Friday saw the dressage and show jumping phases for the UBS CCIO4* Nations Cup eventing at CHIO Aachen. The Australian team consisting of Sammi Birch, Andrew Cooper, Bill Levett and Kevin McNab are currently sitting in sixth position going into the cross country phase tomorrow, whilst Great Britain lead the teams competition.
Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB
Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB were the first Aussie combination out in the dressage arena and finished with 39.20 penalties to be placed 39th after dressage. They then had a neat show jumping round with no penalties added to their score to move up to 29th place.
Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane
Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane were the second Aussie combination to hit the dressage arena and received 41 penalties to place them in 42nd place after the dressage phase. This combination were the first to show jump and produced a stylish round to add 0 penalties to their score. They’re now in 34th place heading into cross country.
Kevin McNab and Faro Imp
Kevin McNab and the bay stallion Faro Imp were the third Australian combination out in the dressage arena. They ended their test on 47.30 penalties, placing them in 44th place. They then added just 4.80 penalties to their score in the show jumping, moving them up 41st place with 52.10 penalties going into cross country.
Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder
Last to go for Australia in the dressage was Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder. This striking combination produced a neat test that ended on a score of 34.9 penalties placing them 21st after dressage. They followed this up with a super classy show jumping round adding no penalties to their score, moving them into 15th place heading into cross country.
Full results and start lists from CHIO Aachen can be found here.
You can re-watch the action from CHIO Aachen via ClipMyHorse.TV
Great Britain could make a fifth victory
It would be the fifth victory for the motherland of eventing in the UBS-Cup after winning in 2011, 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Brits have sent their best team to Aachen comprising of riders, who all have championship and five-star experience: Bubby Upton with Cannavaro (29.1 minus points/2nd place), Tom McEwen with Brookfield Quality (30.2/3rd), Laura Collett with Dacapo (31.9/5th) and Gemma Stevens with Flash Cooley (33.2/9th).
The quartet’s current overnight score is 91.2 minus points. The 2018 winners from New Zealand are currently lying in second place on a total interim score of 94.4 minus points. Their team is made up of Tim Price with Vitali (27.3/1st), Clarke Johnstone with Rocket Man (32.4/7th), Samantha Lissington with Lord Seekönig (34.7/14th) and Monica Spencer with Artist (36.8/19th).
The German quartet presently ranks third on a total score of 100.1 minus points. Peter Thomsen has chosen a young quartet to represent Germany at the World Equestrian Festival: Jérôme Robiné with Black Ice (31.3/4th), Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia (32.3/6th), Calvin Böckmann with Altair de la Cense (36.5/18th) and Anna Siemer with FRH Butts Avondale (37.2/22nd).
Tim Price and Vitali are overnight leaders in the UBS CCIO4* Nations Cup
Tim Price and Jérôme Robiné were tying in first place after the dressage, both on a score of 27.3 minus points. However, after Black Ice collected four faults in the show jumping, Robiné fell back into fourth place. Tim Price could claim his first individual title tomorrow on his eleventh appearance in Aachen, if he doesn’t pick up any extra minus faults on his way to the finish line tomorrow.
Riding to victory will without doubt also be the dream of the debutant in Aachen, Bubby Upton and her team colleague, Tom McEwen, who are lying in second and third place respectively with interim scores of 29.1 and 30.2 minus points.
Full results and draws can be found here.
Source: CHIO Aachen press release
