While photos of a drenched dressage day were coming through from the Sydney Three Day Event on the other side of the world, the cross country day at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials was pleasantly cool and overcast with just a few showers. The crowds on cross country day seemed small compared to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials the previous week but the course was perfect for spectator viewing as there were many fences together which could be easily seen from a single vantage point and several fences close to the trade stand area and in the main arena where the Member’s marquee is located.

 

The first riders on course were those from Japan, Australia and New Zealand competing in the London 2012 team qualifier. Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan was the pathfinder on the wonderfully named grey horse, Australian bred Gorgeous George. Yoshiaki is one of Japan’s most experienced riders having competed at the WEG in Aachen and Kentucky as well as the Beijing Olympics so it was a bit of a blow for the Japanese team when the pair fell at Fence 18, the Fidelity Wealth Management Fence. This was a step up on to a bank with a bounce to a log and, as there was little room for adjustment on top of this step, the correct speed and impulsion on approach was very important and unfortunately caught Gorgeous George and Yoshiaki out. The first rider for New Zealand, Lucy Jackson on Willy Do, had a much easier ride with only 5.6 time penalties and it was soon to become clear that, as course designer Eric Winter had predicted, the time (10.29 minutes over 5978m) would play an important part.

 

Lucy Jackson and Willy Do are looked after by the NZ crew following their cross country round

 

Both Japan and New Zealand had five riders in the team whereas Australia only fielded four so Japan was next out with Takayuki Yumira riding the big Australian bred horse Hooligan. They had a refusal at Fence 7 (a big table followed by a turn over some undulating ground to a corner fence) and 18b, so things were looking pretty dicey for Japan at this stage when he came home with the 40 jumping penalties and 43.2 time faults. Neil Spratt for New Zealand however had a good round on Elton II with only 4.8 time so the New Zealand team were looking good.

 

 

The first rider for Australia was Brook Staples on Ever So Clever II. Brook took it fairly steady but it looked like a very comfortable round and he came home clear with 18.4 time.

 

 

Catherine Burrell, the best performed Australian rider in the dressage who was in equal 19^th place on 51.5, also went clear on the very beautiful horse Urzan who looks very scopey, jumped beautifully and came home clear with 19.6 time.

 

Meanwhile, Takeaki Tsuchiya and Jackabee for Japan had a very good ride to come home clear with only 5.6 time, so raising the hopes for Japan. The third combination for New Zealand,  Jonathan Paget and Clifton Razz blitzed around clear with only 0.8 time and by now the New Zealand team was looking very strong – even though they don’t need to win (although that must be an advantage!)

 

 

Lucinda Fredericks set off at a cracking pace for the Australian team on the lovely grey horse Nysa de Petra. Clearly intent on being the first rider to make the time Lucinda had a sticky moment at Fence 9 but recovered to go well through the water at the Petplan Puddle.

 

 

Unfortunately at Fence 17, Lucinda and her horse parted company and Nysa de Petra had a good gallop away, showing that she was fine and Lucinda too was okay, just a sore arm but still able to show jump her other horse Latina 43 in the CIC*** later in the day for a clear round.

 

 

The very in-form New Zealand rider, 24 year old Clarke Johnstone and his Sydney World Cup winning horse, Orient Express had a fantastic round, making it look easy apart from a great save by Clarke at Fence 23. This fence, called the Duke of Marlborough Lions and located in the Main Arena, consisted of two fences acutely offset on one stride and demanded real concentration from horse and rider to avoid a run-out. Clarke used plenty of both and kicked on to finish clear and under time which was not only good for New Zealand but moved Clarke up to finish in 8^th place in the individual competition at the end of the day.

 

A recognisable horse due to his very short and swishing tail, Mavrick du Granit ridden by Atsushi Negishi for Japan, seemed much happier on the cross country course than he had in the dressage arena and they too went clear but with 24.8 time penalties then the final Japanese rider Kenki Sato on Chippieh had a great round with just 4.4 time and it was clear that Japan was threatening Australia’s lead.

 

 

All eyes were on Bill Levett, the last rider to go for Australia and on whom the team now depended to finish after the loss of Lucinda. Riding One Two Many NJ, a horse which has had considerable success recently, Bill also had a problem at Fence 9c, The Shires Equestrian Wooded Hollow. This fence caused a few problems, probably due to the fact that the obstacles, an upright rail to a ditch at the bottom of the slope then up out of the hollow over a narrow triple brush, were jumped from the dark woods out into the light. 20 jumping faults and 12 time faults dropped Bill down the rankings and means that Australia goes into the showjumping phase 4 faults behind the Japanese team.

 

 

Chef d’Equipe of the Japanese team Kazu Iwatani declared that he was ‘relieved’ that the cross country day had gone well for his riders as they thought that it was quite a tough course. He also added that all of the riders are good showjumpers so they are very hopeful for a good result tomorrow, particularly as it would be unlikely that Japan could qualify for London 2012 through individual rider rankings. It’s going to be a tense showjumping day so let’s hope all three remaining Australian horses trot up sound tomorrow morning!

 

The team standings after cross country are;

1^st           New Zealand     171.8

2^nd          Japan                223.9

3^rd           Australia           227.9