Bella Innes Ker and Carolyn lead the field at Boekelo
It may be party central at Boekelo where the evening festivities have already been in full swing but the serious business of eventing, including the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup, is underway and the riders are focussed
It has been a fabulous start for the young Scottish rider Bella Innes Ker who leads on her 12 year old Carolyn with a score of 42 – a personal best at this level for the pair although they scored 43 at Hartpury CIC3* recently. Bella, who we last met on a beach in Melbourne (strange but true!) was ‘Utterly speechless’ and tweeted ‘She really is one in a million!’ Well done Bella and Carolyn!
Hot on their heels is the man who has retired from eventing, Paul Tapner, in second place riding Bonza King of Rouges on 42.20. Paul is riding as part of the Australian Nations Cup team here, and the second team member to ride on Thursday, Sam Griffiths, is also doing well in third place riding Beaurepaire Nemo with a score of 43.60, putting Australia at the top of the team leader board on a score of 85.80
Sam Griffiths and Beaurepaire Nemo
Britain is in second place with Oliver Townend riding Cooley SRS currently in fourth place (45.20) and Flora Harris on Bayano in fifth (45.50) and Germany in third
Blyth Tait finished second here in 2016 on Xanthus III and is the best placed Kiwi so far on a score of 47.70 so well in the hunt. Blyth, as modest and fun as ever, says in an interview on the Boekelo FB page that he is hoping to ‘stay on’ during Saturday’s cross country. If his ride at the South of England, where he blitzed around the course to win the Open Intermediate riding Darius IV, is anything to go by, he will be doing far more than just ‘staying on’
Lots of photos from the action at Boekelo in our galleries coming up soon or you can check out the fabulous cross country course here.
Stay tuned .............
Retirement seems to suit Paul Tapner!
