U.S. Riders Shine on Cross Country Day at Luhmuhlen CCI****, Dutton Sits in Fifth Overnight
The riders representing the U.S. rose to the occasion on Saturday in Germant, tackling Captain Mark Phillips' 6,500m 29-fence cross country course. Both riders tentatively have their eyes on the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France this fall, for which Luhmuhlen is a final selection trial.
Phillip Dutton produced a fault-free round on Mighty Nice, and though Bruce Duchossois' 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is green at the CCI4* level, he looked like a seasoned competitor. The pair head into Sunday's show jumping phase in fifth place on their dressage score of 46.00.
"He's still green at this level, but he really stepped up today and was great the whole way around," Dutton shared.
Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 looked like a true partnership, adding no penalties to their dressage score of 47.80 to move up to seventh place. Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC's 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding are just 6.3 points out of the lead. Martin looked no worse for wear galloping cross country on a CCI4* after breaking his leg back in March. He also sits in 17th place with Otis Barbotiere, Otis Barbotiere Syndicate LLC's 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding, after adding 6.8 time penalties and moving up from 33rd place.
"Both horses jumped their hearts out; I was thrilled with them," Martin said.
Germany's Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung and fisherRocana FST remain on their dressage score of 41.5 to lie in first place heading into the final day of competition. Tim Price (NZL) and Wesko are in second place with a score of 43.80 while Bettina Hoy (GER) and Designer 10 are third on a score of 44.50.
While it was a day of good results for Martin and Dutton, the USEA joins the eventing community across the world in mourning the deaths of German rider Benjamin Winter at Luhmuhlen, Canadian rider Jordan McDonald, and Tom Crisp's Luhmuhlen mount, Liberal.
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