CICO3* Aachen: DHL-Prize won by Australian Christopher Burton

29 June 2013

Christopher Burton repeated last year’s victory in the DHL Prize.  The Australian rider, who ranked third after the dressage and jumping, finished on a score of 35.60 minus points to  literally win by a second, ahead of Sandra Auffarth with Ganderkese (35.80).  The two-time Olympic gold medallist, Michael Jung, finished third (42.40). The team victory went to Germany, followed by Great Britain and Sweden.

If Sandra Auffarth had crossed the finish line just one second earlier, she would have claimed the overall victory at the Soers.  However, after a spectacular eventing test over the 4,000 metre long course designed by Rüdiger Schwarz – created in the modern CIC format – the Australian rider, Christopher Burton, once again topped the rankings after being the only rider to jump clear within the permitted time. “I didn’t expect to win. The Germans have simply been so good lately. I am overjoyed,” the 31-year-old beamed.  For the man from down under, the CHIO Aachen has been a very special show, because it was the very last time the 17-year-old mare, Holstein Park Leilani, will compete.  Originally she was supposed to retire after London, then after Badminton, but then Burton had asked her owners, Jean and Jade Findlay, if he could ride her in Aachen. They consented and the Australian took this opportunity to claim the victory.  What a fantastic moment to retire Holstein Park Leilani, who will be returning to Australia in September, where she will be used as a brood mare.

The weather was at times typical for the CHIO. It started to pour down with rain in the middle of the test – but the eventers battled on bravely despite the poor conditions. And most importantly:  the course stood up to it too.  Sandra Auffarth, the last rider in the test with Opgun Louvo, considered her second place in Aachen to be a victory, not a defeat. “I noticed shortly before the end that the time was going to be tight, but you can’t change anything over the last few metres. I didn’t take any risks, because the footing was difficult and my horse had lost a horseshoe, so I tried to find a line on the track that was still relatively dry,” the 26-year-old from Delmenhorst said.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist, Michael Jung, raced into third place. His horse stumbled slightly at obstacle 16 d, but he just about managed to make it over the hedge. First of all the obstacle judges had given him 20 penalty points for a refusal, but this decision was later corrected. “The take-off wasn’t quite right, but we definitely jumped over the obstacle,” was how Jung analysed the situation.

The national coach, Hans Melzer, was delighted with his team’s victory.  Even if the individual classification wasn’t won by a German rider, with seven riders under the top ten, the Germans celebrated their best ever result in Aachen. “An incredible performance,” said an overjoyed Melzer, who is now confidently looking ahead to Sweden.  The European Championships are scheduled in Malmö at the end of August.

Source: CHIO Aachen