Australians Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder have produced an outstanding performance in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials on Saturday, jumping clear cross country to finish the day in third place.
Only four of 40 combinations jumped clear around Mike Etherington-Smith’s course. Andrew and Thunder, a 12-year-old gelding by Valhalla 3, were seventh following the dressage on 34.5, and added just 1.6 cross country time faults to their total.
Andrew said prior to the cross country that it definitely looked tough – but he felt confident it was achievable. He was focused on keeping his lines – as well as tackling an Irish bank for the first time. In the end, he and Thunder produced a near-perfect result and are now on 36.1 ahead of Sunday’s final jumping phase.
Fellow Aussies Shane Rose and 13-year-old mare Easy Turn (Casall Ask x Coriano Z) leapt from 32nd after the dressage to sit in 22nd, adding 7.6 time faults to their score to finish the day on 47.8.
Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel of Germany are the score to beat on 27.7, while compatriot Emma Brüssau is second with Dark Desire GS on 34.1.
Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas clear in the CCI5*-L
Australians Isabel English and 10-year-old gelding Cil Dara Dallas (Diarado) finished the day in 14th place in the Longines CCI5*-L, the same position they held following Friday’s dressage. The pair jumped clear, adding just 8.8 time faults to their dressage score of 34 to sit on 42.8 ahead of Sunday’s final jumping phase.
Samantha Cesnik and Graftango were unfortunately eliminated just a few fences from home at 25A. “Very hard day at the office with Adelaide having an almost unheard of stop four fences from home,” said Sam. “She did jump amazingly well around basically all the rest of the course and we are both safe and sound even after a tumble. Thanks to our team always, lots of analysing to do but for ow we need some rest.”
Longines CCI5*-L: Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 in the lead after cross-country
Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross-country course was no ‘walk in the park’, demanding precision and concentration all the way around. The task in the stadium was particularly influential for the classification.
After a beautiful round on Hester early on (35.1/ rank 5), Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 made light work of all the questions, stayed inside the time, and held onto their lead (25.4): “I’m absolutely ecstatic. Both of my horses have given me brilliant performances. They’re two very different horses to ride but they both love their job and it’s an honour to be sat on them. With London, now I just want to enjoy the moment. He owes me absolutely nothing. He’s been phenomenal all through his career – the places he’s taken me, the things he’s done. He’s so so special. Whatever happens tomorrow, he’s my horse of a lifetime.”
Friday they waltzed, Saturday Ros Canter’s Izilot DHI switched on cross-country mode and the pair made the course look like a style class, adding only 2.8 points to their dressage score (28.8): “I’m absolutely delighted. Izilot was so grown up out there. He was pretty spooky this morning, so I was a little nervous and he ducked and dived going in and out of the arena but when he was on his line to the fence he was 100 percent. He’s really good on lines and skinnies but sometimes worries about the people, sometimes the decorations around the fence catch him out. [Saturday] he was fantastic. The course was a real challenge and I think some people underestimated it. It walked intense and it walked fast and it rode that way as well.”
Samantha Lissington (NZL) and Ricker Ridge Sooty also mastered the challenging five-star course with flying colours adding just 0.4 points to their dressage result (29.3): “I’m so happy. He’s such a champion. He’s small and compact. I’m really proud of him. It was amazing. It’s so incredible to be at Luhmühlen. He’s loving it here. Her really opened up [Saturday] and found that top-notch speed. I watched the arena this morning and it rode really well. Then I continued watching it for the next hour which did nothing for my confidence. I kept wondering what to do and I knew I had to ride off the seats of my pants and ride off feel – and that’s what I did.”
Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditsch K broke a MIM system at the entrance to the Meßmer Teich, adding a total of 12.6 points to their dressage score (41.5): “It was so much fun! He was full of running right until the end. It’s a pity about the broken MIM, that’s never happened to us before. I’ll have a look at the video later to analyse it, but perhaps I could have made him a bit rounder there. In the end, he was so confident and rideable everywhere. He’s just incredible.”
Arne Bergendahl, the other German competitor was also very happy with his round (46.7 / rank 16): “I am overjoyed. It was so much fun. I kept wondering how to tackle the Irish Bank beforehand. But it was super smooth to ride.”
Source: Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials press release
