Britain’s Kitty King sits in individual silver medal position at the conclusion of the European Eventing Championships cross-country in Haras du Pin.
Kitty was the ninth rider out of the start box today with Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd Baker, Samantha Wilson and the late Sally Eyre’s Vendredi Biats and finished with 3.6 time-faults in the deep, tiring going.
At the time, no one realised quite how good Kitty’s round would prove to be. The first horse out on course, Grantstown Jackson, under Ireland’s Sarah Ennis, had had just 2.4 time-faults, so it looked as if several others might be able to be as fast or even quicker.
But as the day wore on it became clear few could rival Kitty and Sarah’s speed. Only the overnight leader, Britain’s Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) made the time.
“It was hard work – ‘Froggy’ lives for his cross-country and today he wasn’t enjoying himself quite as much as he normally does, which is a huge shame,” said Kitty.
“Today he had to dig really deep and try hard. He kept jumping and galloping for me even when he was finding it a little bit trickier, so I’m very proud of how hard he tried for me.”
The tricky conditions led to officials removing a two-minute loop from the course, which riders agreed was a good decision as, despite the shortened track, many horses finished looking tired.
Germany’s Sandra Auffarth holds the individual bronze with Viamant Du Matz, behind Ros and Kitty. Ros has two fences in hand to hold her lead, but Sandra is within a showjump of Kitty.
Meanwhile Sarah Ennis sits sixth overnight following her scintillating European Eventing Championships cross-country performance, having been 54th after dressage.
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