Victoria's Katja Weimann is heading to Luhmuhlen
Luhmühlen is once again preparing to welcome most of the world’s top-class athletes. World Champions, Olympic gold medallists, European Champions – along with German top-riders such as Sandra Auffarth, Andreas Dibowski, Bettina Hoy, Ingrid Klimke, Dirk Schrade and Peter Thomsen, visitors can expect to see some of the best international eventers from eighteen nations such as Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands, the USA and Australia. UK based Tim Price (NZL) and Andrew Nicholson (NZL) have both won the CCI4* in previous years and are only two of the international big names.
“As Hans Melzer has predicted, most of the German team riders are going to compete their experienced horses in the CIC3* Meßmer Trophy this year because it suits them better in the preparation for the Olympic Games in Rio. This is certainly going to make the German Championship exciting to watch”, explains event director Julia Otto.
British based Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy (AUS) been very successful in Luhmühlen in the past and this year brings Cheeky Calimbo and Rutherglen
“It’s definitely worth the trip, as it’s one of my favourite events. Julia does a great job, the organisation is excellent and I love the courses built by Mark Phillips”
Andrew Hoy may be making the trip from UK but his compatriot Katja Weimann will be coming even further. Katja will be bringing her homebred BP Cosmopolitan, last year’s runner up at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event and fourth in the 4* at Adelaide, from Australia to Luhmuhlen for their first overseas campaign. Other Australian riders are Kevin McNab, Emma Dougall, Bill Levett and Warren Lamperd (pending qualification)
Unlike the riders that face a long journey to get to Luhmühlen, Andreas Dibowski could literally hack to the showground. The Olympic gold medallist has entered one horse in each competition
“Last year’s courses were influential and difficult enough but fair for the horses. I’ve decided to ride It’s Me xx in the four-star test to stabilise the horse at this level and let it gain further confidence. Avedon has had a great preparation for Badminton and lived up to our expectations there. Now I want to shift down a gear at good test conditions. Luhmühlen for me for many years has been one of the best events because we can expect predictable conditions – not only regarding the ground but also the cross-country courses”
The direction of the cross-country was reversed last year, so this year the riders will basically go round the same track. Captain Mark Phillips explains why the course is by no means an old hat
“Last year’s course went well and if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The questions are still very different, though. In the four-star competition, the first three fences are the same, after that it’s all new. Safety is always our focus and the first thing we think about. I think the course is very fair to the horses. As ever it’s a true four-star-test and the riders have to concentrate all the way round. I don’t think there will be one influential fence but a number of significant questions spread evenly throughout the course. Again, we have used frangible devices in every place possible but the most important safety aspect is the riders respect for the jumps. Therefore we are always trying to find the balance between forgiving fences for the horses and questions that are taken seriously by the riders.”
Timetable:
Thursday and Friday morning: Dressage CIC*** Meßmer Trophy
Thursday and Friday afternoon: Dressage DHL Paket presents CCI****
Saturday morning: Cross Country CIC*** Meßmer Trophy
Saturday afternoon: Cross Country DHL Paket presents CCI****
Sunday morning: Show Jumping DHL Paket presents CCI****
Sunday afternoon: Show Jumping CIC*** Meßmer Trophy
