Torrential overnight rain led to the tough decision to cancel all Intermediate classes on the second day of the FEI Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials and to move the jumping phases of the Advanced class to Sunday.
Despite the challenges the weather continues to throw at the sport, the Musketeer team and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that the Advanced and international dressage could continue and, thanks to the drying ground, all jumping for the Advanced, CCI-S 3* and CCI-S 4* classes will go ahead tomorrow.
The decision was made to make entry to the event on Saturday free for the public* and many took advantage of the opportunity to come and watch some top-class dressage and browse the array of shops and food & drink outlets, making for a great atmosphere.
The CCI-S 4* class has a new leader at the end of Day 2, as Laura Collett and Dacapo posted a score of 23.7 on Saturday morning to put them into the top spot. The overnight leader, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class move into second place with their score of 25.6 – just ahead of Tom McEwen and Luna Mist (26.3) in third.
“I’m very happy with him,” said Laura of Dacapo. “He’s got so much more professional in the last 18 months and he just came out and did everything that I asked him to do, when I asked him to do it. I was really pleased with him and super happy with the mark. At Thoresby he was a little bit more relaxed but didn’t have as much expression, so today we were trying a bit more expression to see, and clearly it worked.
“I’ve had a walk round the course, which looks great, so really looking forward to tomorrow. There’s a couple of really good questions out there. Obviously, he’s going to Badminton next, so fingers crossed we have a good run round here. All things considered, in the current situation, the ground looks incredible. I think it should be a good test and I’m really looking forward to it.”
In the CCI-S 3* (Section A), the top three remains unchanged with overnight leader, Bubby Upton and Viktor Krum (25.4) keeping hold of the top spot moving into the jumping phases.
Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova and Oliver Townend and Finley Du Loir, remain in equal second on a score of 26.9. Less than four penalties separate the top 17 combinations, so it looks set to be a thrilling day of jumping tomorrow.
With many combinations in the Advanced class heading on to big spring targets such as Badminton, the team at Burnham Market were keen to make sure the class could go ahead – moving the jumping phases over to Sunday. The dressage took place on Saturday as planned with Pippa Funnell currently leading with Billy Walk On (25.1) and third with MGH Grafton Street (25.8). Pippa’s rides are split by Tom McEwen and his Tokyo gold medal winning partner, Toledo De Kerser who are lying second on a score of 25.6.
Full results are available here.
Tickets
Why not head along to Burnham Market for a busy day of jumping action! Tickets are available on the gate, cash payments only, and those who have already purchased Saturday tickets will be able to transfer them. Gates open at 8am on Sunday, with competition getting underway at 8.30am. Find out more information here.
Watch live
All of Sunday’s cross country action will be available to watch via your mobile, tablet, TV or desktop with H&C+. Visit the Horse & Country website to find out more.
*Those who had already purchased Saturday tickets will be able to receive a full refund or transfer the tickets for entry on Sunday.
Image courtesy of Hannah Cole Photography
