Clark Montgomery warming up before his test
We have a new leader in the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* at the Friday lunch break with the USA’s Clark Montgomery having moved into the top spot with a score of 33.8, 3.4 penalties ahead of yesterday’s leader, Sandra Auffarth on 37.2.
Clark and Loughan Glen were third here in 2013 and they once again produced a very good test in the Marlborough Arena which was bathed in sunshine this morning; we spoke to him straight after his test
Clark Montgomery
Three other riders have entered the top ten in the morning session of dressage – Pippa Funnell riding Billy the Biz is in third place on 39.3, Australia’s Andrew Hoy riding Cheeky Calimbo, last year’s leaders after the dressage, are in sixth place on 40.7 and New Zealand’s Tim Price riding The Court Jester is currently in ninth place on 42.2.
Andrew was delighted with Cheeky Calimbo’s very expressive test but maybe not quite so pleased with the score and the judge at E, Ireland’s Vanda Robinson, seems to have agreed with him, with her score having them in first place at that stage
Pippa’s homebred Billy The Biz, who started life as a show jumper before jumping the Eventer’s Grand Prix at Hickstead so enthusiastically that Pippa decided to take him eventing, is competing in his first CCI3* here. The 10 year old gelding has quickly come up through the ranks in the past three years and, although they have had some good placings at CIC3* level recently, Pippa is a little bit anxious about the big water jump coming up on Saturday
“He’s come through the grades pretty quickly because he’s had the mileage through the show jumping but I’ve had a couple of little blips where he has been over enthusiastic and over jumped into water and I’ve had a couple of dunkings on him. So I’m going to have to sit back and sit tight on the big jump into the water here and hope that he doesn’t go as high as he normally does!”
Sophie Beaty
While these are all experienced competitors at this event, Sophie Beaty (who we first met on a beach in Australia) is enjoying her first time at Blenheim. Riding the deliciously named Pink Gin, Sophie is in equal 74th place in the CCI3* and 52nd in the CIC3* on Mister O
“He did the best he could for me” said Sophie of the chestnut roan Pink Gin after her test “This is my first time here and it’s such a beautiful arena to compete in. Everything here is so much bigger and there’s so much going on compared to lots of other events but I’m loving it. I still have to find out where the Start Box for cross country is though!”
In the CIC3* 8/9 Year Old class Jonelle Price still holds the lead but the the French rider Astier Nicolas has moved into second place riding Spes Addit Or on a score of 39.4 and Australia’s Chris Burton is now in fourth place riding Monarch’s Exclusive, a horse previously campaigned by Vittoria Panizzon. Chris, on a score of 41.9, is just ahead of New Zealand’s Caroline Powell riding Onwards and Upwards
Chris Burton and Monarch’s Exclusive
