Julia Krajewski and Samurai du Thot
Julia Krajewski and Samurai du Thot not only won the CIC3* Meßmer Trophy at Luhmuhlen but they did it emphatically on their dressage score of 19.90. Even the great Imgrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD couldn’t beat them with Julia several penalties ahead of that of Ingrid and Bobby on their score of 25.90
Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa riding The Duke Of Cavan (26.90) took third place, consolidating what is turning into a very good year for them leading up to the World Equestrian Games whilst fourth place was taken by Bettina Hoy, who may have hung up her boots from 4* events and major championships but still looked on top form with Designer 10 at Luhmuhlen, finishing on 29.80
Julia was over the moon to have won again, this time not only the class but also, for the first time, the national title
“The pressure was definitely on when we came into the final phase today. Although Sam is a very good show jumper, who rarely makes a mistake, I did feel a little nervous. Having one fence in hand helped me stay calm and focused though.”
As Julia only just got back from competing and winning at Bramham she had to leave Sam in the capable hands of her team, who prepared him perfectly “Because I have been away, I really did not expect this. I feel immensely proud!”
Ingrid Klimke had one fence down in the final show jumping but feels this might be a good omen for the rest of the season, as last year’s only mistake was here too and she won the European title later in Strzegom
“Bobby was fit and fresh today. He jumped his heart out and a pole down can happen anytime. In the end, a clear round would not have made a difference for the end result”
For Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) and The Duke Of Cavan this third place felt particularly special
“To be up here in such a strong class feels absolutely amazing! My horse is usually very strong and can get a little hot in dressage. But this week he seemed proud to be performing in the stadium. Because he gets so strong in cross-country I made some minor changes, which seemed to have done the trick. He was listening, which helped with this technical course. In the show jumping again, he can get very strong but he did not seem to mind the atmosphere and jumped even better than he normally does.”
Bettina Hoy, last year’s National Champion, was ecstatic to be up on the podium again
“This was my first outing with Designer this year, because I have been so busy with the Dutch team so I am even happier to have finished with bronze in the National Championship. Designer is a very experienced horse at this level now, so I trusted him to do well. To come fourth in the CIC3* behind one of my former pupils makes me particularly proud!”
Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II
In fifth place was Ireland’s Michelle Kenny riding Carlchen, a horse previously ridden in Australia by Stuart Tinney, and it was also an Australian taking sixth spot with Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II jumping a lovely clear round. Unusually a little off the pace in the dressage in 15th place, Sammi just kept rising through the ranks each day to be eighth after cross country and sixth overall, finishing on a score of 32.40
