Sport-heute: ReportMix - Klimke clinches pole position at Luhmühlen

18. Juni 2010, 18:54

Klimke clinches pole position at Luhmühlen

Ingrid Klimke (GER) proved that she is back at the top of her game when producing a typically convincing display to take the Dressage lead at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon, which is the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™.

Brüttisellen, 18.6.10 Red. (mk) The Olympic and World team gold medallist, who gave birth to her second daughter, Philippa, on March 8, is, surprisingly, making her debut at her home nation’s CCI4*, and is out to convince the German selectors that she should be a member of the team defending their title at the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games™ in September.

Klimke, 42, was relieved at the calmness of the 13-year-old Butts Abraxxas, which she said had been over-excited on his arrival at the event. “He was doing the flying changes without any help from me”, she joked. “Fortunately, in the arena he was so relaxed and was totally listening to me.”
The breezy weather may have come as a shock to horses after the gloriously sunny few days previously. Christian Landolt (SUI), a member of the Ground Jury with Judy Bradwell (GBR) and David Lee (IRL), remarked that it seemed to be making some horses a little tense.

American visitor Allison Springer (USA), also making her Luhmühlen debut, would probably agree. She is lying second, having produced her usual attractive test on her regular partner Arthur. She knows the Irish-bred gelding well, having produced him from a youngster, but admits that the beautiful chestnut does not get any easier to ride.
“He is spooky and difficult and he felt a bit nervous today”, she said, “but I should be used to him by now and perhaps I should go for it a little more. But I am very pleased.”

The experienced partnership of Susanna Bordone (ITA) and the Australian-bred mare Carrera are in third, ahead of the 2009 HSBC FEI Classics™ champion Oliver Townend (GBR), who had a highly satisfactory day – he is in fourth and sixth on his two greys, Carousel Quest and Ashdale Cruise Master.
The current joint-leader of the HSBC FEI Classics™, Paul Tapner (AUS), is lying ninth on the bold Cross-Country horse Kilfinnie ll and is well poised to extend his advantage in the series. “Winning Badminton has certainly changed my perspective”, he said.

“What happens here will influence my decisions about Burghley and Pau. I was planning to take two horses to Burghley and miss Pau, but I may have to revise that if things get tight in the rankings.”

Tapner, who was seventh at Luhmühlen last year on Inonothing, his potential FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games™ horse, said he felt the Cross-Country had been softened from 2009 but would still be influential.
“There is a mix of very big spread fences and technical questions, and I think the mix may catch out some riders. I just hope it isn’t me!”

Mark Phillips’ (GBR) track is certainly beautifully presented: the going is even, with good grass cover, and builder David Evans (GBR) has his trademark carved animals – vultures, dragonflies, ducks, owls and squirrels – adorning many of the obstacles.

Allison Springer feels that it’s tougher than her last two CCI4* runs, at Kentucky and Pau, and Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), currently eighth on Woodfalls Inigo Jones, predicts that the angled brush-ditch-arrowhead combination at 13 will be influential. Ingrid Klimke described it as “a real four-star. I like the clean, friendly lines.”
Wiegersma will be first of the field of 43 to go out on the Cross-Country, riding Granntevka Prince, 14th, at 10.40 CET.

Results
1 Ingrid Klimke/FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER) 39.2

2 Allison Springer/Arthur (USA) 40.0
3 Susanna Bordone/Carrera (ITA) 41.0
4 Oliver Townend/Ashdale Cruise Master (GBR) 42.8
5 Sharon Hunt/Tankers Town (GBR) 43.0
6 Oliver Townend/Carousel Quest (GBR) 43.5
7 Andreas Dibowski/FRH Fantasia (GER) 44.2
8 Lucy Wiegersma/Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GBR) 44.8
9 Paul Tapner/Kilfinnie ll (AUS) 46.2

HSBC FEI Classics™ Standings (after 2 of 5 events)
1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 15 points
2 Paul Tapner (AUS) 15
3 Phillip Dutton (USA) 12
4 Andreas Dibowski (GER) 12
5 Becky Holder (USA) 10
6 Daisy Berkeley (GBR) 10
7 Mary King (GBR) 8
8 Boyd Martin (USA) 8
9 Caroline Powell (NZL) 6
10 Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch (CAN) 6

HSBC FEI Classics™ Calendar of Events in 2010
1. 21-25 April - Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA)
2. 30 April - 03 May - Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR)
3. 17-20 June - Luhmühlen presented by E.ON Avacon (GER)
4. 2-5 September - Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR)
5. 4-7 November- Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA)

Prize Money

HSBC will contribute US$ 1million to the series over the next three years. Prize-money is awarded, as follows, to the top five riders on the leaderboard after the fifth and final event:

WINNERS OF THE 2009 SEASON
1. Oliver Townend (GBR) - US$ 150,000 (Series champion);
2. Dirk Schrade (GER) - US$ 75,000;
3. Andreas Dibowski - (GER) US$ 50,000;
4. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) - US$ 33,000;
5. Sam Griffiths (AUS) - US$ 25,000

10 Nick Gauntlett/Chilli Morning (GBR) 46.5

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