swiss lay third coming into this seventh and last leg, and their final total of 370 points left them well clear of the Belgians who completed with 355. Meanwhile with their closest opposition from Italy not lining out this time around, the leading Swedes, carrying 435 points, had a clear run to the 2019 title despite finishing tenth at this last leg. At the sharp end, Germany held on for a convincing win on a final scoreline of 94.10, while a clear from Burton, 5.20 for McNab and just four faults for Samantha Birch (Finduss PFB) secured runner-up spot for Australia on a final tally of 123.50. Japan finished an impressive third, Kazuma Tomoto (Bernadette Utopia) and Atsushi Negishi (Ventura de la Chaule JRA) going clear in both of the final two phases while Yoshiaki Oiwa (Bart L JRA), who had been lying individually second after dressage but who was penalised for a cross-country refusal, had a pole down at the penultimate triple combination today. The Japanese finished less than a single penalty point behind the Australians, and it is quite clear they will be a force to be reckoned with on home ground in Tokyo next summer. Fourth went to New Zealand (130.00) and fifth to Great Britain (143.00). The very last rider into the ring, Germany’s Auffarth, had individual glory in her grasp until hitting the last element of the triple combination which dropped her to fourth and opened the door for Great Britain’s Laura Collett (London 52) to take the individual honours. by Louise Parkes Results here  All Video Footage of the Lots for The Monart 10 year Anniversary Sale are now online on their new website. Go to www.monartsale.com to view the fantastic selection of quality Irish horses they have on offer for this years' sale. All video footage can be viewed, shared or downloaded direct from thier website. 
The Monart Sale Catalogue is now available online for viewing & download.
Rooms are filling up fast in the hotel at Monart so for those of you who want to enjoy the full experience of Monart make sure you call the hotel direct to book your room on +353 (0)53 92 38999 Please remember Rooms can not be booked online they can only be booked over the phone that way we can ensure they are kept solely for guests of the horse sale. View Catalogue Here  Photo: (FEI/Libby Law) Oliver Townend (GBR) has returned to the head of the FEI Eventing World Rankings, with former girlfriend Piggy French making it a British one-two and relegating New Zealand’s Tim Price (NZL), who has held the top spot for the last four months, to third place.
This is the third time that Townend has been world number one, having featured in both 2018 and in 2009. The 37-year-old has won team gold at three editions of the FEI Eventing European Championships, at Pratoni del Vivaro 2007 (ITA), Fontainebleau 2009 (FRA) and Strzegom 2017 (POL). 2019 has been a stellar year for the hard-working Yorkshireman, who won team silver at last month’s FEI Eventing European Championship in Luhmühlen (GER) and also claimed victories at Lexington CCI5* (USA), Burnham Market CCI4* (GBR) and the Irish CCI3* in Ballindenisk. Piggy French (GBR), this year’s Badminton winner and runner-up at Burghley, is now within 50 points of the top spot, having moved up from third to second place, with former world number one Tim Price (NZL) dropping to number three in the rankings. Big movers in this month’s FEI World Eventing Rankings are Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE) from 35th to 13th place, Pippa Funnell (GBR) from 47th to 14th, Tomoto Kazuma (JPN) from 29th to 15th, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) from 33rd to 16th, Peter Flarup (DEN) from 91st to 22nd and Sarah Bullimore (GBR) from 43rd to 25th. With the final team quota place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on offer at the FEI Nations Cup™ fixture in Boekelo (NED) next weekend, and plenty of other Eventing action over the next month, more changes in the ranking list can be expected. View full FEI World Eventing Rankings here. The countdown to the 10 year anniversary sale of the 2019 Monart Sale has begun. 120 of the best young horses Ireland has to offer have been selected for this years sale. Catalogue will be coming out soon!
 (FEI/Oliver Hardt for Getty images) Germany are European team champions once more and Ingrid Klimke joins an elite group of back-to-back winners as Michael Jung settles for silver and Ireland’s Cathal Daniels soars up the leaderboard to take individual bronze. Sweden and Italy claim Olympic team slots for Tokyo 2020. The popular and ever-gracious Ingrid Klimke (GER) thrilled her mass of cheering, flag-waving supporters by conjuring a faultless Jumping round from her wonderful horse SAP Hale Bob OLD to clinch both the team title for Germany as well as her second successive individual gold medal at the Longines FEI European Championships, held in her home country at Luhmühlen. Klimke, who lost her grip on the world title last year when hitting the very last fence at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (USA), never looked like making a mistake this afternoon on the spring-heeled Bobby, and she left her team mate Michael Jung, who was bidding for a record fourth European title, no margin for error. When Jung’s fischerChipmunk FST, a horse that is surely a thrilling prospect for Tokyo, hit the second part of the double at 10b, Klimke smiled in rueful sympathy before dancing a jig of excitement. She is the fifth rider in the 66-year history of the Europeans to win back-to-back titles, following Britain’s Lucinda Green (1975, 1977), Ginny Eliot (1985, 1987, 1989), Pippa Funnell (1999, 2001) and Michael Jung (2011, 2013, 2015) and the second to do it on the same horse, following Funnell’s triumphs on Supreme Rock.  "I definitely came here to win for sure. It was so close, but this year the luck was with me."
Ingrid Klimke (Germany) "It's really special knowing that there are so many very quality riders and horses" said Klimke. Klimke paid tribute to her long-time Jumping trainer Kurt Gravemeier, who came to walk the course with her, and said that this victory for Germany would be “a positive wind” for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year. Jung was sportsmanlike in defeat, describing the weekend as “super sport”. He explained: “I was a little bit too fast in the last combination, but this little mistake has not made the whole week bad, so I am very happy. We are a great team and we still have one more year to work on little details and I think we are well prepared for next season.” Germany’s team gold, their fourth European title since the country’s dazzling run of success began at Luhmühlen in 2011, was never really in doubt with their comfortable three-fence margin after Cross Country, but the fight for silver and bronze medals became an intriguing game of snakes and ladders as team fortunes ebbed and flowed over what was a relatively straightforward Jumping track. Great Britain just managed to hold onto team silver – by 0.3 of a penalty – as Oliver Townend (Cooley Master Class SRS, ninth), Piggy French (Quarrycrest Echo, 15th) and Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope, 22nd) each clocked up four faults. Townend, for whom it was a personal best team performance, did well to recover his composure after Cooley Master Class got too close to the planks at eight and crashed through the fence. Sweden, silver medallists in 2017, were the beneficiaries of a titanic struggle for the team bronze medal, securing qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year in the best possible style with superb clear rounds from Ludwig Svennerstal (El Kazir SP, eighth), Louise Romeike (Wakiki 207, 12th) and Ebba Adnervik (Chippieh, 23rd). Svennerstal said: “The Olympics is really the highlight for us. It’s very important for our federation and for ourselves. The team has worked really hard to achieve this and we’re extremely happy. I think we had a slightly disappointing start to the week and then we regrouped and everyone in the whole team, including behind the scenes, has been working very hard and we’re very happy with the outcome.” France’s grasp on the bronze medal was already precarious when Alexis Goury withdrew Trompe l’Oeul d’Emery at this morning’s horse inspection. The 2003 and 2007 European champion Nicolas Touzaint put France back in the hunt with a magnificent clear round on Absolut Gold HCD, but medal success hinged on Lt Col Thibaut Vallette delivering a clear round. Unfortunately Qing de Briot hit the fifth fence, putting paid to both France’s team and his own individual medal chances by frustratingly small margins. Italy, with a clear round from Arianna Schivo (Quefira de l’Ormeau, 17th), looked threatening until Pietro Roman (Baraduff) incurred eight faults and Giovanni Ugulotti suffered a nightmare 22.4-penalty round on Note Worthy. This relegated Italy to fifth, but at least with the compensation of the second available Olympic qualifying slot. Ireland finished sixth, a weekend of mixed fortunes being compounded with the overnight withdrawal of Ciaran Glynn’s November Night. However, there was a clutch of clear rounds from riders in the top 10 and the supremely talented Cathal Daniels (IRL), riding the diminutive mare Rioghan Rua, was the one left at the head of the queue for the individual bronze medal. The 22-year-old from Co Galway is Ireland’s first European individual medallist since Lucy Thompson in 1995. “It’s an amazing feeling!” he said. “I’ve gone through Juniors, Young Riders and now seniors with this mare. Unfortunately, the team didn’t get as strong a result as they wanted, but I was glad I was able to get a medal and keep spirits high and build again for next year on the road to Tokyo.” The Olympic countdown has already begun! Click here for full results View the highlights here The German team has a commanding lead over Great Britain going into tomorrow’s Cross Country phase30/8/2019
 (FEI/ /Oliver Hardt for Getty images) Michael Jung (GER), who has smashed pretty much every record in the sport, has just put himself in line for another – a fourth European title on a fourth horse – having taken the lead at the end of the Dressage phase at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship in Luhmühlen (GER). The double Olympic champion, who never gives away a mark if he can help it, has a great reputation for getting the best out of all sorts of horses. With his Luhmühlen ride fischerChipmunk FST, he has the added benefit of the 11-year-old by Contendro having been well established at top level by his former rider, Julia Krajewski (GER). Jung’s outstanding score of 20.9 – despite a break of pace in the free walk – could not be bettered, even by defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER), and the German team is now 16.8 penalties ahead of the 2017 winners, Great Britain, with a mere 68.9 penalties on the scoreboard. “Chipmunk is a fantastic horse. He’s so intelligent and extremely well trained,” said Jung, who blamed himself for the mistake. “He has a lot of power and sometimes there’s a difficult balance between that and keeping him relaxed. Maybe I risked a little bit too much in the walk so he accidentally broke into trot. "I nearly liked everything in the test today, just not really the walk - the extended walk especially!" Michael Jung (Germany) Klimke produced a reliably stellar performance on her regular team partner SAP Hale Bob OLD to score 22.2. Their test reflected a beautifully trained horse and a happy partnership, and Klimke even had time to pat her 15-year-old bay gelding in reward for a smooth flying change. British individual Laura Collett and London 52, the first-day leaders, are now third, ahead of German team member Kai Ruder (Colani Sunrise) and France’s Lt Col Thibaut Vallette (Qing de Briot). Regular Dutch team rider Tim Lips has slotted into sixth place on Bayro on a score of 26.0 and three British riders occupy the next three places. They are headed by team anchorman Oliver Townend, who has been grounded for some weeks after a fall. He put in a solid performance, bar a slight stumble in trot, and is in seventh place on his dual Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class (27.6). Individual runner Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) is eighth on 27.9. The 2009 champion Kristina Cook, currently ninth on 28.3, is back on the team with a well-behaved Billy The Red. They were dropped from the team last year due to the Balou de Rouet gelding putting in some occasionally explosive Dressage performances. The Belgian team, which is seeking one of the two precious Olympic qualification slots for Tokyo 2020, is in third place with a team total of 90.9; France, Ireland and Italy follow, with just 3.4 penalties covering the four nations. Attention is now focused on tomorrow’s Cross Country test designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, who has re-routed the track, allowing plenty of alternative routes while warning that they will cost in time penalties. “It’s beautifully designed and built,” commented Townend. “I’m a fan of Mike Etherington Smith’s courses. There are no blind questions. If you’re on your line and you and your horse are focused on the job, it should ride well.” “The way the fences are situated, it’s very easy to make a mistake,” added Townend’s team mate, Kristina Cook, a veteran of nine Europeans and, with pathfinder Pippa Funnell, a member of the winning British quartet 20 years ago here in Luhmühlen. The overnight leader Michael Jung is also appreciative of the 26–fence track: “It’s a very fair course, to be in the time you have to be fast, you have to take a little bit of a risk, and as faster as you go, as easier you can have somewhere a little mistake.” Tomorrow promises to be a thrilling competition. First out on course at 10.00 CEST will be the Netherlands’ Merel Blom and Chiccolino. Follow the action on FEI TV and click here for full results and start times.  (FEI/Oliver Hardt for Getty images) Belgium leads the team standings at this early stage, with Britain’s Laura Collett holding the individual top spot after the first day of Dressage. Laura Collett (30) competing as an individual for Great Britain, produced some stunning work to take the lead at the end of the first day of Dressage at the Longines FEI Eventing European Championship Luhmuhlen (GER), but it looks as though the door has been left open for a potential new order tomorrow. The graceful Collett, a neat rider known for her prowess in this phase, scored 25.5 on the German-bred 10-year-old London 52, a runner-up at Boekelo CCI4*-L last year and winner of the Chatsworth CCI4*-S this year, but only one of the three judges placed her first. “He’s still a bit green and shy,” explained a delighted Collett of London 52, who made only small errors in the second flying-change and with a misstep in the canter work. “He saw the grandstand and was a little overwhelmed. He’s never been in a situation like this before, but he listened to me and kept his head.” "He's a bit green and shy....he knows all the moves and trust me so much. If I keep riding and hold his hand, he's all right." Laura Collett (Great Britain) “He knows all the moves and trusts me so much. If I keep riding and hold his hand, he’s all right. I’m obviously delighted with his score and it’s exciting for the future.” The former Junior and Young Rider European Champion is a mere 0.3 ahead of Germany’s second team rider Kai Rüder on Colani Sunrise and France’s 2015 European team and individual bronze medallists Lt Col Thibaut Vallette on the elastic moving Qing de Briot ENE HN. Both the French army rider, a member of the 2016 Olympic gold medal team, and Rüder are reliably elegant in the Dressage arena and the pair are in joint second place on 25.8 penalties. “It was a super dressage test with lots of highlights,” commented Ruder. “Colani was very relaxed, with good half-passes and the extended canter was just brilliant. It’s wonderful to see how much he improves from test to test. He’s a very strong character and you have to respect him - then he’ll do anything to please.” The Ground Jury – Martin Plewa (GER, President), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and Peter Andrew Shaw (AUS) – awarded sub 30 marks to seven of today’s 35 riders, including the first two for the Belgian team, Laura Loge (Absolut Allegro) and the hugely experienced Karin Donckers (Fletcha van’t Verahof). The Belgian pair is in equal fourth place on 28.8 penalties which gives the nation, in search of qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a boost in first place in the team competition at this stage. Germany, the host nation, is second – their pathfinder, Andreas Dibowski (FRH Corrida) scored 34.6 – and France is third. Defending champions Great Britain are fifth. Pippa Funnell (GBR), who won the European title at Luhmuhlen 20 years ago, was a late call up to the team on Monday and is taking the pathfinder role on Majas Hope, currently 17th individually on 35.4. Second to go, Piggy French (GBR) and Quarrycrest Echo, members of the winning team at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon (USA) last year, are in seventh place on 29.8. “This is no dressage competition,” pointed out French. “I’ve walked the cross-country course once and my first impression is that it’s a proper championship course. You have to think really hard about which lines you choose. It’s a quick track with decent waters.” Competition is expected to hot up tomorrow when all eyes will be on the defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER) and her brilliant horse SAP Hale Bob OLD, plus her team mate and three-time champion Michael Jung (GER) with his exciting new ride fischerChipmunk FRH. Other potential highlights are world number two Oliver Townend (GBR) riding the dual Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class, Ireland’s Sam Watson on the attractive dun Tullaberg Flamenco and France’s dual European champion Nicolas Touzaint (Absolut Gold TDC). Follow the action on FEI TV and with live results on www.rechenstelle.de Click here for the full results. Watch highlights here. |
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