Stamford, England—Sept. 6
A huge crowd rose to their feet in appreciation as Germany’s Michael Jung and his wonderful horse La Biosthetique Sam jumped the perfect clear round to win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
Jung, who will be defending his European title next weekend, is the first German rider to win a British CCI****, and he received a great reception from the crowd, who recognised a phenomenal horseman in action and had been surrounding him all weekend asking for “selfies” and autographs.
Michael Jung became the first German rider to win a British four-star by laying down a double-clear show jumping round aboard La Biosthetique Sam. Photo by Libby Law.
“To come to Burghley is amazing, to ride the cross-country was wonderful, and to win here at an event which is such a great tradition in the sport is just fantastic. This will be one of the highlights of my life,” said Jung. “I really enjoyed it here and hope I will have horses for it next year.”
This is the 21st international event he has won with the 16-year-old Sam, whom he describes as “being like a good friend. Every time he gives me 100 percent.”
Jung also finished second in the 2014/2015 FEI Classics series behind his compatriot Ingrid Klimke, who was at Burghley to receive her check for $40,000 in the main arena.
Jung was under huge pressure as New Zealand’s Tim Price had conjured a beautiful clear round from the improving Ringwood Sky Boy to finish runner-up behind the German for the second time this year, following Kentucky in April.
“Sky Boy has been improving, and I hoped that would show itself on the flat,” said Price. “He has always been a good cross-country horse but to be still here today, in second place, is wonderful. He is not a natural show jumper, but he is learning to try hard at the right moment.”
Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy jumped a faultless round to finish second. Photo by Libby Law.
The talented Christopher Burton of Australia, who has never previously completed Burghley, had a perfect day with two clear rounds to finish third and fourth on TS Jamaimo and Haruzac.
“I haven’t had a very good run here before. I came here as a young rider from Australia in 2004 and fell off at the third fence, so just to see the finish flags was a pretty good feeling,” he said.
Christopher Burton finished third and fourth, respectively, on TS Jamaimo (pictured) and Haruzac. Photo by Libby Law.
Tim’s wife Jonelle Price slipped from third to fifth when Classic Moet hit the first part of the triple, but clear rounds elevated fellow Kiwi Sir Mark Todd to sixth on Leonidas ll, France’s Cedric Lyard to seventh on Cadeau du Roi, Kristina Cook (Star Witness) to eighth and best British rider, and Australia’s Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh to ninth.
British superstar William Fox-Pitt had a fence down on Fernhill Pimms but still rose three places to 10th. However, for the first time since the inception of the FEI Classics in 2008, he missed out on a cash prize.
The U.S. combinations had a day of solid performances, led by USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Lynn Symansky and Donner, who finished 14th in their Burghley debut.
ADVERTISEMENT
Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner began their week at Burghley by scoring 47.7, a personal best at the CCI**** level, in the dressage phase on Thursday. On Saturday, she and the 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding made light work of the massive track, though took some time to settle into a rhythm and went the long routes at Maltings 360 and Discovery Valley, collecting 13.2 time penalties. The pair had a rail at fence 3 for 4 faults in show jumping.
Lynn Symansky and Donner were the top-placed American pair, finishing 14th. Photo by Libby Law.
“I think jumping on turf is a challenge, since we don’t practice on it a lot at home. He felt great this morning, but he got a little spooky in the ring and the footing is a bit holding, so we had a rail,” Symansky explained. “Being the person that I am, I always want to do better, but I am thrilled with such a great finish in our first appearance at Burghley.”
Colleen Rutledge (Frederick, Md.) and her own Covert Rights, recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation, had a great showing in the horse’s second four-star start and first appearance at Burghley. Rutledge gave the the 9-year-old Thoroughbred Cross gelding solid rides throughout the three phases, beginning with the dressage phase where they earned a score of 46.5. On cross-country day the pair came home with no jumping penalties and 28.4 time penalties. Their weekend came to a close with a phenomenal double-clear round in the show jumping phase, putting them in 22nd place with a score of 74.9.
Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights show jumped clear to finish 22nd. Photo by Libby Law.
Laine Ashker (Henrico, Va.) and her own Anthony Patch also made their debut at Burghley and earned valuable experience on the international stage. She and the 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding had a respectable dressage test to receive a score of 48.8. The pair completed the renowned cross-country course but had a few issues along the way, collecting 40 jump penalties after stops at fences 4B of the Lion Bridge and 20A at the Land Rover Trout Hatchery and 46.4 time penalties. They knocked three rails for a 12-fault show jumping round, ending on a score of 147.2 in 48th place.
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch finished 48th in their Burghley debut. Photo by Libby Law.
Find out more about the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* and view the results.
Final Results
1 Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam (GER) 39.2 + 0.8 + 0 = 40.0
2 Tim Price/Ringwood Sky Boy (NZL) 38.7 + 2.8 + 0 = 41.5
3 Christopher Burton/TS Jamaimo (AUS) 45.0 + 0 + 0 = 45.0
4 Christopher Burton/Haruzac (AUS) 41.2 + 6.4 + 0 = 47.6
5 Jonelle Price/Classic Moet (NZL) 44.9 + 0 + 4 = 48.9
6 Sir Mark Todd/Leonidas ll (NZL) 41.7 + 8.8 + 0 = 50.5
ADVERTISEMENT
7 Cedric Lyard/Cadeau du Roi (FRA) 39.6 + 11.2 + 0 = 50.8
8 Kristina Cook/Star Witness (GBR) 47.4 + 5.2 + 0 = 52.6
9 Sam Griffiths/Paulank Brockagh (AUS) 42.5 + 15.2 + 0 = 57.7
10 William Fox-Pitt/Fernhill Pimms (GBR) 34.2 + 20.4 + 4 = 58.6
FEI Classics™ 2014/2015 Final Leaderboard
1 Ingrid Klimke (GER) 42 points USD 40,000 (FEI Classics™ Series champion)
2 Michael Jung (GER) 40 USD 30,000 (2nd)
3 Jonelle Price (NZL) 26 USD 20,000 (3rd)
4 Tim Price (NZL) 24 USD 10,000 (4th)
5 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 24
6 Mark Todd (NZL) 19
7 Jessica Manson (AUS) 15
8 Andreas Dibowski (GER) 12
9 Megan Jones (AUS) 12
10 Jock Paget (NZL) 10
See full FEI Classics™ 2014/2015 leaderboard: http://bit.ly/1VHbi8j
