Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua climb 10 places on the Leaderboard

Longines CCI5*-L: Felix Vogg (SUI) in the lead after an exciting cross-country day

Felix Vogg with Colero (SUI) are the overnight leaders. Photo: Irish Eventing Times

Due to a fast and clear round, Switzerland’s Felix Vogg will go into tomorrow’s final jumping competition with his dressage score of 29.0 points. With 29.1 points, Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali are hot on his heels in second place. Followed by Oliver Townend and Dreamliner with 29.6 points.

125 Tim Price with Vitali (NZL). Photo: Irish Eventing Times

Mike Etherington-Smith’s demanding cross country course shook up the leaderboard. In total, only nine horse-rider combinations managed to stay clear and within the time allowed. One of these was Cathal Daniels with Margaret Kinsella’s Rioghan Rua, who climbed ten places to take 9th place overnight.

105 Cathal Daniels with Rioghan Rua (IRL)
Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen CCI5*

Felix Vogg, was over the moon after his round:

“He went really well. He’s not a thoroughbred so he sometimes needs to be reminded that we need to keep going. He listened to me all the way round and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort. My goal for the season was to be among the top five here in Luhmühlen – and now I’d obviously really like to win.”

Tim Price was also full of praise for his horse’s round: “Vitali was super. He’s so talented and even though he does notice the crowd and can be a little

impressed by the atmosphere, he’s still focused on the questions and always alert and attentive, which is exactly what I’m looking for in a horse.”

The 12-year-old Holsteiner is competing at five-star level for the first time, so Price didn’t rush him: “He’s a first-timer so that’s where the time faults come because it’s my policy to start them in a way that they can find themselves at the bigger fences and questions. At this stage of the career I’ll happily accept a few seconds over the maximum time. He’s highly strung but he settled really well when we started and tried really hard all the way around.”

Oliver Townend and Dreamliner had the the fastest cross-country round of the day (10:48) and completed the podium ahead of the final day: “Dreamliner is maybe not the most athletic horse, but has a really great attitude, he’s so genuine and always wants to stay inside the flags. I’m so fortunate to be riding him.”