Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo, winners of the CCI4* at Luhmühlen, 2018.

© Luhmühlen Horse Trials

Jonelle Price (NZL) wins DHL presents CCI****

This year’s Badminton winner has done it again! Jonelle Price wins the four-star-event 2018 in Luhmühlen on her little but very feisty grey mare Faerie Dianimo: “This mare can be a little crazy at times – she can be difficult in dressage, very strong in cross- country and jumps like she is huge - but this is what makes her as good as she is!” Jonelle continued by saying she never ever thought earlier in the year, when she tried to get back to full fitness after having had her little boy last August, she would be winning two four-star competitions in a row. She thanked Julia Otto and the whole team from Luhmühlen for the fantastic organisation and hospitality and that she is already looking forward to coming back next year!

Places two and three were decided by the faster cross-country time – although on the same score, Laura Collett stayed within the optimum time, which gave her the edge over her team colleague Rosalind Canter: Laura said: “I am so incredibly happy with my horse, who came to me as an unbroken four-year old. This makes it so much more special! We work so hard with our horses and there are definitely more lows than highs in our sport, so we really enjoy moments like this. Mr. Bass tried his heart out for me this week, he knew when it mattered most – I am so proud!”

According to Ros Canter, Zenshera was a real super star from start to finish: “He really gave it his all in dressage, ran as fast as he could in yesterday’s cross-country and jumped incredible today – especially because show jumping is normally his weakest phase. I really could not have asked for more!” Boyd Martin, rider from the US, and overnight leader after the cross-country, had to withdraw Shamwari before this morning’s trot-up, as he is thought to have strained a tendon.

Alec van den Abeele, chef d’equipe for team Belgium, thanked Julia Otto, event manager TGL, and her entire team on his and Chloe Raty’s behalf for the support and help she and her horse Axel Z received after yesterday’s devastating accident. Chloe has travelled home but felt she wanted to express her gratitude for all the care and attention they received from beginning to end.

Aussies in action

Emma McNab was the best placed Australian rider in the CCI4* class, finishing in 11th place on Fernhill Tabasco. Shane Rose and CP Qualified finished in 16th place - a great effort in a big class! In the CIC3*, Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II finished a very credible sixth place.

The CIC*** Meßmer Trophy winners are Julia Krajewski (GER) and Samourai du Thot

Julia Krajewski (GER) is over the moon to have won again, this time not only the class but also, for the first time, the national title. “The pressure was definitely on when wecame into the final phase today. Although Sam is a very good show jumper, who rarely makes a mistake, I did feel a little nervous. Having one fence in hand helped me staycalm and focused though.” As Julia only just got back fromcompeting her second horse at Bramham, England, she had to leave Sam in the capable hands of her team, whoprepared him just right: “Because I have been away, I really did not expect this. I feel immensely proud!”

Ingrid Klimke (GER), who had one fence down in the final show jumping, feels this might be a good omen for the rest of the season, as last year’s only mistake was here too and she won the European title later in Strzegom. “Bobby wasfit and fresh today. He jumped his heart out and a pole down can happen anytime. In the end, a clear round would not have made a difference for the end result.”

For Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) and The Duke Of Cavan this third place felt particularly special: “Tobe up here in such a strong class feels absolutely amazing! My horse is usually very strong and can get a little hot in dressage. But this week he seemed proud to be performing in the stadium. Because he gets so strong in cross-country I made some minor changes, which seemed to have done the trick. He was listening, which helped with this technical course. In the show jumping again, he can get very strong but he did not seem to mind the atmosphereand jumped even better than he normally does.”

Bettina Hoy (GER), last year’s National Champion, is ecstatic to be up on the podium again: “This was my first outing with Designer this year, because I have been so busy with the Dutch team. Therefore I am even happier to have won a medal again. Designer is a very experienced horse at this level now, so I trusted him to do well. To come fourth in the CIC*** behind one of my former pupils makes me particularly proud!”

Hans Melzer, Germany’s chef d’equipe, announced the long-list for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon (USA): Andreas Dibowski, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke, Julia Krajewski and Kai Rüder are the top five. Reserve riders are Sandra Auffarth, Jörg Kurbel, Josefa Sommer, Felix Etzel, Andreas Ostholt and Claas Herrmann Romeike. All riders will be competing at CHIO in Aachen, Germany or in Strzegom, Poland later in the year as a final test before a decision is made who is going to represent Germany in Tryon.

Source: Event press release

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