It’s been a dream start for the Kiwis at the Mitsubishi Motors
Badminton Horse Trials in the United Kingdom overnight, with Andrew
Nicholson and Jock Paget taking the top two spots at the end of day one
of the dressage.
Nicholson and Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) were the only ones of the 40
starters to go under 40 penalty points with their stunning 37.8 point
effort, with Paget and Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead) just
behind on 41.2. Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas II (owned by Diane Brunsden
and Peter Cattell) sit in fifth position on 45.8, with Jonelle Price
(NZL) and Classic Moet on 54.9 in 27th and Craig Nicolai (NZL) aboard
Just Ironic (owned by Anne, Hedde and Craig Nicolai) on 62.4 in 38th.
Nicholson was very pleased with the efforts of his 15-year-old Spanish
bred chestnut gelding.
“He goes very well, but today it felt the smoothest from start to
finish, which makes a difference and judges like this. I was very very
pleased,” he said.
Nicholson holds the record for the most Badminton completions with 33,
but so far the title has eluded him.
“I want to drive home from here on Sunday the winner. This is what it
is all about – this year, I am very focused, very prepared and I have
got very good horses.”
Both he and Paget, who won Badminton on début in 2013, liked the look
of the cross country, but cautioned it was definitely a four star track.
“It is very fair and is all there to be jumped,” said Nicholson.
“The time will be difficult to get, but we just have to do our job and
do our job properly and come home clear and inside the time.”
Paget agreed, adding riders had to get it all right out there.
“Otherwise you will get punished,” he said.
Today’s dressage saw many of the top competitors in the arena, but
there are still another 41 to go overnight, including Caroline Powell
and Onwards and Upwards (owned by Cameron and Mary Crawford and Powell),
who will open the second day of dressage for New Zealand, followed by
Lucy Jackson on Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson), Tim
Price on Ringwood Sky Boy (owned by Selwood.com), Jonelle Price on The
Deputy (owned by Lucy Sangster, Tim and Jan Morice and Selwood.com),
Nicholson on his own Calico Joe, Paget on Clifton Lush (owned by Lucy
Allison and Frances Stead) and Todd, the last to go in the 81-strong
field, on Oloa (owned by Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell and Pip
McCarroll).
Results (after day one of dressage) -
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar 37.8 penalty points
1, Jock Paget (NZL) Clifton Promise (owned by Frances Stead) 41.2 2,
Niklas Bschorer (GER) Tom Tom Go 3 42.1 3, Flora Harris (GBR) Amazing
VIII 43.6 4, Sir Mark Todd (NZL) Leonidas II (owned by Diane Brunsden
and Peter Cattell) 45.8 5, Pippa Funnell (GBR) Redesigned 46 6, Laura
Collett (GBR) Grand Manoeuvre 46.2 7, Nicola Wilson (GBR) One Two Many
47 8, Mary King (GBR) Kings Temptress 47.1 9, Christopher Burton (AUS)
TS Jamaimo 47.7 10, Jonelle Price (NZL) Classic Moet (owned by Trisha
Rickards) 54.9 27, Craig Nicolai (NZL) Just Ironic (owned by Anne, Hedde
and Craig Nicolai) 62.4 38.
