William Fox-Pitt holds the individual gold position after Thursday’s eventing dressage at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Riding Christopher Stone’s stallion Chilli Morning, William scored consistent sevens and eights throughout nearly all his test (pictured). He garnered two nines and an eight for his riding and just one five in the rein-back, where Chilli lost his rhythm, and sixes for the half-pirouette. His final mark of 37.5 puts him 3.2 penalties in the lead.
William said this test was up there with the best the horse has done.
“Some of the marking here has been a bit hit and miss so it’s a relief to have nailed the test,” he said. “He did his best and I could ride him and enjoy it.”
This morning’s leader Michael Jung holds second after this afternoon’s test, with his compatriot Ingrid Klimke now in third. She scored 41.2 with FRH Escada JS, after some super marks, marred only by problems in the walk.
“The quality of her work showed in her extensions, but when we walked she was a bit tense,” said Ingrid.
Tim Price lies fourth for New Zealand with Wesko, saying: “I’m rapt with him. The atmosphere is surprisingly all-incompassing and he did change when he went in there. That showed a bit in halts, but his general way of going is so exciting for the future.”
Elaine Pen of the Netherlands is fifth on Vira — “Everything was perfect, it’s probably the best test she’s ever done” — with the USA’s Phillip Dutton holding sixth on Trading Aces.
British individual Nicola Wilson rode at the end of the day on her parents Mary and Barry Tweddle’s Annie Clover, who was making her championship debut. A great test left her in eighth overnight.
“She has a really level head and has done super tests in the past, but she’s a young horse and it’s her first championship,” said Nicola. “She got a bit nervous in the warm-up, so I gave her time to take it all in and she conducted herself in a very professional manner.”
The team scores being shown on television graphics are already discounting one score, so count only one mark for today. As such, they show Britain first, Germany second and New Zealand third.
However, a truer picture can be gained by adding both riders’ scores from today, which puts Germany in gold (81.9 penalties), New Zealand in silver (91.2) and Britain in bronze (92).
Once all teams have fielded their final two riders tomorrow each nation will discount the worse score of the four, with the best three counting for final team standings after dressage.
More updates online throughout WEG and buy H&H next Thursday, 4 September for a full report on the WEG eventing.
