Kitty King puts herself in the hunt for an Olympic ticket after strong start at Bicton *H&H Plus*

Get the latest update on how the action has unfolded in this highly competitive class

Kitty King put in a solid performance aboard Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker’s consistent 11-year-old Vendredi Biats (pictured) in the first phase of the CCI4*-S at Bicton International Horse Trials, supported by Chedington, this afternoon (10 June). The pair scored 23.1 to put them in equal fourth at almost the halfway stage of competition.

“I was really pleased with him today — he did a really solid performance,” said Kitty after her test. “He’s getting much more consistent at not spooking or being a cheeky person, but he really settled and was with me the whole way round. Sometimes he can go in and be a bit fresh and sharp, whereas I was having to kick him along quite a bit today, particularly in the walk. It was really nice to have him so rideable.”

Kitty and Vendredi Biats were one of a number of longlisted Olympic combinations competing at Bicton today.

“Obviously it always adds a bit of pressure because everyone wants to go there and you’re fully aware there’s some you know very strong combinations,” Kitty explained. “You definitely have to up your game because it’s going to be very hard to get one of those Olympic spots — everyone wants to get to Tokyo.”

Another Olympic longlisted combination of Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope were next into the arena after Kitty and Vendredi Biats — they scored 27.6, which puts them in 11th place at the moment.

Read the full report from Bicton in the 17 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine and keep checking back to horseandhound.co.uk for further updates and insight

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Gemma Redrup

H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.