Saturday, May 6th - Cross Country Day

Andrew Hoy of Australia, last week's winner at Kentucky, had two copy book rides around the Hugh Thomas designed Cross Country course at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Saturday. The first was on Mr. Pracatan, owned by Anona Young and Andrew, for 49.1 and sixth place and the second was on Moonfleet for another double clear on a score of 36.5 and the lead after Cross Country. Andrew has 6.7 faults in hand heading into the Show Jumping Phase on Sunday. (Andrew and Moonfleet are pictured at the right at the Mitsubishi L200 Double Cabs.)

Moonfleet is owned by Mrs. Susan Magnier, of County Tipperary, Ireland, a lady more usually associated with Coolmore and flat racing. In fact her George Washington won the 2,000 Guineas today. Andrew alluded to the fact that the prize money pools at the two events were quite different!

Andrew was asked to compare Kentucky to Badminton. He said, "The terrian is more undulating at Kentucky. Badminton is longer. Badminton was 11 minutes 50 seconds - Kentucky was 11 minutes 14 seconds. The biggest difference is that I rode four different horses. The two I rode here (Mr. Pracatan and Moonfleet) are as different as day and night."

When asked if the course at Badminton was easy Andrew answered, " You have to go out there and ride well and ride good distances. It might look easy - it is not!" regarding Sunday's Show Jumping, Andrew added, "They have the ability to jump clear rounds if I ride them well."

Germany's Ingrid Klimke, and Sleep Late, a fifteen year old grey gelding owned by the Deutsches Olympiade Komitee, maintained their second place position in spite of picking up 2.8 time penalties for seven seconds over the optimum time. (Ingrid and Sleep Late are pictured at the left at the Vickarage Vee (Over the Vickarage Ditch.)

Ingrid commented, "It was thrilling because I rode according to the plan made with Chris Bartle," (the German coach and a former winner at Badminton). Regarding Sleep Late's Show Jumping, she said, " Did you see him at Blenheim? I have to do a good job and we'll see."

Regarding the influence of Dressage, "Everybody knows you have to ride a good Dressage - it's hard to improve (your scvore) over Cross Country and Show Jumping. With these technical questions, (on Cross Country) you have to use your Dressage aids and have the hind end engaged."

Twenty -three year old Oliver Townend, a member of the World Class Potential Squad, rode the ten year old grey Flint Curtis, who placed at Bramham last year when ridden by Issy Taylor, to a double clear Cross Country and third place on 43.5. (Oliver and Flint Curtis are pictured at the right jumping the second part of the Bounce into The Lake.)

Oli said, "Both horses are brilliant! I am very, very lucky to have sat on them at this stage of my career." Referring to the leader, Andrew Hoy, he pointed out, "Andrew did his first Badminton four years before I was born!"

"Flint Curtis (Oli's ride who stands third) does leave a leg now and then; but, he does want to stand up. It definately is an experience thing. Something takes his eye and he forgets to pick it up. The BBC Quad Bike was a bit too close for comfort." (Between Fence #'s 17 - Mike Weaver's Hay Cart, # 18, Waves at the Colt Pond, and # 19, The Vicarage Vee, a four wheel drive vehicle was racing along beside the track with a BBC TV camera man taking pictures off the back.) "I know it caused a problem for Pippa," (Pippa's horse Ensign fell at the Hay Cart, where the Quad Bike was the closestto the track.)

Oli sad a few sweet words to the BBC Quad Bike Driver, when asked what he had said, he answered, " You can lip read - it was on the BBC television."

As to the change at Badminton to the Short Format, Oliver commented, "It was quite brain taxing for me making sure I got the warm up right - the course used to do it for us."

Terry Boon and Foreign Exchange, who had been in fourth place, maintained that position with Foreign Exchange while adding 3.2 time faults for 44.1. Ruth Edge and Two Thyme, who had been third after Dressage were slow on the course picking up 7.6 time faults for nineteen seconds over time and settled back into fifth place.

There were nineteen double clears on Hugh Thomas' Cross Country Course today. Was this really Badminton?

The Final Standings After Cross Country Were:

1. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Moonfleet - 36.5
2. Ingrid Klimke (GER), Sleep Late - 43.2
3. Oliver Townend, Flint Curtis - 43.5
4. Terry Boon, Foreign Exchange - 44.1
5. Ruth Edge, Two Thyme - 48.2
6. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Mr. Pracatan - 49.1
7. Sharon Hunt, Tankers Town - 49.6
8. Lucy Wiegersma, Shaabrak - 49.8
9. Daisy Dick, Spring Along - 49.8
10.William Fox-Pitt, Ballincoola - 50.7
11. Andrew Nicholson, Lord Killinghurst - 51.1
12. Jeanette Brakewell, Over To You - 52.0
13. James Robinson, Comanche - 52.2
14. Peter Laidlaw, River Rose - 52.4
15. Polly Stockton, Tangleman - 53.1

More Cross Country Pictures Will Be Available Sunday Morning.