Tim Price will compete 2022 Boekelo winner, Happy Boy, at his first CCI5* at Luhmuhlen
With just under a month to go until the start of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials (15th -18th June 2023), the entry list features seven of the top 10 riders from the FEI Eventing World Rankings and a host of riders re-routing from previous 5* events this year.
Current World Number One and Two, New Zealand’s Tom and Jonelle Price, head the list as well as reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham on Rehy DJ and Laura Collett riding the 2022 Badminton champion London 52, who was unable to defend his 5* title in the UK due to minor injury and Dacapo, who was withdrawn after dressage at Badminton
Pippa Funnell, Kitty King, Izzy Taylor and Oliver Townend are also among the 27 British entries while the USA will have six in the 5* including recent Kentucky CCI5* winner, Tamie Smith, this time riding Solaguayre California and Maryland 5* winner Boyd Martin on both Fedarman B and Tsetserleg TSF
Three Australian combinations are on the list of entries with Bill Levett riding Huberthus AC, who Bill retired on course at Badminton, and Kevin McNab riding his Tokyo silver medallist Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam in the CCI5*. Sam Lyle is making the trip over from Australia with BF Valour, who recently took second place in the CCI5* at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival, to compete in the CCI4* Messmer Trophy (German National Championships), which will be, as always, hotly contested by the German riders
Sam Lyle rides BF Valour at Adelaide Equestrian Festival 2023
German riders to contest 5* and Messmer Trophy National Championships
Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Julia Krajewski each have two horses in the 4* class while just five German riders will contest the 5*
Event director Julia Otto is delighted with this year’s entries: “It’s going to be a very exciting sport weekend. Among the German competitors are Olympic Champion and Vice World Champion, Julia Krajewski, who will be competing two young horses in the German Championships, as well as multi-champion Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and many more.
Nicolai Aldinger, Arne Bergendahl, Emma Brüssau and Jerome Robine have entered the Longines CCI5*-L”
Julia Krajewski is going to compete two up-and-coming youngsters: “The plan is to compete Ero de Cantraie and Nickel in the German Championships. Both are nine years old and still inexperienced at four-star level. Ero has done really well last weekend and has come second in his first four-star in Marbach and Nickel finished his first four-star three weeks ago with a super third place. Provided that the rest of the season until Luhmühlen goes as planned, my goal is to give both horses a good experience in front of a big crowd. I don't have a specific placing in mind for the time being.
Luhmühlen has great conditions and is always a highlight for us. I have already been able to celebrate great successes there and I always look forward to coming!”
2022 Podium to return in 2023
Last year's Longines CCI5*-L podium top three - Felix Vogg (SUI), Kirsty Chabert (GBR), and Jonelle Price (NZL) – will also be returning to Luhmühlen. Jonelle will be riding her new horse, LEB Lias Jewel, previously campaigned by Cathal Daniels, who has run around the 5* course here with Cathal a couple of times.
Defending champion Felix Vogg will be riding last year’s winner Colero
“I had the choice between Aachen and Luhmühlen. Many people said that the pressure to return to Luhmühlen will be too big and advised me against it, but I don't agree. It’s such a great event, with perfect conditions and it really suits my horse” says Felix
“Of course, I would be very happy if everything went as well as it did last year - but whether I win or finish in the top five is not relevant in the end. If we manage to go home with a good result, I’m happy. Luhmühlen is my highlight this year and I'm really looking forward to it!”
The 2022 Podium - Felix Vogg (SUI), 2nd: GBR-Kirsty Chabert, 3rd: NZL-Jonelle Price
