Chris Burton and Underdiscussion Photo: Libby Law
Aaaahhhh....Aachen.
Considered by some to be the Mecca of equestrian sport, Aachen holds its events with pride and passion. From the modern facilities (many of them built for the 2006 World Equestrian Games) to the traditional white hanky waving farewells, Aachen is in a league of its own. It also has great beer and plenty of it in the Warsteiner tents, which can never be a bad thing. If you win you can celebrate, if you lose you can drown your sorrows.
The shopping experience is great, the spectators are beautifully tailored and the Warmblood horses that proliferate in the dressage and showjumping are very much at home. As they had to build a cross country course for the World Equestrian Games, eventing is now also firmly on the agenda and this year’s World Equestrian Festival hosts the CICO 3* Nations Cup Eventing.
After dressage and showjumping (both held on Friday) the situation for the Australian riders is;
Chris Burton Underdiscussion (individual) 38.80, 3rd (one time fault in jumping round)
Clayton Fredericks Bendigo 39.00 4th (clear jumping round)
Chris Burton Haruzac (team) 49.6016th (four jumping faults; one time fault)
Sam Griffiths Real Dancer 52.00 19th (eight jumping faults)
Bill Levett Hippolyte 52.20 21st (four jumping faults)
The huge showjumping arena at Aachen was a new experience for the leader after dressage and showjumping, young Laura Collett of Britain riding her lovely horse Rayef (pictured above, photo Libby Law)
“Aachen is amazing,it is the first time I have competed here. My horse jumped very well, he is a bit spooky. The four faults were my fault” said Laura who is on a score 36.20 with Germany’s Sandra Auffrath and Opgun Louvo close on her heels with a score of 37.60, ahead of Chris Burton riding Underdiscussion as an individual on 38.80.
Watch out Andreas (Ostholt of Germany)! The Aussies are coming! Photo: Libby Law
Team standings after two phases:
1st Germany – 124.60
2nd Great Britain – 132.60
3rd Australia - 140.60
4th New Zealand – 157.60
5th Sweden 172.40
6th Netherlands 173
7th France 178
Later today (Saturday) the cross country takes place with Mark Todd on Grass Valley the first rider on course at 9am (German time). Bill Levett and Hippolyte are the first Aussies on course at 10:08 and they go in reverse order which will make the cross country VERY exciting (another late night...)
Clayton (pictured above, photo Libby Law), currently sitting in 4th place after two phases, has decided he will withdraw Bendigo prior to the start of the cross-country bearing in mind that the London bound combination has just 20 days before the start of the Olympic Games. Clayton and Bendigo scored a great 39 in the dressage (as a comparison Michael Jung of Germany on his likely Olympic mount La Biosthetique Sam scored 38) and jumped clear and under time in the showjumping
“I feel that my preparation for London is on track and Bendigo is feeling great. He’s jumped at great clear show jumping round after a super dressage and I couldn’t be happier with them,” he said
To view the photo gallery CLICK HERE
For live results CLICK HERE
