Find out how the showjumping phase unfolded in this super-hot CCI4*-S section at Bicton Horse Trials
The showjumping in the CCI4*-S section at Bicton Horse Trials, supported by Chedington, proved incredibly influential today (12 June). The top 10, which included a number of British Olympic longlist combinations has undergone a complete reshuffle.
Now leading the way is Tom McEwen aboard Toledo De Kerser, owned by Fred Barker, Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Alison McEwen, who jumped an immaculate clear round to remain on their 23 dressage.
“He jumped awesome,” Tom said afterwards. “I thought the track was really good – they made great use of the arena with lots of lines and switchbacks but it flowed.”
Ros Canter and her 2018 world team and individual gold medallist, Allstar B, are in second, also on a score of 23, but although Ros was also clear, Tom completed the showjumping in a faster time.
“I’m really happy with him – he’s quite excited today which is nice,” said Ros of the 16-year-old she owns with Caroline Moore.
Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, another pair longlisted for the Olympics, are in third after jumping a stunning clear round to stay on their 23.1 dressage.
“It’s a real jumpers’ track with quite a lot of tight tight turnbacks, and to be honest, when I walked the course, I hoped that would suit my horse,” Kitty said after her round on the grey owned by Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker.
Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci De La Vigne are in fourth on their 23.5 dressage, while Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class are now in sixth on 24, climbing three places after the first phase.
New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell is in seventh on a score of 24.1 after a classy clear round on his own and Sarah Moffat’s 10-year-old, Gambesie.
“It’s great to have him back competing as he’s had a couple of niggling injuries and has only done four events since the world seven-year-old championships at Le Lion in 2018,” Jesse said after his round. “He did a lovely dressage and jumped really well – once he goes in, he really focuses.”
Dressage leaders Laura Collett and London 52 were unlucky to knock a brick out of the wall, and those four faults have dropped them down to ninth going into tomorrow’s final cross-country phase.
China’s Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne Van Bareelhof, who were in second after the dressage also had four faults plus 0.8 of a time-fault, around a track in which the time proved influential, and they now sit in 11th. Alex’s other ride, Don Geniro, who had been in third after the dressage lowed three fences and also incurred 0.8 of a time-fault, which has dropped them down to 39th. However, Alex’s third ride, PSH Convivial, jumped a great clear round inside the time, seeing them rise from 12th after the dressage to seventh going into the cross-country.
The showjumping was incredibly influential, with just 17 clears inside the time from 104 starters, which equates to 6%.
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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