Twenty-four horse-rider pairs performed their dressage test on the first day of dressage at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau CCI5*L (24-27 October), and things could still change after the 49 others on the start list Friday, but it was Great Britain’s Tom McEwan, who took the lead with his 15-year-old mount Brookfield Quality on 25.8.
Clarke Johnstone (NZL), 18th in the individual competition in the Paris Olympic Games this summer with Menlo Park, performed another excellent dressage test, ranking him second behind the British rider on 26.1, with just an 0.3-point difference. World no.5 Olivier Townend (GBR) was first to enter the main arena Thursday, and held on to first place for some time on 29.4, with his French horse En Taro des Vernier (born in the Gard region). He took third place in the ranking, with a 3-point difference from the leader.
Clarke Johnstone of New Zealand and Menlo Park. Image by Laura Dupuy.
Australia’s Isabel English, fresh from a top ten placing at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship with Elysian Fields Prado, saddled up Cil Dara Dallas (Diarado x Koyuna Blue Pearl, by Koyuna Quarterback) and finished the day in 14th on 32.5.
Just two French riders were on the start list Thursday (out of the eight here to compete this week in Pau). Horse-rider pair Luc Château and Cocorico de l’Ebat gave the best French performance, and Arthur Marx follows close behind (15th on Church’Ile).
Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas, pictured competing here at a previous event. Image by Sarah Farnsworth Photography.
What they said:
Tom McEwen (GBR), first in the provisional ranking (25.8):
“I’m really happy with Brookfield Quality’s dressage test today. He’s fifteen, so he’s experienced and knew what he had to do. I’m delighted with our score and to have been able to enjoy the sunshine before the rain forecast for tomorrow. For the cross-country course, I’ll just have to do my best to help my horse perform well.”
Luc Château (FRA), best French dressage test after the first day of competition (32.2):
“I’m very happy with the test we gave today. It’s the first time Cocorico de l’Ebat has participated in a 5* eventing competition. He performed very well in the canter and gallop and made good changes of leg, but was less comfortable in the walk, where he tends to develop a lateral movement. We competed in the CCI3* at Lignières at the end of September to help us prepare for Pau. Cocorico belongs to Laure Sudreau, one of my long-standing owners (she also owns Bastia de l’Ebat, Filou du Chatellier and Ego des Cabanes, (editor’s note)). He was born at home, and I sold him last year.”
Sam Griffiths, Head Coach of the New Zealand eventing team:
“This the final major event of the season for our team. We’ve come with a sizeable delegation of seven riders this year. They each have their own goals for this weekend, some are here simply to end their season on a high note, and others are competing to win. Tim Price is definitely in the running for example, even if his horse Jarillo is starting out at this level of competition. If the going is good, Clarke Johnstone will also be up there with the favourites. We’ve had very wet weather in the past few weeks, so we’re pretty much used to it, but of course we’d rather have the sun. It was a beautiful day today, and we hope that the cross-country course has had time to dry out. We’ve also brought riders in the making with a lot of potential who should perform well here in Pau. All our riders are based in Great Britain and are set to stay there in the future.”
Friday’s dressage
The dressage tests continue and end Friday 25 October.
Australian Samantha Cesnik and Graftango (Birkhof’s Grafenstolz x SWS Contemplation, by Contango 11) are set to ride on Friday at 2.59pm local time (11.59pm AEDT).
Some other riders to watch are Camille Lejeune (FRA) with Dame Decoeur Tardonne, Oliver Townend (GBR) on Crazy du, Pippa Funnell (GBR) riding MCS Maverick, current French Champion Benjamin Massié on Filao de Perle, current World Champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) with Rehy DJ, and of course Tim Price (NZL), who already won the 5 Etoiles de Pau in 2021, and competing with Jarillo this year.
