British riders have dominated the dressage phase of the 2019 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, though both Jonelle and Tim Price are inside the top 10.
Jonelle is best of the New Zealand contingent, in seventh equal place scoring 28.4 on Faerie Dianimo in a test that started out with plenty of flash – and earned a 10 for her entry and halt from one judge – and showed off the mare’s trademark outstanding trot work. But unfortunately, a little tension crept in to the canter.
“It’s not quite the start I’d hoped for,” says Jonelle. “I thought, at the grand old age of 14, that she’d grown a bit more sedentary – but she surprised me by being a little hot, and then we had a bit of tension.
“She dances to the beat of her own drum, for sure – she’s certainly a hot little thing, and hopefully that serves us well tomorrow!”
Still, with a spread of less than six marks covering the top 10, it gives Jonelle more than a fighting chance for her third five-star win. “And we’re in front of the hubby, so that’s always a good start!”
Tim’s test on last year’s winner, Ringwood Sky Boy, was fluent, elegant and without any real mistakes, but he was let down by some inconsistent judging, for a score of 28.7 and equal ninth place. “That’s the best he’s been at this level, but I was disappointed with the score,” says Tim. “He’s not flashy, but he’s a serious workman. I’d hoped and thought that this guy would be higher up the leaderboard; he stayed right with me, but he doesn’t have that ‘wow’ that some of the others do.”
Tim has both his other rides in the top 20 as well; Bango is less than a penalty behind Ringwood Sky Boy, in 11th equal place (29.6), while Xavier Faer is 20th, on 31.5.
Dan Jocelyn is the nest best-placed New Zealand rider, 25th on the impressive Blackthorn Cruise, despite a course error. Caroline Powell is 43rd equal on On the Brash.
And Burghley debutante Samantha Lissington is all smiles after her performance on Ricker Ridge Rui, a tidy and well-managed test that scored 39.1 for 54th equal place of the 67 combinations. Sam earned plenty of praise from the commentary box for her sympathetic and intelligent riding. “We are happy with today’s performance – the main aim was no extra flying changes – so all in all it’s been a success! “ says Sam. “It’s an amazing privilege to be here. There is plenty to work on to come back for next year but for now the fun stuff begins!”
Pippa Funnell leads the pack with a superb score of 22.8 on MGH Grafton Street, who is at his first five-star. Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class are second on 25.3, with his girlfriend Izzy Taylor and the 10-year-old Springpower, marginally behind in third, on 25.6.
“I’m really, really delighted,” says Pippa. “He felt wonderful in his brain both inside and outside the arena. I gave myself a good talking to last night after making a couple of silly mistakes on Billy Walk On and made myself get my act together. I just need to get stuck in and be brave tomorrow.”
Oliver has been struggling with a back injury, and was barely able to walk or ride all week, but still managed a trademark flawless test on Ballaghmor Class, who was second here last year and won on debut the year before.
“Although he’s been first and second here, he’s still only 12 and getting established at this level,” he says. “He was very relaxed – I even had to kick him on a bit in the walk but it’s a real privilege to have a horse of his calibre here.”
Izzy’s Springpower showed immense potential: “He’s a very exciting horse,” she admits. “He’s beautiful to look at, which helps in this phase, and has massive movement, he’s just not entirely able to control it yet. There’s a lot more to come from him.”
The 11-strong American contingent put on a strong showing in the dressage phase, with Lauren Kieffer the best in fourth place with her little Anglo-Arabian Vermiculus on 26.7, despite being one of a handful of riders whose tests coincided with a short, sharp rainstorm.
“I’m thrilled with how he went because he hates the rain,” she says. “He didn’t do anything super-flashy but he was very consistent and didn’t make any mistakes.”
Fellow American Hannah-Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot is tied for fifth with current Badminton champion, Piggy French and Vanir Kamira, on 26.9.
A third US combination, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, is tied for seventh with Jonelle, while Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy share ninth with Britain’s Eliza Stoddart and Priorspark Opposition Free.
Cross-country is likely to prove very influential with many riders describing the Captain Mark Phillips’ course as extremely big, intense but fair. With less than 10 penalties separating the top 20 combinations there’s all to play for. The cross-country starts at 10pm tonight (NZ time) and is available on Sky Sport.
