Nicola Wilson lies in first place after cross-country at Bramham International Horse Trials, going clear inside the time on Master Banks.
Second after dressage on 44.8, the pair were elevated to the lead when Daisy Dick withdrew Springbok IV with a twisted ankle before cross-country.
“He gave me a really lovely ride,” said Nicola. “He was very straight and just kept jumping. He’s extremely fit, and I knew he could gallop and go inside the time.”
The pair have two penalties in hand over Pippa Funnell and Ensign, who also went clear in the time allowed to stay on 46.8.
Andrew Nicholson remains on his dressage score of 47.4 on the chestnut nine-year-old Nereo in third.
Piggy French had a good day, piloting Some Day Soon into fourth ahead of William Fox-Pitt on another nine-year-old, the Primitive Rising-sired Cool Mountain. Piggy also lies sixth on her other ride, Judy Bradwell’s Lemington Lets Dance.
Victoria Thirlby was taken to hospital with a suspected fracture to her right collarbone after falling with Badger Best, who reported to be “very sore”, and Faith Cook was also taken in for precautionary checks after falling at the final element of the second water with Nagor De La Roche.
Forty-seven of the 60 starters completed, 32 were clear and 11 made the time round Sue Benson’s course, which caused more problems than anticipated, although most of them were just run-outs.
CIC***
Andrew Nicholson held on to his top spot in the CIC*** on Deborah Sellar’s nine-year-old Epic, adding just 0.8 of a time-fault to his dressage mark of 44. But, Andrew said, the show jumping may be more of a problem: “He’s done his best two phases now!”
Second is his fellow New Zealander Neil Spratt on the grey Upleadon, who also picked up 0.8pen by being two seconds over the time. They post a score of 47.8, one mark behind the leaders.
“He’s still relatively inexperienced at this level but is going in the right direction,” said Neil of the son of Welton Crackerjack.
Harry Meade and Sharon Hunt remain on their dressage scores with Dunauger and Tankers Town respectively for third and fourth places. Ireland’s Declan Cullen lies fifth on his coloured Saracen Hill stallion Glenhill Gold.
Results: CCI***
1. Nicola Wilson on Master Banks (44.8)
2. Pippa Funnell on Ensign (46.8)
3. Andrew Nicholson on Nereo (47.4)
4. Piggy French on Some Day Soon (48)
5. William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain (49)
6. Piggy French on Lemington Lets Dance (50)
7. Lucy Griffiths on Wight Link Bay (51)
8. Emily Gilruth on Ashdale Cruise Master (52.2)
9. Pippa Funnell on Blue Horizon (52.4)
10. Lucy Holliday on High Times (52.6)
Results: CIC***
1. Andrew Nicholson on Epic (44.8)
2. Neil Spratt on Upleadon (47.8)
3. Harry Meade on Dunauger (47.8)
4. Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town (50)
5. Declan Cullen on Glenhill Gold (54.2)
6. Selina Elliott on Bodidly (60.2)
7. Alice Pearson on Beau Bear (60.8)
8. William Fox-Pitt on Sonate V (61.8)
9. Mark Todd on NZB Gandalf (62.8)
10. Joseph Murphy on Sportsfield Othello (63.2)
Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Bramham, on sale Thursday 18 June
