Michael Jung and Andrew Nicholson at Badminton Photo: Liz Gregg/FEI
Amongst this year's Luhmühlen entries are Badminton winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Kentucky winner Michael Jung (GER) and Pau winner Maxime Livio (FRA).
Germany’s team trainer Hans Melzer has a number of riders in both the three-star and the four-star-competition and spectators can look forward to seeing Sandra Auffarth, Andreas Dibowski, Bettina Hoy, Ingrid Klimke, Julia Krajewski and Andreas Ostholt being challenged by strong international contenders from around the world.
Linda Algotsson (SWE) and her sister Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE), Oliver Townend (GBR), Pippa Funnell (GBR), Harry Meade (GBR) and Nicola Wilson (GBR) have sent their entries. The longest journeys will be for six riders coming all the way from the USA and the Australian riders Katja Weimann and Shane Rose, another CCI4* winner. They will be joined by German-based Australian rider Isabel English and UK based Australians Kevin and Emma McNab
“I’m extremely happy about the entries to this year's event. It shows, that Luhmühlen is firmly established in everyone’s eventing calendar. Whilst the competitors get ready for the event, we are flat out in the office and around the show ground with the final preparations”, explains event director Julia Otto.
Mike Etherington-Smith and Patricia Clifton on course Photo: Thomas Ix
According to Luhmühlen’s new course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, the cross-country preparations are also well underway. “The footing is looking fantastic and we’re putting the fences out. David Evans and his team are doing a great job. For me as a course designer, it is a luxury to work with such an experienced and professional team. Now it gets to the exciting stage when the fences go out and final decisions are made on distances and the feel of the course”, explains Etherington-Smith.
Patricia Clifton, organiser of Chatsworth International Horse Trials and Technical Delegate at Luhmühlen says: “I haven’t been to Luhmühlen before and I’ve just had my first look around the venue and at the cross-country course. It’s beautiful. Luhmühlen’s new course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith, has come up with some exciting new plans and I look forward to seeing it when it’s finished. I have worked with Mike and with Luhmühlen’s course builder David Evans many times, so it’s a very comfortable team for me. As an organizer, I understand how much hard work goes into an event of this level. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of the Luhmühlen team.”
