German team pathfinder Libussa Lubbecke has made a great start on her senior team debut, taking an early lead in the dressage phase at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (GB).
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She scored 28.3 penalties on her family’s home-bred Caramia 34, to put her 0.7 ahead of Great Britain’s first team rider, Yasmin Ingham on Rehy DJ.
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“It is like a dream,” said Libussa. “We bred this mare, my brother rode her and then I won medals on her at Young Rider level, but we never thought she would be a five-star or a championship horse, so we are just enjoying it. It was always an ambition to ride for Germany at senior level, which is a big step up, so we are enjoying it.”
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Yasmin, the reigning world champion, was also riding her Young Rider medal-winning team horse, the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse Rehy DJ, known as “Piglet”.Â
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“It is so exciting to be here at Blenheim, a real honour,” said Yasmin, a member of the winning team at the 2023 Europeans in France.Â
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“I am delighted with his test, he was fabulous. He tried so hard and was so accurate and his flying changes were amazing. We’re a great partnership – I have been riding him since he was six. He is Piglet by name and piglet by nature!”
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Switzerland’s Nadja Minder had the daunting role of championship pathfinder and, although she was disappointed that her horse, Toblerone, was lit up by the atmosphere, she said: “There is no better horse to go first. It is fun and an honour. I think the cross-country terrain will suit him and it won’t be a dressage competition!”
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Nations’ second team members will perform their dressage tests this afternoon, starting at 2:30pm.
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In the GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old CCI4*-S, Australian rider Kevin McNab has taken an early lead on Sofia Von Moltke’s Wilfred Lancer, scoring 29.4. He leads New Zealander Samantha Lissington, riding Lucas Stone by just 0.1 of a penalty.Â
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Tom Jackson was the highest-placed British rider, third on United 36 on 30.2.
IMAGES © PETER NIXON
