Paget Into Fourth After Lovely Cross Country Round at Pau
Sunday, 16 October 2016

New Zealand eventer Jock Paget and Clifton Signature have ridden themselves into fourth place at the end of the cross country phase of the CCI4* putting themselves well in contention for the podium at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau in France.

Paget went clear over the Pierre Michelet-designed course and added just four time penalties to his dressage score to sit on 48 penalty points and move up two places.

The unstoppable Michael Jung (GER) remains in the lead but with a different horse to his dressage leader. He and FischerRocana FST sit at the top of the leaderboard on 44.2 while his overnight leader FischerTakinou drops to fifth on 48.1.

There is just a single showjumping rail between the top five.

Caroline Powell has her horses Flying Finish and Spice Sensation at 26th and 28th respectively after clear rounds with time penalties on both, while Tim Price was eliminated towards the end of the course when Xavier Faer had an awkward jump in over the log at the last water complex.

Michelet didn’t disappoint riders or spectators with a technical track that rode well. From the 48 starters there were 35 clear rounds, with just two inside time – Maxime Livio (FRA) aboard Qala o des Mers and Chris Burton (AUS) on TS Jamaimo.

The top competitors will need all their nerve and skill for tonight’s showjumping phase.

Powell and Chance Encounter slipped to 36th in the CIC2* after a stop and time penalties.

What: Les 4 Etoiles de Pau
Where: France
When: October 12-16, 2016
Info: www.event-pau.com

The horse details -

Spice Sensation (owned by Claire Hunter, Michael Hunter and Caroline Powell), Flying Finish (owned by Richard Ames and Caroline Powell), Clifton Signature (owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall), Xavier Faer (owned by Trisha Rickards and Tim Price) and Chance Encounter (owned by Richard Ames).