Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lasso, pictured here at a previous event.
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos claim third place in Luhmühlen
By Kirsty Pasto/Equestrian Australia
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos have claimed third place from 66 combinations at Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy class.
Andrew and ‘Vassily’, who is owned by Paula and David Evans, jumped a flawless showjumping round to move up from yesterday’s 4th place ranking after cross-country to secure them a place on the podium.
The combination put in a stellar performance all weekend, sailing through each phase of the competition to finish on their dressage score of 27.6, a personal best for the combination.
“Vassily de Lassos is an exceptional horse and it’s an honour to ride him. We have a wonderful partnership, have worked hard on the dressage, the cross-country just flowed and he’s a wonderful jumper. It’s very reassuring that he’s only ever had one rail during our international competitions. He jumped excellently again today and was full of energy,” said Andrew of their performance.
Andrew and ‘the ginger unicorn’, as Vassily is known fondly at home, had a big journey to Luhmühlen with the combination forced to leave their base in the UK two weeks ago to satisfy the German entry requirements due to Covid-19. Team Hoy made the journey from the UK and based themselves in Belgium for 10 days before heading on to Germany for the competition.
Andrew and Vassily have their sights firmly set on Tokyo 2020 team selection, which will be announced on 25th June.
Full results can be found here.
Germany’s Michael Jung won the CCI4*S with fischerChipmunk FRH; the pair finished on their dressage score of 21.4. Second place went to Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz on 27.6.
Germany’s Michael Jung won the CCI4*S with fischerChipmunk FRH.
© Luhmühlen
Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden win Longines CCI5*-L
The British rider added only 1.2 points to her dressage score and finished the Longines CCI5*-L with 30.2 points. Christoph Wahler (GER) and Ariel Grald (USA) finished the competition in second and third place with 32.1 and 37.4 points respectively.
When 23-year-old Mollie Summerland entered the arena, the atmosphere was sizzling despite the lack of spectators. The British rider kept her cool during the challenging show-jumping course, but after crossing the finish line, the rider hugged her 12-year-old horse “Charly” and was still visibly moved during the award ceremony: “I don’t ever want this day to end. It’s been the most amazing experience. The first people I want to thank are the organisers. With all the things going on in the world right now it’s amazing what you have achieved. It’s hard to sum up how I feel right now but this horse has changed my life.”
Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden.
© Luhmühlen
The young Brit bought her horse as a five-year-old, trained it herself and could hardly believe the joint success: “I would rather have ridden dressage or cross-country again today, I don’t feel so experienced in show jumping and was a little nervous today but my horse is simply amazing. I’ve never won three-day-event, that’s something I used to dream about.”
Local rider Christoph Wahler made the course look easy with Carjatan S and finished the Longines CCI5*-L in an excellent second place: “I tried to ride as if it was a training course. I know that my horse can jump very well and it is indescribable how he jumped today. You can’t ask for a better finish to a five-star premiere.” Ariel Grald (USA) and Leamore Master Plan have worked their way up from eleventh to third place during the competition. The American had planned her start in Luhmühlen carefully: “I am very happy to be here. This event is simply fantastic. Luhmühlen’s crosscountry course is different to anything I have ridden before, so I came here to gain experience. My horse gave me a beautiful ride and we both gained confidence on the course.”
Source: Luhmühlen press release
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