Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen, photo with thanks from Jon Stroud
At lunch time on day two of dressage Clark Montgomery (45.4) lies just ahead of Jules Stiller (46.2) in 6th place. In true German style Bettina Hoy cruised into the lead with 42.1. Britain’s Piggy French holds both second (42.7) and third (43.1) place on her two mounts with Sarah Cohen (44.0) hanging onto fourth and dark-horse Alexander Peternell (44.8) from South Africa in fifth.
Current leaders Bettina Hoy and Lanfranco TSF on 42.1
Team USA sits as follows
Clark Montgomery 45.4 6th
Jules Stiller 46.2 7th
Tiana Coudray 49.4 11th
Phillip Dutton 51.3 15th
Aimee Chambers 53.1 22nd
Will Faudree 53.3 =23rd
True Prospect Head Groom Emma Ford, Mighty Nice Owner Bruce Duchossois with USEF’s Sara Ike
Canada
Kathryn Robinson 55.2 =29th
Kyle Carter 55.4 31st
Kathryn Robinson and Let it Bee from Canada on 55.2
Errors of course plagued Clark, Kathryn and Kyle with one each. I missed Clark’s but both Kyle and Kathryn misses the halt and rein back.
Sidney Dufresne and Ouincey of France on 64.8 penalties
As we have eight nations here with enough riders (3 or more) to field a team I have used a bit of license and created the Eventing Nation World Teams Championship, hosted by Blenheim Horse Trials. The participating Nations in my imaginary competition are Great Britain, USA, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, France and Germany.
Former Ballet Dancer Alexander Peternell of South Africa with AP Uprising currently in 5th on 44.8
As both the USA and Great Britain have more than five riders each I have played selector and picked a team for them.
Team Great Britain
Piggy French – Lemington Lett Dance
Pippa Funnell – Billy Landretti
Fiona Hobby – Royal Colours
Janette Brakewell – Ideal Sebastian
William Fox-Pitt – Bay My Hero
Team USA
Julian Stiller – Enjoy Me
Tiana Coudray – Ringwood Magister
Phillip Dutton – Mighty Nice
Clark Montgomery – Loughan Glen
Aimee Chambers – After Eight
Piggy French has the best smile
So with seven teams riders left to run after lunch today here are the standings
Great Britain 138.1 (1 to go)
USA 141
Australia 157.9
New Zealand 165.4
Japan 176
Germany (1 to go)
France (2 to go)
Ireland (3 to go)
So the early lead goes to Great Britain and there is a long way to go. Remember this is an IMAGINARY competition dreamed up by your’s truly. No correspondence will be entered into for teams selection.
I have NO words
Finally I caught up with Eventing ‘legend’ Lucinda Green and asked her about her thoughts on the cross country course.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
