Emma Dougall and Belcam Bear All photos: Libby Law
Young Australian rider Emma Dougall is mixing it in the best of circles at Barbury Horse Trials.
Emma, 24 from Queensland had a great ride on her horse Belcam Bear in the CIC 2* Section B on the first day of dressage at Barbury. She is currently in equal third place with none other than the great William Fox-Pitt on his London 2012 horse, Lionheart (seen below). On a score of 41.9, these two are just behind another London bound combination, Piggy French and DHI Topper W on a score of 40.8. An Australian and Brit are also in equal 5th spot in the same class; Paul Tapner on Indian Mill and Zara Phillips on her London horse, High Kingdom are both on a score of 44.2.
British rider Kitty King leads this CIC 2* class on her horse Persimmon on a strong score of 35.3 and is also the leader of the CIC 3* class on the mare, Zidante which won the AI Section F class at Salperton last weekend on her dressage score. Can she do the same this weekend?
She has some strong competition breathing down her neck in the shape of Aussie Clayton Fredericks on Waltersdown Don on a score of 44.8, only 1.2 points behind Kitty. Australian Bill Levett is also in the hunt in tenth place riding One Two Many NJ on a score of 48.6.
Can you see the score? Clayton finishes his test..........
For the New Zealand and US riders in the CIC 3*, this is a tense time with Olympic teams being announced straight after this event. USA ex-Aussie Boyd Martin is in 11th (Otis Barbotiere 48.8) and equal 12th (Neville Bardos 49), Phillip Dutton is equal 22nd (Mighty Nice 53.2) and the highest placed American rider so far is Will Coleman in 7th on 47.4 riding Twizzle, closely followed by Alison Springer and Arthur in 8th on 48.2.
Boyd Martin and Aussie superhorse Neville Bardos - will they make the US team?
For the New Zealand Olympic hopefuls Lucy Jackson has made an impressive start on The Animator II lying in 5th place (46.2), Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo in 14th on 49.8 and our very own blogger Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express (pictured below) is in 17th on 51.4
However there are some combinations to come tomorrow with Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper, Kristina Cook and Miner’s Frolic and Camilla Speirs with Portersize Just a Jiff, to name just a few who could rock the boat, yet to come in the CIC 3*. Some Olympic riders will also be riding the FEI CCI 4* test, the very dressage test they will ride at Greenwich in four weeks time, on Friday adding a bit of Olympic flavour and extra workload to their busy schedules!
And for those who think that events overseas are always packed with people compared to Australian events, doesn't this remind you of Sydney 3 Day Event?
To see all photos from Day One of dressage at Barbury Horse Trials CLICK HERE
