The world’s top riders and their mounts are all at the Domaine de Sers in Pau, Southwest France until this Sunday to battle it out in the 5* (the highest level eventing competition in equestrian sports). The first event in the competition, dressage, ended with the victory of British rider Laura Collett on her mount London 52.
Australian Christopher Burton (22pts) was in the lead of the provisional ranking yesterday evening, but in the end it was the 2015 young horses World Champion, Laura Collett, who won the competition this morning. With an brilliant score of 78.70% she finishes the event with 21.3 penalty points. Laura Collett is currently forty-ninth in the world ranking, but she also took tenth place in the event with 26.2pts on Mr Bass. Close behind, Christopher Burton (22pts) and Piggy March (22.2pts) remain in second and third place, respectively. Although six of the ten top scores were taken by British riders, Tim Price (NZL), who ranks 2nd in the world, took fourth place with a dressage score of 77.04%, earning him 23 penalty points with Wesko.
German rider Christopher Wahler (25.6 pts) also made it to the top 10 with Carjatan S.
The last French rider to take off this morning, Maxime Livio scored 67.65%, finishing thirty-first, with 32.4 penalty points.
“I am very happy with both my horses!! This is the first CCI5* eventing competition for London 52. He was a bit nervous when he entered the track but then he was well focused throughout the test! Of course, the event is not over yet and the cross-country tomorrow will undoubtedly shake up the ranking, but I have confidence in my horses. Mr Bass is experienced at this level of competition and is a very good cross country horse. London is less experienced but he is in great shape this weekend and I can’t wait to see how he will perform tomorrow! We are very lucky to be here this weekend and I am very happy to be able to compete with these two outstanding horses,” commented Laura Collett at the end of the event.
Tomorrow’s event will be the breath-taking cross-country competition. Horse and rider will set off on the 6.3 kilometre course, with an array of 31 impressive natural obstacles. An event which promises many twists and turns in the rankings and a good dose of adrenaline for the public!
Find the results here.
You can follow the livestream here.
More from News:
