– Even with his third horse in the stable, the three-time Olympic champion Michael Jung dominates the German championships in eventing.
On his “buddy” Highlighter, three-time Olympic champion Michael Jung is well on his way to defending his title at the German Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen.
With a flawless round in the Lüneburg Heath, the exceptional 39-year-old rider from Horb and his eleven-year-old stallion kept their lead in dressage.
“Highlighter was well prepared, well trained. He was really motivated,” said Jung. “He gave me a good feeling in the field and trusted me. He was great to ride,” he said of his horse, which he described as “uncomplicated, easy and great buddy” before his ride on NDR television. described.
Highlighter convinces
Highlighter is Jung’s number three in the stable after Chipmunk and Wild Wave scheduled for September’s Worlds. The quality of the stallion was shown on the 3770 meter long course with 21 obstacles. He confidently took every jump and looked as fresh at the finish line as he did at the start with temperatures above 30 degrees. Only three couples remained in the internationally advertised four-star competition without penalty points.
Before the final competition on Sunday, Jung and Highlighter are in the lead with 25.6 penalty points. If they also remain flawless in the last sub-discipline, it would be the third national title for Jung after 2012 and 2021.
Second is 24-year-old Jerome Robiné. The Darmstadt native, who trains in Warendorf, only collected two penalty points on his twelve-year-old gelding Black Ice in the cross-country and, with a total of 29 points, is a little less than one down in jumping (4 penalty points). Third place goes to Dirk Schrade (Heidmühlen) on Casino (29.6) ahead of Sandra Auffarth (Ganderkesee) with her young horse Rosveel (29.8).
“It was a super competition,” said national coach Peter Thomsen on NDR, who was particularly satisfied with the performance of young riders like Robiné. “I’m really happy that they delivered.”
In the more demanding five-star test, Sophie Leube from Hamm-Rhynern was the only German to drop out. With Jadore Moi she ran past an obstacle and gave up. After the dressage she was in seventh place. The Swiss Felix Vogg on Colero is in the lead.
–
