The windy and technical cross-country course at Pau gave riders a lot of challenges on Saturday. Only one rider, Peter Flarup of Denmark, had a double-clear ride and only three riders added less than double digit penalties to their dressage score. William Fox Pitt and Navigator added just 3.2 time penalties and moved up from 9th after the dressage to take the commanding lead going into the show jumping. Our North American readers might remember Navigator from his 23rd place finish at Rolex ’09.
Boyd Martin and Remington added 16 time penalties, which was the 7th fastest ride of the day. With Ruth Edge and Sharon Hunt both having problems on course, Remington moved up to 3rd. Remington is not the fastest horse, and it seems like the course didn’t set up perfectly for Remington today with the time being so tough to make. Still, it was yet another clean ride at a four-star for Boyd and he should be extremely pleased to be sitting in 3rd. So far, so good for the Allied expeditionary force in Pau.
1. William Fox-Pitt and Navigator (GBR) +3.2 51.2
2. Karin Donckers nd Lamicell Charizard (BEL) +16.8 58.6
3. Boyd Martin and Remington (USA) +16 59.2
4. Andreas Dibowski and FRH Fantasia (GER) +10 61.0
5. Kai Ruder and Leprince des Bois (GER) +17.2 61.4
6. Peter Flarup and Silver Ray (DEN) +0 66.0
7. Joe Meyer and Sanskrit (NZL) +11.6 67.8
Link: Full Pau XC results
One rider who must be really frustrated is Ruth Edge, who has had fabulous dressage results at Badminton and Pau this year only to have problems on the XC. Aside from William, the Brits didn’t have a great Saturday, and they only have two riders still in the top 10. Just 6 out of 37 starters were eliminated today.
Update: I promise we will post higher quality video of Boyd’s soon, but one of my favorite EN readers, Anne Thompson sent me this quick video filmed using her iPhone. I love the “phew” of relief at 0:44.
Go eventing.
