Chris Burton and Underdiscussion are looking good at Blenheim Photo: Libby Law
It has been an unusual year for Australian eventing since the 2011 Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. The failure of the Australian team to qualify here last year was probably the start of its none too successful Olympic campaign, however one of the bright spots for Australian eventing has been the success of Christopher Burton on the international eventing scene. Now at his first time competing at Blenheim (he was at Blenheim last year but for various reasons didn’t get a start in the team there), it seems that Burto is at it again.
Tim Boland and GV Billy Elliot Photo: Libby Law
He’s not the only Australian at the top of the CCI 3* leader board; his friend Tim Boland has finally had an international start in the UK and is just behind Chris in second place. Chris leads on 31.8 penalties riding Underdiscussion just 3.4 penalties ahead of Tim who was Friday’s leader, on GV Billy Elliot.
Both boys are mounted on very good horses, not only for the dressage phase but both the cross country and showjumping to come. Underdiscussion is a 14-year-old Warmblood/TB who showed his international class at Aachen when he won the individual title in the DHL Prize CICO3* in July. He may be part warmblood but, as Chris says, he can still be very fast on cross country which we will hopefully see tomorrow. GV Billy Elliot, winner of the 2012 Melbourne International Three Day Event, is, according to Tim, the best horse he has ever had. After his disappointment at Burghley last week Tim told us that he was hoping that at Blenheim, Billy would be “not just leading after the dressage but wins the whole bloody thing”. (CLICK HERE for the video interview with Tim)
Paul Tapner and Kilronan at the trot up Photo: Libby Law
German team gold medallist, Ingrid Klimke lies in third place (on 35.8), with Lucy Wiegersma lying fourth (38.6). William Fox-Pitt, bidding for his 50th international title, stands not far behind in fifth position on Seacookie (39). Australian Paul Tapner is in 13th place on Kilronan (42.6) and 43rd on Wickstead Didgeridoo (51.4) while the two New Zealand superstars Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson are in sixth and seventh place respectively on Conair (39.6) and Viscount George (40). All of these riders will be aiming to knock the two Aussies from top spot on cross country tomorrow. Here’s some scenes from last year to give you a bit of the flavour of what tomorrow’s CCI 3* cross country action will hold plus a video of the course designer Eric Winter talking about the Ariat Europe Dew Pond (Fence 6ABC on the CCI 3* course). You can download the entire course and fences on CrossCountry App at www.crosscountryapp.com and also view all the fences with video explaining each one for tomorrow’s course at http://www.blenheim-horse.co.uk/2012-cross-country-course.
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo Photo: Libby Law
In the CIC 3* British Championship class for eight- and nine-year-old horses, the indefatigable Andrew Nicholson still leads the field after dressage on Quimbo (35.1 penalties), with Piggy French lying second on West Side (36.3), Bettina Hoy on Designer 10 in third (40.8) and William Fox-Pitt in 4th position (42) on Bay My Hero. Australian rider and AEL blogger Sammi McLeod is in fifth place on LG Wellington while Sam Griffiths is in =23rd place on Paulank Brockagh and Bill Levett is in =32nd on Shannondale Titan and 41st on Improvise.
The CIC 3* showjumping will be held on Saturday with its shorter cross-country course phase being held on Sunday.
Results after dressage for both classes CLICK HERE.
