Stamford, England—Sept. 3
As anticipated, the reigning Olympic and European champion Michael Jung of Germany has made quite an impression on his first visit to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and is in the lead after the first day of dressage.
The only U.S. rider to go today, Lynn Symansky on Donner, produced a test that scored 47.7 and put them in 14th on the first day of dressage.
Colleen Rutledge and Laine Ashker go on Friday, as does U.S.-based Irish rider Tim Bourke.
Lynn Symansky and Donner on their way to a 47.7 score. Photo by Libby Law
The Ground Jury, President Nick Burton (Great Britain), Andrew Bennie (New Zealand) and Christina Klingspor (Sweden), unanimously placed Jung out in front on his first ride, FischerRocana FST, with a mark of 34.2 for a classy test that was beautifully light, harmonious and happy.
“She was very relaxed, easy to ride and gave me a good feeling,” said Jung of the 11-year-old mare on which he won the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April, the second leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. Jung is lying second in FEI Classics rankings behind his compatriot Ingrid Klimke.
Andrew Hoy of Australia, who first won Burghley in 1979 before Jung was even born, also broke the 40-penalty barrier and is in second place with Rutherglen on a score of 37.8 after a reliably smooth and attractive test.
Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen, in second after Day 1 of dressage. Photo by Libby Law
Hoy, 56, is due a change of luck: he fell in the water on both his rides at Badminton in the spring, although he had a good run when finishing seventh on his Burghley ride Rutherglen, a powerful Hanoverian gelding, at the recent Aachen CIC*** (Germany).
Another rider who will not remember Hoy’s first Burghley win is third-placed Niklas Bschorer of Germany, who scored 39.2 in a well-ridden test on Tom Tom Go 3. At 20, he is the youngest in the field of 74 runners but his riding style is mature.
Niklas Bschorer of Germany, just 20, on Tom Tom Go 3. Photo by Libby Law
Bschorer’s Badminton debut ended abruptly when his air-jacket blew up on the cross-country, but he was ninth at Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany) in June and could easily trouble his seniors this weekend.
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The top three after Day 1 of dressage—Michael Jung, Niklas Bschorer and Andrew Hoy. Photo by Libby Law
There were loud cheers for the diminutive Rosalind Canter and the giant 17-plus-hand Allstar B. The British pair have made an impressive start at their first CCI**** and are best of the home side in fourth place on 40.2 after a calm and accomplished performance. Canter took over the ride on the 10-year-old Allstar B, a Dutch Warmblood by Ephebe For Ever, in 2012. Their best international result is seventh at Bramham CCI*** (England) last year.
“The cross-country is really big!” she said. “I’m slightly terrified but really excited. I’m over the moon to have done a mistake-free dressage test here,” she added. “The more noise and people the better for him. I’d hoped to score in the 40s, so to be nearly in the 30s is great.
“I’ve been coming to Burghley for years to watch as it’s my local event and I’ve got lots of friends here today supporting me. I had wanted to do my first four-star before I was 30—I’m 29 and three-quarters—so I’ve just got there!”
Lynn Symansky heading into the ring on Donner. Photo by Libby Law
Australians Christopher Burton (Haruzac), Sam Griffiths on his 2014 Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh, and Paul Tapner (Vanir Kamira), all of whom have yet to win at Burghley, occupy the next three places. Pippa Funnell or Great Britain, who triumphed here 12 years ago, is eighth on Redesigned.
Funnell was, as ever, endearingly emotional as she left the arena, having scored 43.0 on the 14-year-old chestnut owned by Denise and Roger Lincoln, owners of her 2003 winner, Primmore’s Pride. Redesigned, a magnificent chestnut by Canute, promised much when fifth at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games™, but has been a difficult horse to manage.
“The greatest thing with this horse is that he’s relaxed today,” she said. “It’s all about the cross-country with him and it’s hard to keep him focused in the arena.”
When asked about her chances this weekend, the former dual European champion replied: “Everyone knows that I always work on negative psychology; I’m never confident. I doubt myself, but not my horse, who has all the ability in the world. I’ve just got to try to hold him!”
Cross-country course designer Mark Phillips has set riders an intriguing test as he has reversed the direction of his track. This means that the Lion Bridge water complexes, where crowds of spectators lean over the bridge to get a bird’s eye view of the action, come up early at fences 4, 5 and 6.
Capability’s Cutting, at fences 9 and 10, has possibly the most difficult obstacle on the course, an acutely angled corner, and at 18 there is the traditional enormous white oxer at The Maltings. The famous Trout Hatchery (20-21) has five efforts, but riders will not be able to relax after that as the notorious Discovery Valley (24 and 28) and Leaf Pit drop (26, 27) are still to come.
“The course here is very different to the other four-stars, it looks tough with lots of ups and downs,” commented Jung, whose past four-star successes include wins at Luhmühlen (Germany) and Rolex Kentucky, second place at Badminton and third at Pau (France). “I will start out steadily and, hopefully, if my horses are giving me a good feeling, I will be able to go for the time. I’m very happy to be here, it’s a fantastic competition.”
Tomorrow, Jung will ride his London 2012 double Olympic gold medal partner La Biosthetique Sam. Funnell, who has withdrawn Mirage d’Elle, rides Second Supreme, Jonelle Price (New Zealand) who has withdrawn The Deputy, rides Classic Moet, and Christopher Burton, Sam Griffiths and Paul Tapner all have their second horses. There’s also six-times winner William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) on his only ride, Fernhill Pimms, plus five-time winner Sir Mark Todd (New Zealand) on Leonidas ll. Last of all is the 2009 winner Oliver Townend (Great Britain) on the brilliant CCI4* horse Armada.
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Full results can be found on the Burghley CCI**** website.
Results after first day of Dressage
1 Michael Jung/FisherRocana FST (GER) 34.2
2 Andrew Hoy/Rutherglen (AUS) 37.8
3 Niklas Bschorer/Tom Tom Go 3 (GER) 39.2
4 Rosalind Canter/Allstar B (GBR) 40.2
5 Christopher Burton/Haruzac (AUS) 41.2
6= Sam Griffiths/Paulank Brockagh (AUS) 42.5
6= Paul Tapner/Vanir Kamira (AUS) 42.5
8 Pippa Funnell/Redesigned (GBR) 43.0
9 Georgie Spence/Wii Limbo (GBR) 45.2
10 Jodie Amos/Wise Crack (GBR) 43.9
Lynn Symansky being interviewed after her ride. Photo by Libby Law
