Jock and Clifton Promise Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
After a brief and exasperating struggle with FEI TV last night I finally managed to tune in to watch most of the cross country at Pau. With John Kyle and Ruth Edge’s commentary, it is a great way to watch the action if you can’t be there and you get to see most of the action up close.
There was certainly plenty of action. The rain was heavy earlier and the ground appeared churned up by the end of the day with the smart later riders choosing their path carefully. The first water had been touted as a big question and it most certainly was influential with 12 riders coming to grief here including Oliver Townend, Laura Collett (“He didn’t want to jump into the water... very unlike him...Will get him home and checked out” says Laura of Noble Bestman on Twitter), Bill Levett and Hippolyte (who had a problem here, Fence 12 and 25 before retiring), Karin Donckers and Lamicell Charizard and Andreas Dibowski with FRH Butts Avedon who nearly get stuck on top of the log into the water.
With names like these walking home early you know it was a BIG test set by Pierre Michelet. The mighty Toddy and Major Milestone fell at Fence 19 and Mary King, who retired her first horse Kings Temptress at Fence 4 (another influential fence) then sadly had a fall at Fence 10 with Imperial Cavalier. On Twitter Toddy has reassured everyone, thanking them for their best wishes, that both he and the horse are fine while Rachel Wakefield (Uptown Eventing) posted a photo of her and Mary recovering from the trials of the day with a glass of wine – that’s the attitude girls! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you love to follow eventing and aren’t on Twitter you’re missing out!
Back to the trials on course – I’ll come to the good news in a minute I promise. Unfortunately Chris Burton and Underdiscussion lost their lead with a refusal at Fence 4 then Chris decided to walk home after another problem at the third water complex. The good news for Chris is that he leads the CIC 2* after cross country riding Graf Liberty (40.7), just ahead of Michael Jung and FischerRocanaFST (41), with both riders having fault free cross country rounds.
Michael Jung and Leopin Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
In the CCI 4* Michael Jung rode a great round to come home clear and under time, one of 11 riders to do so. He took the long option at the second water but obviously knew that his horse Leopin was very capable of making the time to finish the day in second place behind the new New Zealand cross country star, Jock Paget. Jock and Clifton Promise made it look easy, especially at the first water which he had been worried about. Afterwards he said
“This is Promise’s fifth 4* and he knows his job well. He’s very athletic and likes his job”
Jock still trains with Queenslander Kevin McNab who is now UK based and Kevin also rode a very good round here to finish in eighth place on another of Francis Stead’s horses, Clifton Pinot.
The other maestros of cross country, William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson, rode copy book rounds, each of them bringing their two horses home clear and under time to finish in fifth and sixth place (William on Bay My Hero and Chilli Morning) and third and seventh (Andrew on Nereo and Mr Cruise Control). Both riders are just sheer class. William told Kate Green that Bay My Hero is “.. a bit like riding my old 14.2hh pony. He knows where to go and is clever and cat-like, despite the fact that the ground was more slippery by the time I went on him.”
You can read Kate Green’s report for the FEI here
Full results HERE
It is going to be an exciting finish tomorrow!
Today's photo gallery is on it's way from Libby Law
