Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane. Image by Boots & Hooves Phootgraphy.

Australia running fifth in the eventing Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen

Friday saw the dressage and jumping phases take place for the CCIO4* SAP Cup (Nations Cup) eventing at CHIO Aachen, with the Australian team currently in fifth place.

Kevin McNab and Miss Pepperpot. Image by Boots & Hooves Photography.

Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio were first out in the dressage to score 45.80, followed by Kevin McNab and Miss Pepperpot, who  scored 30.20. Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane later received a score of 32.30 penalties, while Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, the last to ride for the Aussies, scored 31.40.

Rebecca Braitling and Carravagio. Image by Boots & Hooves Photography.

In the jumping, Bill Levett had a great clear round and both Kevin McNab and Shenae Lowings had just one time penalty each. Rebecca Braitling had 16 jumping penalties plus one time fault. Kevin McNab is currently the highest placed Aussie individually in 10th place, with Shenae Lowings in 15th, Bill Levett in 16th, and Bec Braiting in 44th.

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture. Image by Boots & Hooves Photography.

The cross country is set to take place Saturday, with the Australian team riding at the following times:

Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio: 10.59am CEST (6.59pm AEST)

Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane: 11.27am CEST (7.27pm AEST)

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture: 11.55am CEST (7.55pm AEST)

Kevin McNab and Miss Pepperpot: 12.30pm CEST (8.30pm AEST)

Tom McEwen the overnight leader in the SAP-Cup ahead of Michael Jung

It promises to be an extremely exciting day Saturday in the cross-country competition of the SAP-Cup. After the dressage and jumping, the British team Olympic gold medallist, Tom McEwen, is heading the field – but Michael Jung is close at his heels. The British team is also in the lead, ahead of Germany.

The jumping test alone completely shook up the rankings in the SAP-Cup after the dressage. Tom McEwen and his Holstein-bred JL Dublin had achieved the second best dressage result (24.3 minus points) and added no faults to their score in the show jumping. They have their team colleague, the World Champion gold medallists, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir to thank for the fact that they are lying in first place prior to the cross-country, because after heading the field after the dressage on a score of 23.5 minus points, Ingham and her 12-year-old French chestnut gelding picked up 2 time faults in the ring, which brought their total up to 25.5 minus points, which is currently third place in the individual classification.

Not only Ingham’s fellow countryman, but also Michael Jung profited from Ingham’s time faults. He and his top horse,  fischerChipmunk FRH, are currently in second place, with only one tenth of a point separating them from McEwen and JL Dublin.

The Brits also rank first in the team classification on a total score of 80.8 minus points. In addition to McEwen and Ingham, Kirsty Chabert with Classic IV (31 minus points/11th) and Gemma Stevens with Flash Cooley (35 minus points/22nd) are flying the flag of the CHIO partner country.

Germany (89.1) and New Zealand (90.3) follow in second and third place respectively. Germany’s team comprises of Michael Jung, last year’s winners Sandra Auffarth with Viamant du Matz (31.1 minus points/12th), Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S (33.60 minus points/19th) and Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K (36.90 minus points/24th).

Tim Price with Falco (26 minus points/4th), Caroline Powell with Greenacres Special Cavalier (31.90 minus points/13th), Jonelle Price with McClaren (32.40/17th) and Clarke Johnstone with Menlo Park (37.10 minus points/26th) are representing New Zealand this weekend and their team is currently in third place.

Full results and draws can be found here.

Source: CHIO Aachen press release

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