Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen
There is no doubt about it, Houghton Hall is beautiful. The Hall, which was built by Britain’s first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole in the 1720’s and is now the home of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, was bathed in spring sunshine today, creating the perfect backdrop for the CICO3* dressage.
Geoffroy Soullez riding Madiran Du Liot
There are still a few competitors to go tomorrow morning in this class, which incorporates the Nations Cup, but the withdrawal of the overnight leader Gemma Tattersall on Chico Bella P means that the USA’s Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp is now the interim leader riding Fernhill By Night with a score of 38.9.
“I was really pleased with him,” said Liz “I felt his canter work was really good today with a lot of expression in the changes and extended work. The trot work was great too, though I felt we could have been a bit more balanced in the shoulder-in work and in the move offs in the trot, and just a bit more push all around and a little more organization for the bigger marks. All in all though, I’m thrilled with him and his competitive score in this big international class.”
Liz is a member of the USA Team and there are three other Nations Cup team members in the top ten; Sam Griffiths riding Beaurepaire Nemo (41.0), France’s Geoffroy Soullez riding Madiran Du Liot (41.5) and Andrew Hoy riding Rutherglen ( 42.7)
With Gemma’s withdrawal, Nicola Wilson is the top placed British rider in second place riding Annie Clover while Oliver Townend, aiming for the TriStar Grand Slam, has two in the top ten.
In the CCI1* Will Furlong riding Collien P 2 still holds the lead, in the CCI2* Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On are in front on 35.6 and Will Furlong is once again in the hot seat in the CCIYR2* riding Livingstone II
Interim results for CIC classes here
Once the CICO3* completed, other 3* competitors headed to the CCI3* Combined Training classes which were won by Izzy Taylor on Ellie and Sarah Bullimore riding Reve Du Rouet. Late in the day this arena then became the setting for the Eventer Driving Challenge where eight teams, vaguely resembling the Nations Cup sides with a few others thrown in, drove event director Alec Lochore's car around a small course ..... easy you would think but maybe not if the driver is blindfold! More about that fun and frivolity in a video coming up soon but in the meantime here's Sarah and Reve Du Rouet
The Equi-Trek Arena was busy all day with show jumping classes from 90cm to 1.10m and the smaller members of the riding community were not ignored today with some British show jumping Junior classes to keep up and coming riders busy and smiling
