As well as the event happening at Le Grand Complet, where Australians Shane Rose and Alex Townsend are riding, there are also some Australians doing rather well in Scotland where the Blair Castle Barclays International Horse Trials are taking place.
Bill Levett (seen above competing at Tattersalls) led the dressage phase in the CCI3* riding Silk Stone on a score of 43.6 but has since dropped back to third after finishing two seconds over the optimum time on cross country time. This allowed Kiwi rider Tim Price, who was second after dressage, to take the lead with Wesko while Niklas Bschorer from Germany is second riding Ballyengland Rebel (I can’t help thinking that should be Bally England Rebel!)
But with just 0.2 points separating the top three riders the showjumping phase, which happens later today, is certainly going to be influential!
Lucinda is well known for her great dressage riding
Lucinda Fredericks enjoyed a good win in the CIC3* leading the class from start to finish on her London Olympic horse Flying Finish. The pair produced a test, which saw them on a score of 38.6 (the only combination to break into the thirties) and the only penalties they added to that was 5.2 time from cross country. This left Lucinda as the clear winner, four points ahead of Lucy Wiegersma riding Mr Chunky. Lucinda’s second ride of the day, Prada, also jumped clear cross country but a rail down show jumping and some time penalties saw the pair finish 19th.
Bill Levett finished 14th with Improvise after dropping back from a dressage placing of tenth due to a couple of rails down in the showjumping. His second horse of the day, Shannondale Titan, was given a technical elimination three fences from course as it was deemed the horses shoulders did not in full pass to the left of the white flag. The elimination was disputed but not overturned. Kevin McNab didn’t have the best of days with either of his two horses. Brookfield D Bouncer, who had been lying seventh after dressage picked up 20 penalties on cross country day and some time penalties finishing 40th and Kelecyn Cognac was eliminated after falling at fence five on cross country.
We will bring you the final results of the CCI3* along with some photos as soon as we can.
Of course we shouldn't forget that somewhat closer to home the Wagga Horse Trials are also running this weekend and we look foward to hearing how our blogger, Kate McKenzie, got on riding Astro.
