Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco improve from 13th to 11th and Ireland’s only other contender in this class, Tony Kennedy, rockets up from 22nd to 13th with the ISH Wisteria Lane.
With a fast cross-country round, just a few seconds over the optimum time, Tim Price (NZL) and Ascona M (27.80) are in the lead at the Longines CCI5*-L in Luhmuhlen GER going into tomorrow’s final showjumping phase. Currently lying in second and third place with brilliant clear rounds inside the time are Alexander Bragg (GBR) with Zagreb (29.70) and Sarah Bullimore (GBR) with Reve du Rouet (32.10)
Ascona M just flew round today’s cross-country course: “The mare is a real fighter and gave me an ultrasmooth ride today. She’s not that experienced at this level and she can be quite a diva in everyday life but today she read the questions perfectly and was totally focussed when she needed to be. When we first bought her, she was quite small so Jonelle got to rider her. But then she kept growing and growing, so I gave my wife a nudge every now and then and finally got to ride her when Jonelle was pregnant”, Price said.
Dressage leader, Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, called it a day with Brookpark Vikenti after their second problem on course at the double at fence 18 and, on a super-tough afternoon when the start was delayed due to appalling weather conditions which led to overnight flooding, just 22 of the 33 starters finished the cross-country track.
In the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy Germany continues to hold sway with Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot and Ingrid Klimke with SAP Asha P remaining in the first two spots while compatriot, Michael Jung, moved into third with Highlighter after a faultless round.