Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Yesterday was a very good day in the office for Oliver Townend, who retained his first-phase lead with eleven-year-old Cooley Rosalent, adding just 1.2 time penalties, and also retained his ninth place position with eighteen-year-old Ballaghmor Class, who added 4.8 time penalties on Eric Winter’s long, influential course.
This morning, though? That’s probably one he’d rather forget. He was sent to the holding box with both his rides, and while Cooley Rosalent would go on to be accepted after further examination, he opted instead to withdraw elder statesman ‘Thomas’ from the holding box and the rest of the competition. That decision now moves Emily King and Valmy Biats into the provisional top ten after their clear round with 7.2 time penalties yesterday.
Georgie Goss and Feloupe. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Oliver wasn’t the only rider to face the scrutiny of the ground jury, made up of president Xavier le Sauce, Nick Burton, and Robert Stevenson. A further five horses were held through the course of the morning: Will Rawlin‘s Ballycoog Breaker Boy (19th overnight), Georgie Goss‘s Feloupe (36th), Jack Pinkney‘s Rehy Revelation (39th), Grace Taylor‘s Game Changer (37th), and Ian Cassells‘s Master Point (10th — and now 9th). The biggest cheer of the lot came for the acceptance of Game Changer, who was gamely presented by a very unsound, besuited Nigel Taylor, British team selector, historic playboy of the sport, and father of Grace. I’ll avoid getting told off by him for this by also noting that he had a touch of Michael Caine about him (if a bit less surefooted).
Nigel Taylor and Game Changer. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
All were accepted upon re-presentation, though our field still looks rather smaller than it did last night following a spate of overnight withdrawals. Those came from Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy (28th after a 12.8 time penalty clear yesterday), Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ (14th overnight with a 9.6 time penalty round), Belgium’s Senne Vervaecke and Google van Alsingen (41st with a steady clear), Harry Mutch and Shanbeg Cooley (44th after picking up 20 penalties and time), and Lizzie Baugh and B Exclusive (43rd with 32 time penalties). That takes our list of 60 finishers down to 54 competitors for today’s finale, which will begin with the first showjumping group at 11.30 a.m. BST/6.30 a.m. EST. After a parade of the morning competitors, the top twenty will jump from 14.45 p.m. BST/9.45 a.m. EST.
We’ll be back with live updates, additional stories, and a full report later on today — and you can follow all the action on the livestream, too, via ClipMyHorse.TV. Go Eventing.
The top ten following cross-country at Badminton.
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