Dibowski secures home FEI Classics 2015/2016 series win in Luhmühlen

Riding It’s Me XX, Dibowski jumped a faultless clear round in the final Jumping phase to hold on to his overnight lead to claim victory.

However there was no margin for error for the 50-year-old veteran of many of Germany’s medal-winning Eventing teams, as second-placed France’s Maxime Livio – riding Qalao Des Mers, jumped clear with less than two penalties proving the difference between the top two.

Dibowski was winning Germany’s premier event for the second time after triumphing in 2011 with FRH Butts Leon. It’s Me XX finished the Dressage phase in fourth place but moved up to pole position after the Cross Country, adding just 0.4 penalties for being one second over the optimum time.

The experienced combination of Livio and Qalao Des Mers, finished their Dressage score of 44.9 to secure the runners-up spot.
Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot had led the Dressage but dropped to fifth after Cross Country with 10 time-faults. However, a clear jumping round elevated them once again to third place.

New Zealand’s Tim Price, who won the same Luhmühlen event in 2014, dropped a place from third to fourth this time with a rail down on Ringwood Sky Boy.

Another former winner, New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, finished fifth and seventh on Qwanza and Perfect Stranger.
There were just seven clear rounds over Heiko Wahlers’ jumping track from the 26 competitors who reached the final phase of the CCI four star event.

Great Britain’s Oliver Townend was fourth after Cross Country on Black Tie II, but withdrew the horse before the final horse inspection this morning, as did Australia’s Emma McDougall, who was seventh after Cross Country with Belcam Bear.

Diboswki said: “I still cannot believe it. It is quite incredible. My horse performed exceptionally on all three days. He is not a born Dressage horse, but on the Cross Country he is outstanding.”

“I got It’s Me after his racing career when he was four years old. When he was five and six he was ill and needed intensive care, and only came back to Eventing three years ago aged nine. He felt very well this morning before the Jumping. He loves the atmosphere in a big arena.”

Livio said: “My horse is a good jumper, and today he was perfect: careful, powerful and concentrated. He gave his best.”

The weekend’s event was the final time that Captain Mark Phillips will design the Luhmühlen Cross Country course, as Mike Etherington-Smith takes over from 2017. There were no falls and 26 of the 28 Cross Country starters completed with 18 clear rounds, four of which were completed successfully inside the optimum time.

The final event on FEI Classics 2015/2016 calendar is the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England from 1 to 4 September.
FEI Classics Series 2015/2016
Final results – Luhmühlen, Germany

1. Andreas Dibowski/It’s Me XX Germany 43.8
2. Maxime Livio/Qalao des Mers France 44.9
3. Julia Krajewski/Samourai du Thot Germany 49.0
4. Tim Price/Ringwood Sky Boy New Zealand 50.2
5. Andrew Nicholson/Qwanza New Zealand 51.9
6. Bill Levett/Alexander NJ Australia 54.6
7. Andrew Nicholson/Perfect Stranger New Zealand 54.7
FEI Classics Series 2015/2016
Leaderboard standings after 5 of 6 events

1. Michael Jung Germany 42 points
2. Tim Price New Zealand 18
3. Clarke Johnstone New Zealand 16
4. Astier Nicolas France 15
5. Shane Rose Australia 15
6. Andreas Dibowski Germany 15
7. Sir Mark Todd New Zealand 13
8. Andreas Ostholt Germany 12
9. Lauren Kieffer USA 12
10. Maxine Livio France 12