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I got up at about 3:55 AM Sunday morning to watch the Dressage feed of the second day of 3-Day Dressage from Hong Kong. (Would you say I was addicted?) The rides of four competitors were shown - Ingrid Klimke (GER) with Abraxxas who was the best of the second day and ended in third place; Karen O'Connor (USA) and Mandiba, the lowest placed Americans, yet still in a relatively strong sixteenth place; Sharon Hunt (GBR), the third highest placed Brit, whose score counted towards the British Team's fourth place after Dressage; and New Zealand's Caroline Powell whose score counted towards her team's sixth place after the Dressage phase.

I went back to sleep. I do not know whether Phillip Dutton's Dressage ride was shown later or not.

Top Sixteen Individuals at the End of the Dressage Phase:

1. Lucinda FREDERICKS (AUS), HEADLEY BRITANNIA - 30.40 (Lucinda and Headley Britannia are pictured at the right below at Badminton, 2007. Robert Futh Photo.)
2. Karin DONCKERS (BEL), GAZELLE DE LA BRASSERIE - 31.70
3. Ingrid KLIMKE (GER), ABRAXXAS - 33.50
4. Megan JONES (AUS), IRISH JESTER - 35.40
5. Becky HOLDER (USA), COURAGEOUS COMET - 35.70
6. Clayton FREDERICKS (AUS), BEN ALONG TIME - 37.00
7. Hinrich ROMEIKE (GER), MARIUS - 37.40
8. Susanna BORDONE (ITA), AVA - 37.80
9. Mary KING (GBR), CALL AGAIN CAVALIER - 38.110
10. Gina MILES (USA), MCKINLAIGH - 39.30
11. Andreas DIBOWSKI (GER), BUTTS LEON - 39.60
12. Roberto ROTATORI (ITA), IRHAM DE VIAGES - 40.00
13. Kristina COOK (GBR), MINERS FROLIC - 40.20
14. Phillip DUTTON (USA), CONNAUGHT - 40.60
15. Linda ALGOTSSON (SWE), STAND BY ME - 41.50
16. Karen O'CONNOR (USA), MANDIBA - 41.90

Team Results at the End of the Dressage Phase:

1. Australia - 102.80
FREDERICKS Clayton BEN ALONG TIME 211 195 204 610 = 37.00*
FREDERICKS Lucinda HEADLEY BRITANNIA 222 212 212 646 = 30.40*
JONES Megan IRISH JESTER 206 211 202 619 = 35.40*
JOHNSON Sonja RINGWOULD JAGUAR 189 189 188 566 = 45.20
ROSE Shane ALL LUCK 176 169 177 522 = 53.30

2. Germany - 110.50
THOMSEN Peter THE GHOST OF HAMISH 172 174 176 522 = 53.30
OSTHOLT Frank MR. MEDICOTT 189 188 192 569 = 44.60
ROMEIKE Hinrich MARIUS 203 201 204 608 = 37.40*
KLIMKE Ingrid ABRAXXAS 212 213 204 629 = 33.50* (Ingrid and Abraxxas are pictured at the left. Dirk Caremas Photo.)
DIBOWSKI Andreas BUTTS LEON 198 196 202 596 = 39.60*

3. USA - 115.60
TRYON Amy POGGIO II 188 191 180 559 = 46.50
MILES Gina MCKINLAIGH 202 201 195 598 = 39.30*
HOLDER Rebecca COURAGEOUS COMET 204 205 208 617 = 35.70*
O'CONNOR Karen MANDIBA 192 191 201 584 = 41.90
DUTTON Phillip CONNAUGHT 195 191 205 591 = 40.60* ( Phillip and Connaught are pictured at the right below at Rolex Kentucky last spring.)

4. Great Britain - 121.80
DICK Daisy SPRING ALONG 179 177 175 531 = 51.70
FOX-PITT William PARKMORE ED 177 184 178 539 = 50.20
COOK Kristina MINERS FROLIC 202 198 193 593 = 40.20*
HUNT Sharon TANKERS TOWN 192 188 195 575 = 43.50*
KING Mary CALL AGAIN CAVALIER 201 200 203 604 = 38.10*

5. Italy - 127.40
PANIZZON Vittoria ROCK MODEL 179 182 176 537 = 50.60
BRECCIAROLI Stefano CAPPA HILL 181 177 182 540 = 50.00
MAGNI Fabio SOUTHERN KING V 177 178 187 542 = 49.60*
BORDONE Susanna AVA 202 202 202 606 = 37.80*
ROTATORI Roberto IRHAM DE VIAGES 202 204 188 594 = 40.00*

6. New Zealand - 136.50
TODD Mark GANDALF 177 183 183 543 + 49.40
TOMPKINS Heelan SUGOI 173 164 173 510+ 55.60
NICHOLSON Andrew LORD KILLINGHURST 192 189 188 569 = 44.60*
MEYER Joe SNIP 186 192 195 573 = 43.90*
POWELL Caroline LENAMORE 185 178 188 551 = 48.00*

7. Sweden - 140.00
NORLING Katrin PANDORA 177 171 181 529 = 52.00*
ALGOTSSON Linda STAND BY ME 203 193 190 586 = 41.50*
CARLERBACK Viktoria BALLY'S GERONIMO 188 184 187 559 = 46.50*
GALLERDAL Magnus KEYMASTER 177 175 163 515 = 54.60
ALBERT Dag TUBBER REBEL 150 153 153 456 = 65.60

8. France - 152.70
DHENNIN Didier ISMENE DU TEMPLE 194 193 192 579 = 42.80*
TOUZAINT Nicolas GALAN DE SAUVAGERE WD 1000.00 WD
VIGEANEL Eric CORONADO PRIOR 174 176 174 524 = 53.00*
ADDE Jean Renaud HASTON D' ELPEGERE 163 170 170 503 = 56.90*

9. Canada - 153.20
CARTER Kyle MADISON PARK 157 153 157 467 = 63.50
DONNELLY Sandra BUENOS AIRES 161 161 163 485 = 60.20*
O'HANLON Selena COLOMBO 186 198 188 572 = 44.10*
TAYLOR Samantha LIVEWIRE 140 143 145 428 = 70.70
WINTER Mike KING PIN 179 180 187 546 = 48.90*

10. Ireland - 160.80
O'CONNOR Austin HOBBY DU MEE 178 174 173 525 = 52.80*
CURRAN Geoffrey KILKISHEN 158 154 165 477 = 61.70
LYONS Louise WATERSHIP DOWN 165 162 173 500 = 57.40*
RYAN Patricia FERNHILL CLOVER MIST 129 127 129 385 = 78.70
GRIFFIN Niall LORGAINE 178 180 179 537 = 50.60*

11. Brazil - 180.30
TOSI Marcelo SUPER ROCKY 151 149 160 460 = 64.80*
MOREIRA Jeferson ESCUDEIRO 161 169 178 508 = 55.90*
TRISTAO Saulo TOTSIE 125 123 132 380 = 79.60
PARO Andre LAND HEIR 158 161 169 488 = 59.60*

* - score counted in Team Score

Comments from the FEI:

Germany's Ingrid Kiimke produced a sparkling test with Abraxxas to squeeze into third place as the final session of Olympic dressage took place at Sha Tin this morning, but it is the Australian riders who hold the whip hand going into tomorrow's cross-country phase with a firm hold at the top of both the individual and team leaderboards.

Klimke's fabulous 11 year old gelding really rose to the occasion and attacked his test with enthusiasm. "I was pleased he was so forward" the rider said after her score of 33.50 left her trailing overnight runner-up Karin Donckers from Belgium by just over one point and leader, Lucinda Fredericks, by just over three points. "He can be a very spooky horse but he is always wanting to try for me". Ingrid entered the arena at 6.44 am and found the atmosphere a little surreal. "It was quite electric but very silent at the same time" she said. "There was hardly a sound and yet I was very conscious of the cameras clicking and the birds singing - it felt a bit strange" she added.

TENSION

The Olympic ring has certainly created plenty of tension in many of the horses over the past two days; but, Karen O'Connor's youngster, the 9 year old Mandiba, was not in the least concerned, settling to his work and earning a mark of 41.90 which slotted the American duo into 16th place. "He was almost too relaxed" O'Connor said, "But he extended well in trot and that brightened him up a bit. He is still very young and has to mature physically, and I see him as my horse for the Olympics in London" she explained.

Bought in Ireland from his breeders, William and Sarah Micklem, Mandiba only came into the US team following the late withdrawal of Heidi White. "Mandiba is the friendly tribal name given to Nelson Mandela" the rider explained, adding that she hoped for a good result in tomorrow's cross-country phase. "My horse has done all the questions - I think he will be fine" she said.

Ireland's Patricia Ryan had a nightmare experience when entering the arena two horses later - her 12 year old gelding proving almost unrideable from start to finish. "He went well in Chatsworth and was fifth at the World Cup event in Tattersalls, in Ireland; but, he's never been in an electric arena like this, " she explained with great disappointment as her mark left her one from last on the individual result sheet..

Great Britain's Sharon Hunt was first to go after the early morning break and registered a score of 43.50. "He felt quite bright and had a look at the flowers - if he had been a bit softer we would have had better marks; but, overall I am pleased, " she said. "This is my first real team experience and I'm really enjoying it. We've got a great team, " she pointed out adding that, where the cross-country track was concerned, "The more I walk it the better it looks!".

POSITIVE THINKING

Positive thinking will certainly be an asset on tomorrow's cross-country track and Canada's Mike Winter has set his mind in that direction after putting 49.90 on the scoreboard with King Pin. "When I got this horse first I could hardly persuade him to go from the barn to the arena because he was so difficult, so its a dream to be here with him at the Olympic Games," Winter said. He noted that the galloping lanes will be narrow and that spectators will be close to fences, particularly at the first water complex and he wondered what effect that might have. "But I feel prepared, " he said. "The options will be very time-consuming so I have made a plan how to go although I know I must be flexible. But I came to go out there and mean it," he pointed out with determination.

A timely personal-best result for Andreas Dibowski (GER) and Butts Leon confirmed Germany's rise up the rankings, their mark of 39.60 earned with plenty of flair and fluidity. "We really worked on the test and it was our best ever, " he said with great delight. He also is thinking ahead now and hopes, as anchorman, he will be in a position to go fast and take all the tough options. "It will be a bit like an eight-minute jump-off!" she said, referring to the speed and frequency with which the fences will come up tomorrow. "There is no time to recover if something goes wrong so you need to give it 150% concentration; but, the German team position has improved, its really looking good and we are feeling very confident" he added.

America's Philip Dutton was disappointed with the score of 40.6 he received for Connaught's test. "I didn't quite have him how I would like it; but, if we end up on that score that that would be OK," he said. The Rolex Kentucky-winning partnership may well be one's to follow tomorrow; however, as they are likely to put in a scorching round of the track.

GRIFFIN TO THE RESCUE

Niall Griffin came to Ireland's rescue with the best performance of his career with Lorgaine - and it was badly needed. "He blew up going into the arena - he felt like he just wanted to explode - so I thought - well I can either kick him forward and tell him to get on with it or just give up altogether and accept that its going to be a disaster," he explained. He did, of course, go for the first option and it worked a treat as the experienced gelding focused on his job, executing particularly easy canter changes and earning a mark of 49.4. "It was a risk," he said, "But it was worth taking", while he thinks the cross-country course will suit his horse, " . . .because he locks onto his fences and he's adjustable," he explained.

The Irish will all need to lock onto their fences tomorrow if they are to finish higher than their current 10th place with a running total of 160.80 after the dressage phase. Only the Brazilians are trailing them with a combined score of 180.30 while the Canadians lie ahead of them in ninth spot with 153.20 penalties.

Despite all their disasters, and running with just a three-man team, the French are holding on to eighth place while Sweden lies seventh, New Zealand is in sixth and Italy is in fifth place - their current position greatly enhanced by a lovely test today from Susanna Bordoni and Ava who squeezed into eighth place individually.

The British are lying just outside a medal placing in fourth - Mary King's last-to-go effort with Call Again Cavalier also proving pivotal. "I'm glad I got a mark in the 30's," she said, after putting 38.10 on the board. "My horse was nearly too quiet; but, he is very sensible and I was pleased with him." Like team-mate Sharon Hunt, this veteran British rider feels increasingly comfortable about tomorrow's cross-country course - "The more I walk it the more manageable it seems" she said.

FORMIDABLE FORM

However she and her team-mates will need to be in the form of their lives if they are to better those ahead of them tomorrow because the Australians are in formidable form in pole position while the Germans are gaining ground and lie just eight points behind, shadowed by team USA in third, just over five points further adrift. As American team manager, Mark Phillips, said this morning - "The Aussies and Germans have to go clear to stay ahead of us, our horses are well prepared, we have a great group of riders and we are on a mission".

The Olympic eventing contest has already developed into a fascinating battle of wills, strategy and team spirit and tomorrow morning the excitement will be ratcheted up to overdrive as the cross-country test at Beas River is played out in the unique Hong Kong climate and over a course that, as designer Mike Etherington-Smith has already pointed out, will require supreme horsemanship skills.

Blitz Move to Beas River

Today (Sunday, August 10th), after the end of Dressage and before they tackle the technical Cross Country, the Eventing horses were transported to Beas River, located some 40 minutes away from the core Olympic equestrian venue at Sha Tin. This was done in a fantastic blitz operation during which the loading, transport and unloading took just over one hour. Attired in their best travel boots to protect them from injuries during transportation, the 68 horses travelled in 11 lorries escorted by 13 support vehicles. The unusual convoy was escorted by the police who ensured a clear road to avoid that these Very Very Important Passengers be held in any way. The horses were unloaded from the lorries within seven minutes after their arrival on site and were immediately installed in temporary climatised stables to spend a comfortable night before Cross Country. (The Australian Eventing team arrives at Cross Country site pictured above at the left.(c) Dirk Caremans)