The French were in indomitable form on their own stamping ground at Saumur CCI3*. But the nine-strong British contingent that made the trip to the Loire Valley is holding its own with three in the top 10 after cross-country.
Oliver Townend currently lies third with his new ride Fenyas Elegance, who was last out on Pierre Michelet’s track. Exactly one fence ahead of him lies first-placed Mathieu Lemoine on his three-star debutant Bart L, closely followed by Bristol-based Astier Nicolas on his 2013 Euros partner Piaf De B’Neville.
Oliver was particularly thrilled with the chestnut mare’s dressage performance, which earned 44.9 and fourth place.
“She has a lot of ability, but isn’t good at handling pressure, so I was really proud of her,” said Oliver, who has had two weeks to get to know the 11-year-old. “She was a real professional cross-country — I didn’t know about her fitness, but she wanted to get to the end.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Nicholson had been sandwiched between Oliver and Astier on Lucy Wiegersma’s Cillnabradden Evo. But the nine-year-old just showed a touch of greenness at his first CCI3*, with a refusal halfway round. Andrew had better luck with Teseo, who moved up from 17th to eighth thanks to a fast clear.
Nana Dalton made the most of a last-minute entry to the event with Elite Syncopation (pictured below) to go clear inside the time and take seventh spot overnight, having been 10th after dressage. Sheila Jones’ 12-year-old was also contesting his first CCI3*, having “hit a wall” at Blenheim CIC3* last autumn.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“He has had a wind op and this was the first time I’ve gone more quickly,” said Nana, who also rode Abbeylara Prince into 12th. “Yogi [Breisner] told me to get on with it, and I did. He was so genuine — and I was over the moon with his dressage.”
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Emily Llewellyn’s Worldy Du Hans also posted a fast clear to sit just behind Elite Syncopation in ninth, rising up from 18th in the first phase.
“He’s a jumping machine, and really quick,” said Emily. “He did everything I asked and more.”
And a British victory isn’t out of sight. Oliver is within a pole of the leaders — neither of whom have a spotless showjumping record — and just two poles cover the top six. Further down the order, dropped rails will be very expensive — one pole covers eighth to 17th.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
