Tim Price. Photo:Thomas Ix
With a fast cross-country round, just a few seconds over the optimum time, Tim Price (NZL) and Ascona M (27.80) are now in the lead of the Longines CCI5*-L.
“Ascona M just flew round today’s cross-country course: The mare is a real fighter and gave me an ultrasmooth ride today. She’s not that experienced at this level and she can be quite a diva in everyday life but today she read the questions perfectly and was totally focussed when she needed to be. When we first bought her, she was quite small so Jonelle got to ride her. But then she kept growing and growing, so I gave my wife a nudge every now and then and finally got to ride her when Jonelle was pregnant.”
Currently lying in second and third place with brilliant clear rounds inside the time are Alexander Bragg (GBR) with Zagreb (29.70) and Sarah Bullimore (GBR) with Reve du Rouet (32.10).
Alexander was also full of praise for his mount: “Zagreb is always 100 percent committed to the job, so I just have to do my job and pick the right tracks for him. I’m so thankful to the organising committee. This morning, when I was walking the course and there was lightning all around and the rain just poured down, it didn’t seem as if we would be able to ride. But everyone did a fantastic job and the footing was perfect by the time we started.”
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) and her experienced gelding Reve du Rouet (32.10) finished the cross country on their dressage score, moving up from tenth place to third. “My horse can be quite difficult and has been known to bolt repeatedly but I finally feel I can read him well – after 12 years! He’s been having a fabulous week so far and seems to feel very comfortable here in Luhmühlen. He was just phenomenal today and really deserves to be so high up on the leaderboard. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Tim’ was optimistic on the course this morning
Update from Luhmühlen @timpricenzl #luhmuehlen2019 pic.twitter.com/OFbQflbTTs
— German Eventing (@GermanEventing) 15 June 2019
