EVENTING News


Cross Country Costly for Kiwis
Sunday, 27 October 2013


Run-outs have been costly for Kiwi eventers competing in the CCI4* at Les Etoiles du Pau in France overnight.

Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control (owned by Deborah Sellar) are the best placed, moving up to sixth place after going clear and picking up just 0.8 time faults to sit on 46.1 penalty points.

Lucy Jackson and Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson) have jumped up 12 places to 21st after also going clear but picking up 8.4 time faults.

Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy, in their first four star start together, are in 24th after adding just time to their dressage score to finish on 63.1.

Caroline Powell aboard Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford and Powell), Nicholson on Quimbo (owned by Deborah Sellar), Megan Heath on her own St Daniel and Annabel Wigley on Frog Rock all had a run-out plus time to add to their scores.

Nicholson retired Viscount George after two run-outs, while Craig Nicolai and Just Ironic were eliminated.

Fences 14 and 20 over the Pierre Michelet-designed course seemed to be the bogey fences for the Kiwis, contributing to four combinations’ scores.

Just 53 of the original 75 starters remain in the hunt. Leading the pack is William Fox-Pitt (GBR) in first, second and third places with Seacookie TSF, Cool Mountain and Neur des Coeurs respectively.

In the CIC2* Powell and The Earl of Belvedere (owned by Richard Ames) were one of just four combinations in the 38-strong field to go clear and inside time, to remain on their 54.1 penalty point dressage score and move up to eighth spot.

Sir Mark Todd aboard Haokonn (owned by Panda Christie) were eliminated.
The competition concludes tomorrow (Monday) with the showjumping phase.
For more information, head to http://www.event-pau.fr/en/homepage

- Diana Dobson, ESNZ Media Liaison