Piggy French and DHI Topper W
Piggy French came in clear and under time on both her mounts to move up to first and second place more than a rail clear of Pippa Funnel in third. The USA’s Tiana Coudray also remain on their dressage score to be in fourth place.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister
Overnight leader Bettina Hoy had a fantastic round but picked up 7.6 time penalties dropping her to fifth place coming into the final day. The day was eventful with the combination fence seven claiming a few falls. Thankfully no serious injuries were sustained by horse or rider. Tom Crisp has broken leg and Lucy Wiegersma landed heavily in her feet and has a suspected broken ankle. There are no reported horse injuries.
Bettina Hoy and Lanfranco TSF at the finish cooling down
Today was a mixed day for Team USA, Tiana is in fourth, Phillip moved up from 18th to 11th. Clark dropped a few after picking up 8.0 time to 12th. Will Faudree, shot to 14th from 27th after picking up just 2.8 time.
Unfortunately, Jules and Aimee both had a stop and picked up a chunk of time each to drop to 64th and 74th respectively. Of the 97 who started dressage, only 79 remain.
Canada’s Kathryn Robinson remained steady after picking up 11.2 time she is in 36th place. Kyle Carter has continued his bad luck in the UK and pulled up part way round. I have been in touch with Carter Eventing and the word is that Parker didn’t feel right after a fence so Kyle pulled up. He is back in the barn and being evaluated now.
Today seemed to be the day for the boys to take their shirts off (sorry guys, no girls took their’s off although Laura Collett was tempted in the Puissance). If you caught my earlier Puissance post you would have caught three. I also snapped former dancer now eventer from South Africa Alexander Peternell in the finish box without his shirt. In other news, Alexander is in seventh place after picking up just 6.0 time penalties.
South Africa’s Alexander Peternell
I felt Simon Grieve and Cornacrew almost brush past me as I took this shot, one of my favorites for the weekend so far
Here are the top 20 at the end of today, the remaining scores can be found here.
As we go into the final day, here is a piece of trivia for you. The last time a rider had a first-second double at Blenheim was William Fox-Pitt on Stunning and Tamarillo in 2000. If Piggy manages to pull it off tomorrow she is in exclusive company.
I caught up with Tiana Coudray at the finish and she was very happy, unfortunately the wind was horrible and you can’t understand most of the video. Finally 60 seconds with a very happy Piggy French.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
