FEI Houghton International Saturday Update

CICO3*
Germany, last year’s Houghton FEI Nations Cup winner, took the lead after the dressage phase, her team score of 127.5 benefitting from a 39.2 mark posted by the final rider of the morning, Bettina Hoy riding Seigneur Medicott. The Australians lay in second place on 130.9 with New Zealand close behind on 132.2.

However, it was all change in the show jumping. Just one time penalty between the three qualifying scores has moved the Australian team to the top of the leaderboard on 131.9. Germany has dropped to second place, 3.6 penalties behind, with Great Britain moving up to third, after all four girls jumped clear, Izzy Taylor adding two time penalties to leave the home side on 137.6.

The French are fourth on 138.0, New Zealand drop to fifth on 142.2, USA remain sixth, now on 167.5, and the Netherlands complete the line up on 170.0.

Individually, it’s a 1-2 for Nicola Wilson (GBR), One Two Many heading stable mate Annie Clover. France’s Matthieu Van Landeghem makes up the top three with Trouble Fete ENE HN

CCI2*
Pippa Funnell (GBR) and Billy Walk On have retained their lead in the CCI2* after a cross country clear round well inside the optimum time. “I’m really chuffed,” she said. “He’s a big striding horse and I just kept the rhythm – I was a bit cautious on my first horse, probably because of my recent fall at Withington, so I learnt from that.”

Regis Prud Hon (FRA) dropped out of contention when Kaiser HDB had a refusal on course, opening the door for both Tim Price (NZL) on Danturano K and Harry Meade with Vrolijk to move up a place apiece.

CCI2*YR
Also retaining an overnight lead are 2014 Under 21 British Champions Will Furlong and Livingstone II who finished cross country day on their dressage score. Emily King and Dargun remain in second place, although her second ride Loxley did not complete. Sam Ecroyd holds on to third with Opera House, while his second ride Master Douglas moves up to fourth with just the show jumping to go.

CCI1*
The CCI1* top three remain unchanged today, Will Furlong leading the field on the experienced Collien P 2. This is all the more impressive given the fact that Will only took on the ride two weeks ago and has been cross country schooling just once. “She’s a three star horse but we have yet to build a partnership,” Will admitted. “I took the long route at the water because the ground is fast here and the time was easy to make. She cruised round.” The mare was produced to three star level by Germany’s Josephine Schnaufer.

Daisy Dick (GBR) remains in second place on Ballinteskin Cooper S, with JP Sheffield (GBR) and Woodlander Wesuvio third going in to tomorrow’s show jumping.

The action kicks off tomorrow with the horse inspection in front of Houghton Hall at 8am, and British Showjumping, Pony Club showjumping and unaffiliated dressage classes starting soon after.
International show jumping kicks off at 9.30 with the CIC3* cross country at 11am.