Equestrian Life
Australian eventing team on fire at Aachen

Chris Burton and Quality Purdey.

Chris Burton and Quality Purdey.

 

By Equestrian Life

NATIONS CUP TEAM RESULTS

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

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The SAP Cup CCIO4*-S eventing came to a thrilling conclusion this morning at CHIO Aachen, with outstanding performances from the Australian team – Andrew Hoy, Chris Burton, Kevin McNab and Isabel English.

With the dressage and the showjumping completed yesterday, it all came down to the cross country. A notoriously tough course, designed this year by Rüdiger Schwarz, it asked many questions of horse and rider and saw seven of 41 started fail to finish, with a further eight accumulating jump penalties. Time was also hard to get – and in the end only the top three competitors finished the course without time penalties.

 

Virbac Aachen Equimax small



Isabel English was the first to go again, faced with the daunting job of being the pathfinder. Well, she couldn’t have done a better job. Power out of the gates, she and Feldale Mouse didn’t stop. They jumped clear, even taking the direct route through the tricky line at jump 21 A/B/C that Lucinda Green singled out as a potential issue on yesterday’s course walk. As an Aussie, we couldn’t have been more proud when we heard over the loudspeaker that she was through the final few jumps in the Main Stadium and home safe and sound with just 12.8 time penalties. Well done Isabel!

 

Isabel English and Feldale Mouse.

Isabel English and Feldale Mouse.



Chris Burton was the next Aussie on course with his first ride (and team horse), the black Polystar I. A rail yesterday in the showjumping was a little costly, and Chris was out to make up for it today. The pair powered through the course with ease, getting home clear and with just four time penalties to their name.

 

Chris Burton and Polystar I head for home.

Chris Burton and Polystar I head for home.



Kevin McNab was also out to make up for yesterday, after having three rails in the showjumping. Another Aussie on a mission, and another great clear round. Aboard the Irish Sport Horse Willunga, he accumulated 9.6 time penalties, but it was a great effort for a horse relatively new to the level.

 

Kevin McNab and Willunga.

Kevin McNab and Willunga.



Towards the end of the field was Andrew Hoy and the impressive chestnut Vassily de Lassos, who Andrew took to WEG last year. What a ride! Andrew sits so securely in the saddle and never looks like he’s going anywhere; it was a smooth, controlled round and this horse can really jump. Clear, and just 1.2 time penalties – so close to going under time, and unfortunately even time faults that miniscule cost him a place in the end!

 

Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos.

Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos.



The last Aussie to ride was Chris Burton and his second horse, Quality Purdey – who was not part of the Nations Cup team. This mare is super quick cross country and the pair never looked like having an issues; clear, and under time! These two were 14th after the dressage (and possibly deserved a slightly higher score!), moved up to ninth after a clear showjumping round… and then today’s brilliant ride saw them finish in third place! Chris and Quality Purdey produced one of only three under-time rounds of the day. The only other two riders to do this were Ingrid Klimke and Michael Jung, and they finished first and second respectively! Michael and Chris clocked exactly the same time (1 second under optimum time), while Ingrid was a second quicker.

The overnight leader, Laura Collett of Great Britain with London 52, had a stop at the C element of jump 21; this saw her drop to 20th place and opened the gate for the two German riders (and Chris) to fill the podium.

 

Where it all went wrong for Laura Collett.

Where it all went wrong for Laura Collett.



So, in the end it was German Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD in first place on 24.7. What is even more amazing is that Ingrid has been riding her dressage horse, Franziskus, in the Grand Prix CDI4*.

 

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD motor away from the Rolex water complex.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD motor away from the Rolex water complex.



In second place, also for Germany, was Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH on 25.5. This horse won the event here at Aachen last year with his previous rider, Julia Krajewski – not a bad effort!

Chris Burton finished in third with Quality Purdey on a score of 27; unfortunately this wasn’t Chris’ Nations Cup team ride, but a brilliant effort and many proud Aussies watching on.

Tim Price on New Zealand and Wesko were fourth, dropping down two places from their overnight position after picking up 4.8 time penalties to finish on 28.6. It shows just how tight it is at the top these days… a few time penalties can make all the difference.

In fifth place was Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos on 29.5, Chris Burton and Polystar I ninth on 34.4, Kevin McNab and Willunga 16th on 48.5, and Isabel English 18th on 51.3. An amazing effort to have every Aussie combination home clear today on cross country!

The Nations Cup, as you might have figured out, went to Germany on a total of 94.5, with New Zealand the runners up on 102.7. The Australian team did us all proud to finish third on 112.4 – go Aussies!

Full report from Saturday at CHIO Aachen to come - stay tuned!

 

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© copyright. Equestrian Life. Friday, 29 March 2024
https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/Australian-eventing-team-on-fire-at-Aachen_