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Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino in the trot up on Wednesday.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Equestrian Life
Dressage leaders Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation are in the lead following the CCI4* cross country in Adelaide. The pair jumped clear and finished their round with just 8.8 time penalties to retain the lead on a total of 54.7.
Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino, the final combination on course, finished in second place and added just two time penalties to their dressage score to finish on 60.7 – less than two showjump rails behind the leader. Sonja unfortunately had to retire her second ride, the 17-year-old Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison, in between the second last and final fence after the horse appeared to pull up lame in a hind leg. We hope it was nothing too serious and wish the horse a speedy recovery.
Clarke Johnstone riding Balmoral Sensation, pictured here at a previous event.
© Barbara Thompson
Stuart Tinney and War Hawk are in third; they were the only other combination to go under time on course but picked up a hefty 50 penalties for a missed flag. The penalty was later overturned, and the pair finished the day with a clear round on the board, thus remaining on their dressage score of 61.0.
Stuart Tinney and War Hawk, pictured here at a previous event. The pair had their 50 penalties overturned.
© Julie Wilson/FEI
Cross country specialist Andrew Cooper scored one of the best rounds of the day with Tasman Park Ovation, and the pair have now rocketed up the leaderboard from sixteenth place to fourth on 61.7. Andrew crossed the finish with just 0.4 time penalties… a terrific round!
Andrew Cooper and Tasman Park Ovation (pictured here at a previous event) have greatly improved their position since yesterday's dressage phase.
© Michelle Terlato
Next came Katie Taliana and Trevalgar II in fifth. Despite a very scary moment at the Channel 7 fence where Katie nearly fell, the pair powered on to finish clear and only 11.2 time penalties to add to her dressage score for a total of 62.0.
Virginia Thompson and Star Nouveau were another combination to be handed 50 penalties for a missed flag, however this was also overturned and the pair finished on 62.6 – adding just four time penalties to their dressage score.
Rounds free from jump penalties also went to Robert Palm and Koko Story (sixth, 65.6), Donna Edwards-Smith and her stunning palomino DSE Mr Hokey Pokey (seventh, 69.9), and also Emily Gray and Jocular Vision (eighth, 76.2). Emily has a really tough time in the dressage the day before to finish on a whopping 76.2 penalties, however Jocular Vision redeemed himself with a flying cross country round to be both clear and under time – one of just two combinations to do so in the CCI4*. They now sit in eighth place!
Andrew Daines and Spring Panorama also jumped clear, but picked up 15.6 time penalties to finish ninth on 78.6. Madeline Wilson and I’m Bruce had one run out and accumulated 28.8 time penalties to finish on 106.5, however Madeline still appeared very pleased to finish after some scary moments, in what was otherwise a really great first CCI4* ride.
A very classy round from Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress saw them finish the day in second place on 58.4 according to provisional results – however 50 penalties were eventually added to their score for a missed flag. The pair were near-perfect through a very difficult treble that caused many issues throughout the day, but a narrow brush was ultimately their undoing. They also accumulated 8.8 time penalties and now sit in 12thplace after the release of official results.
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress in the trot up on Wednesday.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Hazel Shannon and WillingaPark Clifford (125.7) also picked up 50 penalties for missing a flag, and this was upheld – leaving them in 13th place. The pair also accumulated 21.2 time penalties. Finally, Donna Edwards-Smith on her other ride, DSE Tangolooma, picked up 53.6 time penalties and two run outs to finish in 14th on 147.7.
Just 14 combinations finished the course, with six being eliminated along the way on what was a very tough and challenging day of cross country. Congratulations to leader Clarke Johnstone!
CCI2*
In the CCI2*, Chelsea Priestley and Skansen Purist hold a very narrow lead on 51.2, ahead of Emma Mason and Warrego Marco Polo on 51.3. Matthew Gaske and Thymes Too are in third on 55.8.
The dressage leaders, Madeline Wilson and Aces High, unfortunately had to retire on course after two run outs at the first fence.
CIC3*
In the CIC3*, Christine Bates and the aptly name Adelaide Hill retained their dressage lead with a clear, fast round to finish on 55.0. Shane Rose and Swiper are currently second on 57.0, while Deon Stokes and Crime Time are in third on 65.0.
View the full results from cross country day here.
The showjumping takes place tomorrow – stay tuned!
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