LAOIS siblings Jennifer and Brian Kuehnle were Ireland’s sole representatives at last weekend’s international horse trials in Marbach, Germany where, after disappointing results in the dressage arena, they both soared up the leaderboard following Saturday’s cross-country phase of the CCIOJ2*-L.

Heading out on the Wilfried Thiebes-designed track, Jennifer was lying 15th of 33 with the 11-year-old Concinales mare Polly Blue Eyes (36 penalties) but, in spite of 3.60 time penalties, she climbed to fifth, a position she maintained to the finish as, on Sunday, she recorded one of just four clear show jumping rounds inside the time.

Younger brother Brian, who was 32nd following the first phase with the Irish Sport Horse gelding Tullibards Now Or Never (43.2), jumped up to sixth as he, along with the three German riders who filled the top three placings after cross-country, and overall, were the only ones home clear within the time. Despite lowering two poles and picking up a small number of time penalties on Sunday, Brian and the nine-year-old Capitalist gelding still held on to sixth place (52.40).

Brian finished 10th of 46 in the CCIOP2* where, 40th after dressage, he completed on his flat work mark of 36.80 on Tullibards Sixth Sense AC, a seven-year-old ISH gelding who, like Now Or Never, is owned by the rider’s father Hans.

Kuehnle senior was delighted with his riders’ performances, especially on Saturday. “The courses were up to CCIO standard in height and length. The fences were very technical but fair but the undulating grassland didn’t allow for error. After rain all week, the ground was very testing but still acceptable,” Hans said.

“Throughout all classes, there were several stops, run-outs, eliminations and retirements; six of the German long-listed ponies didn’t get home. It was the same in the Juniors although here, four German team riders filled the top four placings.”

In the CCI4*-S, Germany’s Michael Jung led after dressage on fischerChipmunk FRH (21.7) but, with the addition of four cross-country time penalties and a fence down show jumping, he finished second (29.7) to his compatriot, Andreas Dibowski, whose total of 29.6 with FRH Corrida included 0.4 of a cross-country time penalty.