Michael Jung closes in on Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize after leading the dressage at Badminton
Michael Jung (GER) continued his winning form from the Rolex Kentucky event last weekend to lead the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after the Dressage phase, to set him on course for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize. With a stunning dressage score of 34.4 Jung, riding his double gold medal winning horse La Biostheetique-Sam FBW, leads the 77 strong field of competitors with the UK’s Emily King in second place riding Brookleigh and fellow compatriot, Andreas Ostholt in third place riding So Is Et.
Only these three riders posted dressage scores under 40 and now head into tomorrow’s challenging cross-country course with one of the closest set of scores in the competition’s history.
TOP 5 RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE
1. Michael Jung (GER), La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, 34.4
2. Emily King (UK), Brookleigh, 36.8
3. Andreas Ostholt (GER), So Is Et, 38.2
4. Francis Whittington (UK), Hasty IMP, 40.0
5. Christopher Burton (AUS), Nobilis 18, 40.3
ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING CHALLENGE
Speaking at the post-dressage press conference, a delighted Jung said, „It is always in my mind [Rolex Grand Slam] and the pressure is on, but this is normal like in every competition – when I go to any big competition like a 4* I try to win for sure. I am always looking step by step – the dressage is over but now we are concentrating on the cross-country and then we will look to the next day.“
Competing at her very first Badminton, 20-year-old Emily King said, „I’m absolutely over the moon, ‚Brook‘ was really good, he went in the ring and warmed up very well and kept that into the main arena. I knew he was capable of doing such a good test. He kept his cool very well so I was over the moon!“
„I think the ground will be perfect for the cross-country, so the conditions can’t be better. If it stays like this tomorrow too, I think we will have a great day and enjoy the day.“ said Ostholt currently lying in third place.
Having won both the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the 2016 Rolex Kentucky, Jung is now just one competition away from the coveted USD$350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize. He has traveled to Badminton straight from Kentucky to try to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING HISTORY
In 2001 Rolex was inspired to link the three foremost Eventing competitions in the world into a Grand Slam. Badminton – the British horse trials on which the modern sport of eventing was founded, Kentucky – the premier US event, and Burghley – the East of England’s showpiece event, formed the competition.
Every year these three events attract world class competition and crowds of enthusiastic supporters eager to bear witness to equestrian greatness. It became immediately apparent that, completing the challenge and winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, would require a series of outstanding performances from a remarkable athlete.
Since its inception in 2001, only one rider has risen to the challenge: Britain’s much loved and highly decorated team member, Pippa Funnell. In April 2003 she rode Primmore’s Pride to victory at Rolex Kentucky, beginning her Rolex Grand Slam campaign. A week later, this time riding double European champion Supreme Rock, Funnell was crowned Badminton winner. A few months later, Funnell reigned supreme at Burghley, riding Primmore’s Pride again, outperforming fellow Rolex Testimonee Zara Phillips, who finished in second place. Pippa Funnell immediately joined the ranks of sporting greats and became a Rolex Testimonee.
Since then, two of the three legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing have been won by four different riders: Australia’s Andrew Hoy, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, and New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson. None of these top-class riders have yet succeeded in triumphing over the series and winning the final element of the Rolex Grand Slam.
ABOUT ROLEX
Rolex, the leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, is headquartered in Geneva and enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history.
A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces all the essential components of its watches in-house, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities as well as philanthropic programmes.
Source: Press release Rolex
