Ingrid Klimke (GER) & Horseware Hale Bob OLD into lead after cross country. ©Jon Stroud Media/FEI
It’s close at the top after cross country. Less than 1 penalty point divides the top 3.
- HORSEWARE HALE BOB OLD -Ingrid Klimke (GER)
- LA BIOSTHETIQUE SAM FBW -Michael Jung (GER)
- NEREO -Andrew Nicholson (NZL)
Ingrid Klimke riding Horseware Hale Bob OLD had 3.6 time faults to finish on a score of 39.6 to take the lead.
The defending Badminton champion Michael Jung La Biosthetique-Sam FBW was the first to go inside the optimum time, completing the with two seconds to spare to finish on their dressage score of 40, which moved them from ninth place after dressage. Only one other combination managed to return within the optimum time – Tim Price and Xavier Faer (NZL
Final combination to take on the track was Andrew Nicholson and Nereo. A couple of slips on the course due to loosing three studs may have cost him the 2.4 time penalties.
The Irish riders proved very strong in the cross country.
Clare Abbott and Euro Prince had a superb round and climbed 40 places on the leaderboard and up to 11th place.
Joseph Murphy with Sportsfield Othello, jumped 57 places to 18th.
Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua
Youngest rider at Badminton, Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua jumping clear in one of the fastest times of the day and moved from 82nd to 33rd.
Jonty Evans with Cooley Rorkes Drift , set out in third place after dressage however unfortunately20 jumping penalties for a run-out at fence 21 and 21.2 time penalties, dropped him to 25th slot, with Austin O’Connor and Kilpatrick Knight in 26th
Camilla Speirs and Portersize Just A Jiff retired on the course.
