From Euqinetrader.co.nz (dated 20 June 2010)
Clifton Lush, ridden by Joe Meyer, has become the leading Kiwi combination at this weekend's CCI**** event at Luhmühlen, near Hamburg in northern Germany, after completing a "stunning" clear cross-country round 14 seconds under the optimum time, taking the pair from 16th after Friday's dressage to sixth place on the leaderboard out of a field of 43 starters.
The result will be sure to attract the attention of the New Zealand selectors as they draw up their short-list for the team to represent the country at September's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
Despite predictions of heavy rain, even the teutonic German weather forecasters got it wrong and in perfect conditions Meyer brought Clifton Lush, owned by Frances Stead and Lucy Allison, home ahead of the other Kiwis, including Andrew Nicholson on a very tired nine-year-old Mr Cruise Control (7th) and Armada (14th), Neil Spratt on Upleadon (16th) and Daniel Jocelyn on Special Advocate (28th).
Frances Stead said Meyer did a beautiful round on Clifton Lush, a 10-year-old 16.1hh Chestnut TB Gelding. "The pair were really motoring and loving it and hes pulled up without a mark on him. His heart rate was great and he cooled down easily."
Stead said this made the fact that Meyer and Clifton Lush were able to post the fastest time of the day even more "amazing". The pair were one of only eight combinations during the day to get under the optimum time.
Spratt did several options to go clear but was 29 seconds over time, whilst Jocelyn went mostly straight and clear but with similar time penalties. Nicholson went clear under time on Armada although was two seconds over on Mr Cruise Control.
The cross-country course, designed by Capt Mark Phillips, claimed several scalps, including Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest, who stumbled on the way out of the final water to tip Townend off and over the last element, 27B. Francis Whittington riding Sir Percival III fell at Fence 24, but both horse and rider were okay.
Badminton winner Paul Tapner, ninth after the dressage on Kilfinnie ll and hoping to extend his lead in the HSBC FEI Classics, had a refusal at 12C, causing him to drop to 30th place.
Despite predictions that the coffin fence at 13, with its angled exit over an arrowhead, would be influential, it rode well.
"Theres been no bogey fence, said Stead, and every horse and rider who ran into trouble appear to have been able to walk home.
On Friday Clifton Lush did a really nice dressage test, said Stead. It was very accurate and there was very little you couldnt like about it, but as he gets older and stronger theyll be more marks as he gets more engagement and elevation. But for where hes at in his training he couldnt have done much better.
The competition is currently led by German rider Ingrid Klimke on FRH Butts Abraxxas with a current score of 39.2 penalties, less than a rail in hand over British rider Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town.
The final day of show jumping is tomorrow, Sunday. |