TWO BRITISH riders top the table after yesterday’s dressage phase of the featured Irish Field CCI*** class at the Tattersalls international horse trials, where the rain was welcomed ahead of tomorrow’s cross-country phase.
Shortly before lunch, last year’s winner William Fox-Pitt took the lead on the Irish-bred Bay My Hero with a penalty score of 41.6. Just after the break, compatriot Ruth Edge, who finished third a year ago, went marginally ahead on a mark of 41.4 with Rogersdale.
Sarah Wardell is best placed of the Irish in joint third with Killeenduff Boy (50.4), while fellow Co Kildare rider Camilla Speirs, on board the diminutive Portersize Just A Jiff, leads the George Mernagh Memorial CIC*** (after first day’s dressage). Only eight of the 30 combinations listed competed yesterday but Speirs, on 41.4, holds a commanding advantage over Britain’s Oliver Townend and ODT Sonas Rovatio (54.2).
Paying his first visit to the Co Meath venue, Australia’s Christopher Burton caught the eye of the two ground juries by leading the Eventing Ireland CCI** and the Land Rover CCI* (after first day’s dressage).
Among the second group after lunch, Burton swept to the front of the higher-graded class on a superb score of 37 with the 12-year-old gelding Underdiscussion. Britain’s Townend (ODT Ghareeb) and Lucy Wiegersma (Wish Upon A Star) were next best on 45. The morning lead in the CCI* was held by Britain’s Millie Dumas on Artistiek (47.1) but again Burton took control with a penalty score of 37.5 with the Irish-bred seven-year-old Graf Liberty.
The second stages of the one and two-star CCI dressage will also be held today along with the Under 25s, junior and pony classes.
In show jumping, Ireland has been favourably drawn last of the eight teams competing in today’s third round of the Superleague Nations’ Cup series in St Gallen, Switzerland. Three of the team are the same as jumped in Rome’s Nations’ Cup last week, with Jessica Kuerten coming in for Niall Talbot. The Irish order is Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Kuerten (Voss), Cian O’Connor (Blue Loyd) and Billy Twomey (Je t’Aime Flamenco).
