Clarke Johnstone got his Tokyo Olympic selection campaign off to the best possible start at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show today, topping the dressage in the CCI4* with Balmoral Sensation.
Clarke and his beloved ‘Ritchie’ scored an average of 68.61% with the three judges, for a penalty score of 31.4. That puts them just 0.8pen ahead of defending champions, Muzi Pottinger and Just Kidding.
Clarke says that Ritchie felt a bit full of himself. “I’ve tried to keep him fresh this week and I think I may have overdone it a bit! He was very frisky in the canter which cost us the marks,” he says. “I was pleased with his trot work, and it’s a big year ahead so better to be a bit fresh at this stage than not.”
The Ground Jury were not fully in accord, with head judge Christian Landolt, of Switzerland, preferring Muzi’s test. Clarke placed first with the other two judges though, Helen Christie (NZ) and Sweden’s Christina Klingspor.
The top three scores are extremely close, with third-placed Madison Crowe and Waitangi Pinterest just 0.6pen behind Muzi.
Clarke is in fourth with his second ride, Aces High, while Bundy Philpott and Tresca NZPH are fifth and Diane Gilder with Your Attorney round up the top six in the field of 17. The show jumping is tomorrow, with the competition concluding on Saturday with cross-country.
