Friday,
April 30, Second Day of Dressage
At
the time of the Tea Break, with nine horses left to go, the Brits were getting
nervous. Australian riders occupied six of the top ten spots, led by multiple
Olympic Team Gold Medalist Andrew Hoy, riding Mr. Pracatan (=1st).
The only Brits in the first decade were Matthew Wright with Mallard's Treat (=1st).
Mallard's Treat was the horse that tied for first place with Kim Severson (then
Vinoski) at Blenheim, and actually beat her because his time was closer to the
Time Allowed. At that time, Mallard's Treat was ridden by Franck Bourny 
(FRA)
- that was two riders ago, as Andrew Nicholson came between Bourny and Wright;
Polly Stockton with Tangle Man (=4th), second last year at Rolex-Kentucky; Pippa
Funnell riding the stallion Viceroy II (8th); and Jeanette Brakewell and Over
To You (9th).
The
other Australians in the top ten at that time were: Megan Jones, the overnight
leader and Kirby Park Irish Hallmark (3rd); Matt Ryan riding Bonza Puzzle (=4th);
Paul Tapner with Highpoint (6th); Sammi McLeod riding the chestnut mare Enchanted
(8th); and Bill Leavett on Minuto (10th).
British
hopes lay in the hands of Pippa Funnell with Cornerman and William Fox-Pitt riding
Tamarillo. Would they be able to pull it out for the Home Team?
Meanwhile,
Andrew said, "Bettina (his wife who rides for Germany and is a former European
Champion) has helped me a lot (with Dressage). Our German Dressage trainer, Dolf
Keller, was here at the beginning of the week - he comes over three days a month."
Andrew
Hoy spoke about the Cross Country course. "It's the Cross Country - I think
that's what the events are all about. My recommendation is that Hugh (Hugh Thomas,
the Badminton Director and Course Designer) starts riding! The distance (in the
Sunken Road) is wrong." A reporter mentioned that Hugh had said there were
four ways to ride the Sunken Road. "I'd like to see him ride the four ways!
That's the most drastic error that there is. It's 'set in stone'. You 
can't
change the distance." Andrew continued, "I can't say that I think anything
else is unsafe."
Andrew
continued, "My fence that I so neatly came apart at on Darien Powers, in
2000, is back in. The ditch has a grass base. I think that something that would
be fairer would be white gravel. I think it will be very interesting to see whether
horses will make the time, especially with the way he's (Hugh Thomas) measured
it as well. I could loan him my wheel."
Andrew
has never won Badminton. In this regard Andrew said, "Badminton would be
very good to win. In the UK, winning Badminton would be much better than winning
an Olympic Medal. This year I get an Armada Dish - that means I have completed
five times." (Andrew Hoy (AUS) is now equal fourth with Matthew Wright, 4.4
faults adrift of the new leader, Andrew Nicholson (NZL).)
Back
at the Dressage arena, Pippa did it! She must truly have ice water in her veins!
Riding Cornerman, she scored 40.6 to lead by .4 of a fault. "I am absolutely
delighted with him! I'm chuffed to bits! He really tried!" Pippa commented
as she left the Dressage Arena. (Pippa and Cornerman are pictured above at
the right.)
Two
horses later William Fox-Pitt rode Tamarillo in a driving rain storm. The water
was simply pelting down! At least twice, since the rain began again at lunch time,
the grounds crew put down sand or stone dust in the grass arena. William rode
a sensational test in conditions slightly worse than those for Pippa's ride. William's
score was 40.6 - the same as Pippa's - can you believe it? - a fairy tale finish!
Suddenly two Brits were tied for first place. "I was very pleased with him,"
William said, as he exited the arena. "He was a bit cheeky,
playing up in there. He was bred to go in the desert, not in this muck."
(William and Tamarillo, who is not yet qualified for Athens, are pictured above
at the left.)
STOP
THE PRESSES! - there was one Kiwi left to go, whom most spectators had ignored
- the New Zealanders were done - no more Mark Todd - no more Blyth Tait - no chance.
Then with the heavens opening, came Andrew icholson with Lord Killinghurst. (Andrew
is pictured at the right, at the Press Conference.) 0n and on Andrew rode
oblivious to the weather conditions 7's, 8's, and 9's appeared with regularity
on the Score Board - could he? would he? WOW! 36.6! Take that you Aussies! Take
that you Brits! Kiwis reign again!
(The
final breakdown is 1 Kiwi, 4 Brits, and 5 Aussies in the top 10.)
*
* * * * * * *
For
Complete Results. please click on Event Results at left.
A
few notes about Saturday's Cross Country: The first horse starts Phase "A"
at 10:30 AM.
Pippa
Funnell, speaking of the conditions for Dressage, said, "The conditions were
pretty filthy. As a rider you just have to go ahead and be brave." Conditions
are not going to be great on Cross Country on Saturday and Pippa's comments will
apply to Cross Country as well as to Dressage. There are several fences that have
all weather take offs.
It's
been raining on and off for three days. If the rain stops tonight, conditions
will improve. Riders were concerned that the harder fences come towards the end
of the course, when horses will be tired. Horses that go at the end of the day
will face worse conditions of ground than those who go early. Stay tuned.
