Day one of competition at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials got underway today and the sun shone brightly over the Palace Arena where the dressage was taking place for the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S for eight-and-nine-year-olds.
It was almost a Team Price double going into the lead overnight when at one stage both Tim and Jonelle had the top spots – Jonelle took the lead in the CCI4*-S class heading into the lunch break on Full Monty De Lacense and just after lunch, husband Tim went into the lead on Happy Boy in the CCI4*-L.
It didn’t take long though for Louise Bradley and Ardeo Mandela to take that lead away from Jonelle in the eight-and-nine-year-old Championship and shortly after, fellow New Zealand rider Clarke Johnstone went into the lead on the nine-year-old grey gelding, Rocket Man. The pair take the overnight lead on a score of 29.4.
On his test today Clarke said, “I was very happy with how Rocket Man performed today in the dressage and thrilled to be at the top of the leaderboard after day one. He is a horse that I think a lot of for the future and it was a great experience for him today to perform in an exciting arena like the one at Blenheim.”
Tim Price retained his lead in the CCI4*-L, and later in the day was joined in joint first by Tom Woodward on Low Moor Lucky, both on a score of 25.4. Twelve-year-old gelding Happy Boy is owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller and has been with Tim since the start of his British Eventing career.
Tim said, “I am very pleased with Happy Boy today, he’s a little trier, he always goes and gives it his best effort. He’s not overly flamboyant, but he is an elegant little horse and it’s my job to try to demonstrate that throughout the test. I am looking forward to getting him through the three phases as smoothly as I can. It’s a great start and I’m extremely proud of him – I’m sure there are going to be some big guns coming out tomorrow who better his score but it’s a nice place to hunt from. It’s amazing to see Tom Woodward at the top too, he’s a great up-and-coming jockey so it’s a great day for him.”
Gloucestershire based Tom Woodward scored a personal best today, “He was fantastic. He gave me a super ride and felt beautifully relaxed and rideable. He’s had to have a bit of time off at the beginning part of the season, so Blenheim has been the aim all year and I’m delighted to have produced a test that I’ve felt we were both capable of achieving. He was my first horse off ponies so we know each other very well now and I can’t wait to get out on course on Saturday.”
New Zealand will be hoping for at least one win this weekend to bring them up to six, or could it be seven wins in all time at Blenheim – they’ll want to stop the British riders from taking their thirtieth win of the event. If Jonelle were to win, she would be the only person to win the CCI4*-S three times since it started. Jonelle currently sits on two wins alongside Chris Burton, William Fox-Pitt and Piggy March – the only other rider who could move onto three wins with Dassett Arthalent entered in this class this year.
Catch tomorrow’s dressage action and the weekend’s showjumping and cross country through Horse & Country TV. Keep track of live scores and results through Eventing Scores (www.eventingscores.co.uk). Tickets are still available to purchase at bpiht.co.uk
Release supplied by event. Images courtesy of Libby Law Photography
