British sit second after day one of dressage, FEI European Eventing Championships 2011
Day one draws to a close at the FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 and Team GB find themselves poised in second place at the halfway stage of the dressage discipline. Following a first session of fierce competition, Thursday 25 August, home nation Germany tops the leaderboard at Luhmuehlen with 79.2 points with the Brits in second on 93.10 and Sweden close behind in third on 97.70.
German team hopes were buoyed by a sublime ride from Sandra Auffarth who laid down the gauntlet by posting a score of 35.40 with Opgun Louvo, rocketing herself to the top of leader board in the individual standings. Piggy French went best of the Brits to end the first day in fourth place riding the 13 year old bay gelding Jakata owned by her father Wally French and Michael Underwood. The pair rode a confident test for 40.40, Piggy inching every mark out of her Jakata who was lit up by the main arena atmosphere to score 9’s for their extended canter work.
“He was hot in there!” commented Piggy. “The occasion got to him slightly which makes him a bit tighter and stronger to ride so little mistakes creep in; he’s a horse who needs to be relaxed to give his best work. 40 is still a really good score though and I’m really pleased but I’m sure if he’d stayed relaxed you could have taken another five points off that. He has an amazing walk but in his test just wanted to gawp at the crowd; it wasn’t his absolute best.”
British team pathfinder Nicola Wilson and the 14 year old Opposition Buzz owned by Rosemary Search scored 52.70 in the dressage to put them in 18th place after day one. They presented a good test only slightly marred by an error of course, forgetting to reinback after the halt at A. Despite this Nicola recovered her cool to ride a soft, consistent test on the Trakehner gelding by Fleetwater Opposition.
“I had absolutely no idea before they rang the bell, I’m devastated with myself” said Nicola, “a serious blonde moment! I couldn’t be more delighted with him though - his test was as good as it could have been. He stood still in his halts, I was pleased with the canter work too - he was lovely and stayed rideable through the whole test.”
It is still all to play for with 35 competitors out of the 70 strong field yet to ride including two of GB’s most experienced combinations – Mary King and Imperial Cavalier and William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain who both contest the team dressage tomorrow. Team rookie Laura Collett with Rayef and Polly Stockton with Regulus also ride as individuals; each World Class rider will be looking to make their mark on the opposition as GB chases its ninth successive European title.
The competition continues with the cross country test on Saturday 27 and the final showjumping phase on Sunday 28 August when the eventual winners will be decided.
