Andrew Nicholson and Swallow Springs are in fifth spot at the end of the CCI3* dressage at the Bramham International Horse Trials in the UK.
The Kiwi duo scored 26.4 penalty points, with leader Julia Krajewski (GER) and Chipmunk FRH on 19.4 – more than six ahead of the second placed Matthieu Vanlandeghem (FRA) aboard Trouble Fete Ene HN.
Nicholson and Yacabo BK are in =17th with 29.4, with Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise on 32.8 in 37th in the 67-strong field.
James Avery and Optimus Prime scored 37.6 for their CIC3* effort. The 77-strong class is led by Rosalind Canter (GBR) aboard No Excuse on 24.4.
Tonight’s competition starts with the CIC3*, followed very quickly by the CCI3* cross country which will be livestreamed through http://bramham-horse.co.uk/competitions/livestreams/
Course designer Ian Stark is hoping for just a handful of combinations to come home clear and inside time. “I don’t mind lots of clears but I don’t want everyone to gallop around clear and inside the time,” he said. “Having said that, the ground is absolutely perfect.”
He’s going as far to say it is the fastest it will ever be, but says he is picking there to be a little trouble all round.
Bramham is a favourite destination for him. “I love designing here at Bramham,” says Stark. “I love getting the course ready, and then I sweat buckets because (already) the riders are giving me a hard time . . . but in general they are quite happy with the course. I don’t mind if the riders think it is tough, as long as the horses understand what I am putting out there.”
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The horse details:
Optimus Prime – owned by Joe, Alex and Louis Giannamore
Blackthorn Cruise – owned by Therese Miller and Panda Christie
Yacabo BK – owned by Andrew Nicholson
Swallow Springs – owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison