Marbach. With his victory in the saddle of the eleven-year-old Highlighter, Michael Jung became champion of the German professional riders in eventing for the eighth time - another of many records for the riding champion. And this despite the fact that he wasn't even aiming for it, because by his own admission he didn't really push the envelope. He didn't even wear a watch, but that's probably built into him. And so today in the cross-country, after faultless jumping yesterday, just 0.8 time faults were added - final result: 26.5 points. Second was the fast man from Australia - Andrew Hoy, with 63 years the oldest participant of the tournament. He was the only one to stay within the time limit with the 13-year-old French-bred Vassily de Lassos and was also the only rider in the 64-pair field to finish the CCI4*-S with his dressage score (29.1 points). Her third place after the dressage was defended by Sandra Auffarth, who also held this position after the jumping. Her total score in the saddle of Rosveel: 31.9 points.
For the riders of the CCI2*-L , who started their course in the morning, the time in the cross-country was more to crack, even for the three now in the lead. Nothing has changed in the top position: Before the jumping, Brandon Schäfer-Gehrau, member of the "Perspektivgruppe Vielseitigkeit" of the German Olympic Committee for Equestrianism, is ahead with Very Special (24.7 points). Behind him is Eva Terpeluk, Baden-Württemberg Champion and thus titleholder, with the Trakehner mare Uni's Black Pearl (29.7 points). Currently third is Pauline Knorr, member of the German Armed Forces Sports Development Group and 2015 European Vice Champion with the Young Riders team, with the Hanoverian mare Aevolet M-A-F, also she with her dressage score of 30.3 points. The decision in the CCI2*-L will be made tomorrow in the show jumping, which starts at 10 am.
For the riders of the CCI2*-S it will also get serious at 10 am. Then the first rider will start into the cross-country. Today's jumping has not changed anything in the top trio: Anna Lena Schaaf leads with Lagona OLD with 21.7 points ahead of Brandon Schäfer-Gehrau and Fräulein Frieda (24.9 points) and Olymia winner Julia Krajeski (26.3 points).
Comments on the cross-country day:
Michael Jung,
the riding champion from Horb in the Black Forest, who has already won all the titles there are to be won in eventing, competed here in Marbach with two horses in the CCI4*-S and was CCI4* winner with Highlighter:
"I was impressed myself that Highlighter was still cantering so well at the end of the course. Even if we had needed ten seconds more, that would have been okay for me. I didn't want to win at any price. I rode extra without a watch because I wanted to know how my horses were going this and just rode as fast as they allowed."
Andrew Hoy,
the 63-year-old Australian who lives in England, represented his country at eight Olympic Games and most recently won individual bronze and team silver in Tokyo in 2021, placed second in the CCI4*-S in Marbach:
"I admire the course designer Rüdiger Schwarz very much for this cleverly designed course. Many said in the last few days that the course was too easy - but the terrain always adds an extra difficulty to the cross country in Marbach, which should never be underestimated. In the end, Rüdiger Schwarz was right - the cross country decided the final result.
My horse is an excellent and very fast cross country horse and he loved being back in Marbach and running up and down the hills, he gave me a fantastic ride!". It was also very special to have Covid Vassily's owners Paula and David Evans back with us after two years, for the first time at a major event.
A big thank you to the fantastic Marbach team for all their hard work and organizing such a great event!"
Sandra Auffarth,
Team Olympic Champion 2012, Team Silver at the 2016 Olympic Games, Double World Champion 2014, third in CCI4*-S with Rosveel:
"The course was easy to ride. I rode briskly, but did not get the last out of him. We were lucky with the weather, the ground should not have been deeper. It was nice to ride here. Now my next target is Luhmühlen."
