Robert Palm and Koko Black in determined fashion at the road crossing
Apart from a few lumps of ice hanging around at Lynton you would have hardly known it had snowed yesterday and today was glorious which put smile on the faces of riders, officials and organisers alike.
After leading the Baxter Boots CCI3* in the dressage phase by just 0.3 Robert Palm extended his lead thanks to a clear cross country round where he produced the fastest time of the day. Robert, riding the 11 year old Koko Black admitted it wasn’t a text book round but was still happy with the outcome. He finished the day just over 13 marks ahead of second placed Andrew Cooper.
To hear what Robert thought about his round click on the icon below.
Stuart Tinney's first ride in the CIC3* was on Sydney, (above) who is lying in eighth place
Stuart Tinney had a couple of horses in the Baxter Boots CIC 3* but it was the grey, Pluto Mio, who gave him his best test finishing on a score of 45.2 and in the lead. With Shane Rose as busy as ever swopping on to various horses he managed to keep his CIC3* rides in order lying second (APH Moritz), third (Virgil) and fourth (Corambo) – very organized! The CIC3* horses will do their show jumping and cross country tomorrow.
In the Baxter Boots CIC2* Shane once again was at the right end of the leader board this time riding CP Qualified. The pair led after dressage and despite taking a rail down in the show jumping they are still just ahead of Wilhelm Enzinger riding Flowervale Maserati. Watch Shane's test on CP Qualified below.
Like the CCI3* the Equitak Excel CCI* only attracted a small field and after dressage and cross country the dressage leader, Charlotte Price riding Dustman, holds onto her lead on a score of 54.7. But with Stevie Shakoff just a rail behind Charlotte the show jumping phase tomorrow should be pretty exciting.
At the time of writing this (and with some more scores to come in) Tim Boland was lying first and second in the Imax Gold CIC* with Christine Bates and GP Kung Fu Panda hot on his heels in third place. “I’m really happy,” said Christine. “This is Kung Fu Panda’s first CIC* and he seems to be coping with everything pretty well.”
Christine and Kung Fu Panda after their successful day
All the preliminary class completed their cross country phase today and in the photo above you can see local Goulburn rider, Stephanie Rose and Sam, who were tackling their first preliminary course. Although the pair had a couple of stops they were still pleased to make it round. "I was pretty nervous about the cross country course so I walked it again and again and again until the jumps started to look smaller. We got around and I'm pretty happy about that."
Sometimes the excitement of an event is just all too much
Tomorrow will be another busy day at Lynton with more show jumping and cross country and after such a lovely sunny day today not doubt organisers, Neil and Geordie Kennedy, will be saying their prayers for a repeat of that weather tomorrow.
Just look at that blue sky
