The mornings start dark and chilly but with a beautiful glow at this time of year in Pau, giving our photographer Libby Law some fun with the sunrise
“It is going to be pretty dark for the start of the CIC2* XC in the morning” says Libby “With an 8:45am start - it is still pitch black at 7.30am - the images I took this morning were 8-8.30am... I may have to take my flashlight!!!”
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Friday saw the second day of dressage at Pau and it was a good one day for Australia, Britain and New Zealand. The competitors in the first two sessions of dressage didn’t worry the overnight leaders with some nice tests from various competitors, including Australia’s Chris Burton riding Tempranillo (above), but no-one showed the consistency, paces or wow factor to move into the top ten.
Great moves Murray - what's happening with the top hat?
Murray Lamperd was the first to very nearly make it in to the top ten with a good test from his ex-racehorse Under the Clocks to score 49.2 straight after the second break.
This combination has really improved during their time overseas, a 'back and forth' strategy that hasn’t been easy for Murray or his family but let’s hope they will reap the rewards. Their cross country phase is usually very strong and if they can pull the show jumping together this could be a good finale to a year of new international experience. Murray and Under the Clocks finished in 20th place while Chris and Tempranillo finished in 24th on a score of 50.
Shortly after Murray’s test, British rider Lucy Wiegersma presented the first challenge to the leaders. Riding the bay gelding Simon Porloe (above), Lucy showed what they can do when they get it all together to score 43.8 and move into sixth place at the end of the day.
Lucy and Simon recently competed in their first senior championships at the Europeans in Malmo with not the best result, so no doubt they will be out to prove a thing or two to the British selectors who certainly have her in their sights as an up and coming star.
As often happens, one good test leads to another and after a morning of not exactly scintillating dressage, Phillip Dutton and Mr Medicott (above) soon performed another good test. As Phillip told us at Blenheim, he only began riding the Mr. Medicott Syndicate's 14-year-old Irish Sport gelding in late June and yesterday they earned their best score to date with a polished performance that earned high marks for the canter work and flying changes at the end of the test.
"I'm very pleased. I don't know the horse that well so it's not about educating him it's about getting to know him more," said Phillip afterwards "There are still parts to improve but I'm very pleased."
Whereas Lucy and Simon Porloe are just starting out on their senior career, Phillip and Mr. Medicott each have plenty of experience, if not as a partnership. Mr. Medicott completed the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and has had top 10 placings here at Pau in 2008 and 2011 with Germany's Frank Ostholt. He was also ridden by Karen O'Connor to ninth place at the London Olympic Games for the USA. Talking of Frank Ostholt, his was the next test to hit the mark, scoring 44.70 on Little Paint to move them into eighth place at the end of the day, just behind Phillip in seventh spot.
Lucinda and Flying Finish - can they finish 2013 on a high after a year of injury for Lucinda?
As the day drew to completion all eyes were on Lucinda Fredericks riding Flying Finish, a combination that certainly could challenge William. And so they did. An impressive test with just some scratchy halts earned the only sub-40 score of the day of 39.20 with two of the judges having them in first place and the third judge placing them in second. Here's their test thanks to Kate Samuels
Andrew Nicholson’s test on Mr Cruise Control was probably the most strangely marked of the day with the judges having him in fifth, sixth and 24th place for an overall score of 45.3 to finish in 10th place; I don’t think I’d like to be in that post-test critique with Andrew.
William’s test on the last horse of the day, Cool Mountain was just lovely to watch with good rhythm, flow and movement but couldn’t quite match Flying Finish or his own Seacookie to finish in third on a score of 42.2. It is especially impressive when you think that this horse hasn’t been to a major event recently and that William has been having some problems with his back, prompting him to say on his website
“There are lots of remarks saying that I ought to have a bad back more often, which are causing much amusement! But it is only thanks to my physio and her pummelling that I am here at all. I am very happy to say that she is on her way out here to keep me 'fixed', and Alice is coming too which is great.”
William seemed very happy with the new arena surface which ‘has been a long time coming’ and says of the cross country
“I have walked the course and feel that the beginning is a bit kinder than last year, particularly the first water which caused so much trouble. However the rest of the track will take some jumping as there are a large number of arrow heads and corners, and the questions continue right to the end.”
In the FEI TV videos below New Zealand’s Tim Price (currently in 14th place on Ringwood Sky Boy) talks us through the approach to Fence 11 and 12, Andrew Nicholson talks about the Pierre Michelet's course and John Kyle speaks to Lucinda.
Our Friday photo gallery from Pau
