It promises to be an extremely exciting day tomorrow in the cross-country competition of the SAP-Cup. After the dressage and jumping, the British team Olympic gold medallist, Tom McEwen, is heading the field – but Michael Jung is close at his heels. The British team is also in the lead, ahead of Germany.

The jumping test alone completely shook up the rankings in the SAP-Cup after the dressage. Tom McEwen and his Holstein-bred JL Dublin had achieved the second best dressage result (24.3 minus points) and added no faults to their score in the show jumping. They have their team colleague, the World Champion gold medallists, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir to thank for the fact that they are lying in first place prior to the cross-country, because after heading the field after the dressage on a score of 23.5 minus points, Ingham and her 12-year-old French chestnut gelding picked up 2 time faults in the ring, which brought their total up to 25.5 minus points, which is currently third place in the individual classification.

Not only Ingham’s fellow countryman, but also Michael Jung profited from Ingham’s time faults. He and his top horse,  fischerChipmunk FRH, are currently in second place, with only one tenth of a point separating them from McEwen and JL Dublin.

The Brits also rank first in the team classification on a total score of 80.8 minus points. In addition to McEwen and Ingham, Kirsty Chabert with Classic IV (31 minus points/11^th) and Gemma Stevens with Flash Cooley (35 minus points/22^nd) are flying the flag of the CHIO partner country.

Germany (89.1) and New Zealand (90.3) follow in second and third place respectively. Germany’s team comprises of Michael Jung, last year’s winners Sandra Auffarth with Viamant du Matz (31.1 minus points/12^th), Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S (33.60 minus points/19^th) and Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K (36.90 minus points/24^th).

Tim Price with Falco (26 minus points/4^th), Caroline Powell with Greenacres Special Cavalier (31.90 minus points/13^th), Jonelle Price with McClaren (32.40/17^th) and Clarke Johnstone with Menlo Park (37.10 minus points/26^th) are representing New Zealand this weekend and their team is currently in third place.