Townend Dominates Badminton Horse Trials Following Two Days of Dressage
Oliver Townend has once again secured the top spot following the final day’s Dressage phase at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
Not content with holding on to his overnight lead with the beautiful black gelding, Cillnabradden Evo, Townend went on to secure second place during today’s round of dressage on board the tall grey ISH, Ballaghmor Class to finish on 78.91%, a mere 1.4% behind his previous best.
None of the day’s contenders could beat yesterday’s best and new world record, set by Townend, of 80.24% “The horse was a 100%, as he can be”, commented the Shropshire based event rider of Cillnabradden Evo.
Watch yesterday’s record-breaking test below:
Great Britain’s Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser slipped into third place, after holding second overnight with Piggy French and Vanir Karmira, in fourth.
Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On made a late entry into the top 10 finishing in fifth place on 73.53%, moving Kitty King into sixth.
Badminton newcomer Millie Dumas (26) stormed ahead of a selection of the world’s best riders to secure seventh riding the 16hh bay gelding, Artistiek.
Gloucestershire based event rider, Laura Collett, rode into eighth place with Badminton newcomer, Mr Bass, closing on 72.44%. Australia’s Christopher Burton riding Graf Liberty and Andrew Nicholson with Swallow Springs finished in ninth and tenth, respectively.
With an unfamiliar hold on the top placings from yesterday’s round of dressage, tomorrow ought to see a shakeup of the leaderboard as the cross country phase of the event gets underway. Eric Winter’s cross country course will see the riders once again start in the main arena, setting out to tackle 33 obstacles that prove to be the ultimate in test challenging ability, stamina and strength.
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For more information visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk
Image credits and copyright, Mike Bain.
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