www.eventingetc.com

1. Andrew Hoy, Moonfleet - 35.4 (Andrew and Moonfleet are pictured at the right.)
2. Ruth Edge, Muschamp Impala - 36.1
3. Lucy Wiegersma, Shaaabrak - 37.4
4. Matthew Wright, If You Want - 38.0
5. Clayton Fredericks, Nullabor - 38.1
6. Andreas Dibowski, FRH Little Lemon - 38.7
7T. Pippa Funnell, Ensign - 39.3
7T. Emily Baldwin, Drivetime - 39.3
9. Nicholas Touzaint, Hidalgo de L'Ile - 39.6
10. Oliver Townend, Coup de Coeur - 40.0

* * *

At the lunch break in England, Andrew Hoy has taken over the lead with Moonfleet. He is .7 of a fault ahead of Ruth Edge and Muschamp Impala.
Clayton Fredericks has dropped to third.

The following is a Press Release and picture are from the FEI:

HOY IN THE DRIVING SEAT AT BADMINTON......

Australia's Andrew Hoy took the lead after the dressage phase as the second leg of the 2008 HSBC FEI Classics series got into full swing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials today.

A very special dressage performance from his 2006 Badminton winner Moonfleet earned an excellent mark of 35.4 and first-day leader, fellow-Australian Clayton Fredericks, dropped to fifth spot with Nullabor as four others improved on his score of
38.1.

The following is courtesy of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials website:

Andrew Hoy Leads THE COMPETITION HOTS UP

At the midday break of the final day of dressage it’s all change at the top of the leaderboard at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. 2006 winners Andrew Hoy (AUS) and Susan Magnier’s Irish Thoroughbred Moonfleet (no. 76) moved ahead of the early morning leaders Ruth Edge and Muschamp Impala.

A fluent test from the Badminton veterans impressed the judges sufficiently for Ground jury President David Lee to award the pair over 81% - the first combination to break the 80% barrier.

Former three-times winner and crowd favourite Pippa Funnel (GBR) and Ensign (no. 78) moved into contention for a possible fourth victory taking fourth place with the former racehorse who was third at the four-star Pau event in France at the end of last year. “I was so pleased with him today although I know there is more to come but you have to be so careful in this atmosphere not to ask for too much – but the standard is so high,” said Pippa who is feeling positive about tomorrow’s cross-country. “It’s good to see some old fashioned rider frighteners back like the Vicarage Vee. The fences over that part of the course come up thick and fast but to me it is more important to give the horse a good ride through those fences rather than going too quickly to keep their confidence.”

Pippa has the edge over the phenomenal Frenchman Nicolas Touzaint, the reigning European Champion. Nicolas and his 2007 Pau winner Hildago de L’ile will be looking to make amends for last year after the combination retired on their Badminton debut.

There is however still more to come and the stands will no doubt be full later on to watch Mary King (GBR) and Imperial Cavalier (no. 110) and the ultimate combination William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Tamarillo to see if they can repeat their 2004 Badminton Victory

1. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Moon Fleet - 35.4
2. Ruth Edge Muschamp Impala - 36.1
3. Clayton Fredericks (AUS), Nullabor - 38.1
4. Emily Baldwin Drivetime _39.3
5. Pippa Funnell Ensign -39.3

Thursday, May 1, The First Day of Dressage

There are no Americans competing at Badminton this year.

It is interesting to note that Clayton Fredericks won Rolex Kentucky last year riding Ben Along Time and that Polly Stockton competed at Rolex this year with Tangleman. Polly withdrew Tangleman after a run out in mid-course last Saturday.

The Top Ten after the first day of Dressage:

1. Clayton Fredericks (AUS), Nullabor - 38.1 (Clayton and Nullabor are pictured at the right.)
2. Emily Baldwin, Drivetime - 39.3 + 1.2
3. Rodney Powell, Zin Zan II - 43.2 + 5.1
4. Sharon Hunt, Tankers Town - 43.7 + 5.6
5. William Fox-Pitt, Ballincoola - 44.1 + 6.0
6. Zara Phillips, Glenbuck- 44.8 + 6.7
7. Julie Tew, Sir Roselier - 46.5 + 8.4
8. Polly Stockton, Tom Quigley - 46.7 + 8.6
9. Janelle Pitts (AUS), Mr. Showoff - 46.8 + 8.7
10. Andreas Ostholt (GER), Lady Lemon FRH - 47.4 + 9.3

01/05/2008 - BADMINTON - THE VERY BEST OF BRITISH.......

Kit Houghton

Or perhaps the epitomy of Englishness, depending on your inclination - but one way or another Badminton is the place to be this weekend for the 2008 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

The 4-Star three-day-event has an appeal that is the envy of sports promoters all over the world. Few fixtures can draw the kind of crowds that show up, come rain or shine, on cross-country day to see the best in the world do battle in this toughest of disciplines. The chance to rub shoulders with society's elite, and to shop until you drop in the most amazing trade-stand village, will prove simply irresistible to almost 120,000 people next Saturday.

There is an extra bonus for competitors this year. Badminton is the second leg in a brand new series linking the five 4-Star three-day events currently on the international calendar, and the top ten finishers will earn points on the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard. In a three-year sponsorship deal, the leading bank will contribute US$ 1 million to the highest-ranking riders in the series that also includes Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, Mitsubish Motors Badminton Horse Trials, Luhumhlen CCI****, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and Les Etoiles de Pau where the final will take place in October.

America's Philip Dutton took the early advantage with victory in Kentucky last weekend, but it is still wide open and with US$150,000 up for grabs for the leading rider, and further prize-money down to fifth place, the incentive to shine in this 4-Star season is stronger than ever.

Of course in an Olympic year competition is always super-sharp, and the 2008 Badminton line-up is another star-studded affair. Five previous winners will be returning including Britain's Pippa Funnell who scooped the honours in 2002, 2003 and 2005, William Fox-Pitt who secured the trophy in 2004, Rodney Powell whose single win was recorded 17 years ago, in 1991, and Mary King who secured her place on the roll of honour in 2000. Australia's Andrew Hoy looks a very strong contender with his 2006 winner Moonfleet this time around but King has tipped herself to do the double so she's clearly feeling pretty positive!

At close of entries there were representatives from 14 countries including Brazil, Japan, Croatia, Italy, Denmark and the USA in the mix and hoping to make it to the starting line. Such is the demand for a chance to make a mark at this highly-prestigious event that a waiting-list system had to be introduced and World Champion Zara Philips has benefited from a withdrawal to take her place, but she will need to be on her toes because double European champion Nicolas Touzaint from France will be hoping to add the Badminton honours to his hit-list while things must surely go the way of New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson sometime soon. The 46 year old Kiwi knows every nook and cranny of the Duke of Beaufort's elegant estate having ridden around the park on an astonishing 26 previous occasions and, with three horses entered, this exceptionally talented rider has his best chance yet of taking the trophy in his hands.

Following problems with the going in recent years, extensive work has been carried out on course-designer Hugh Thomas's cross-country track which promises to be in tip-top condition although, as ever, eternally testing. The fear-factor is often the rider's biggest challenge, and formidable fences will be the order of the day with character-checking questions about courage, accuracy and determination at every turn.

The Badminton tradition goes all the way back to 1949 when the then relatively new sport of three-day-eventing was in its infancy. The previous year a British team fielded at the first London Olympiad produced a poor result so the 10th Duke of Beaufort offered Badminton Park as a venue for an annual training event in order to improve British prospects - and the rest is history. Badminton continues to be the toughest Olympic testing ground and any rider who reigns supreme here earns the greatest of respect.

The list of past winners includes legendary names like Lt Col Frank Weldon, Sheila Wilcox and Bill Roycroft. Lucinda Green holds the record for the most wins with six in total - her first recorded under her maiden name Prior-Palmer in 1973 with Be Fair and the last eleven years later riding Beagle Bay. It is an extraordinary achievement by any measure, and Lucinda continues to play a significant role in the sport as a commentator and writer. New Zealand's Mark Todd was another rider who attracted a huge following, and one abiding memory of his spectacular career was his thrilling tour of the track with Bertie Blunt in 1995 when equipped with only one stirrup. Horsemanship at its best is key to the sport of eventing, and Todd was a truly gifted horseman.

Before the thrills of cross-country day however the riders must first show their skills in the dressage phase of the event which begins today (Thursday) and then on Sunday the 2008 winner will be decided in the show jumping ring. It's guaranteed to be another great sporting weekend as Badminton beckons.....

EIGHTY ONE FOR THE START LIST:

Eighty one horses came forward for the first horse inspection of this year's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. All passed and now go onto the official start list.
The Ground Jury of David Lee (IRL), Marylin Payne (USA) and Judy Bradwell (GBR) assessed the contenders for the Mitsubishi Motors Trophy that offers a record first prize of £60,000, in front Badminton House, the historic home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort.