Barbury International - News from the first day
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Antipodean riders stole the limelight on the first official day of the St James's Place Barbury International Horse Trials (4th - 6th July) near Marlborough.
Devizes-based Australian Olympic team duo Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks retain the top two positions (respectively) from yesterday; with over 40 more competitors to complete this first phase tomorrow (Saturday), followed by the showjumping and cross country finale on Sunday.
Commenting on both their selections for the Australian team, Clayton said: "It's brilliant that we've both been selected. We compete and train together all the time, and to have someone else who really knows your horse as well as you do makes us a really strong team; but we do get more nervous for each other than we do for ourselves."
Today's nearest Barbury contender to 'Team Fredericks' was British Olympic Team Member William Fox-Pitt and Tamarillo, with 40.2 penalties putting him in 4th position so far, behind his 3rd placed horse Parkmore Ed (from yesterday). Hot on his heels is new team member Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic with a score of 40.6 penalties.
Meanwhile New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson leads one of (two) of the two star International classes (for intermediate horses) on Avebury with a score of 39 penalties after the dressage phase. Spoiling the Antipodean clean sweep at the moment is Britain’s Ruth Edge, from Cumbria, who is leading the other CIC** class on P.C. Wilson with a score of 38.7 penalties, just over 2 points clear of her nearest rival, William Fox Pitt and Seacookie. This will be some compensation for Ruth after having to withdraw her top horse Two Thyme from British Olympic team contention last week.
Britain's 'Equestrian Olympics' preview continues tomorrow and Sunday on the Barbury Castle Estate, near Marlborough.
