NICHOLAS SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
After a day of exciting sport and drama at The Mitsubishi Motors
Badminton Horse Trials, reigning European Champion Nicolas Touzaint
(FRA) set himself up for a place in the record books after a fast,
clear round put him into the lead at the end of cross-country. If
he can maintain his lead tomorrow he will become the first
Frenchman to win the event since it’s inception in 1949 and only
the second mainland European winner since Swiss rider, Capt Hans
Swchwarzenbach in 1951.
The dressage leader board was blown to pieces as one after the
other of the top combinations literally fell by the wayside. Most
dramatically both the over night leader Andrew Hoy (AUS) and second
placed Ruth Edge (GBR) were eliminated after horse falls, while top
ten riders Clayton Fredericks (AUS), Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Mary
King (GBR) with Imperial Cavalier all ended the day on the floor.
Time was of the essence although the drying ground on top of the
recent rain created steady going and in fact just two combinations
remain on their dressage score.
Nicolas, and Hildago De L’Ile who both retired here last year
although went on to win the four-star event in Pau last October,
added just 4.8 time penalties to their dressage score. “I was
obviously keen to make amends for the technical mistake we had last
year. While I saw the other riders having problems today I stuck to
my original plan in which I mostly succeeded, “ said 27-year-old
Nicolas, who is known for keeping a cool head in the show jumping.
“I have high hopes and there is no reason why it shouldn’t all work
tomorrow.”
A determined ride on Shaabrak moved Lucy Wiegersma into second
place and on course for her best Badminton result to date although
plan A – to go all the quick routes – did not quite come off. “I
had intended to go all the quick routes but a couple of times my
instincts told me to take the longer option – but he is very fit
and a quality horse that I was able to make up time on the way
home,” said Lucy who was impressed by the challenging course set by
Hugh Thomas this year. “It is one of the most grown up courses I
have seen at Badminton. You had to concentrate all the way – there
was no let up.”
Polly Stockton and Tom Quigley, one of the two combinations
clear inside the time, sat at the top of the leaderboard for a good
part of the day but finished the day in third place just 2.3
penalties behind the leader.
The top four are separated by the equivalent of just one show
jumping pole down – so the excitement looks set to continue in the
main arena tomorrow afternoon – although all horses will have to be
approved by the Ground Jury at the final horse inspection at
9.am.