The cross country phase of the Good Luck Beijing – HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup, serving as test event for the 2008 Olympic Games, has been successfully completed.
The testing course was 4347m long with 24 fences and 34 jumping efforts over a curvy course. Spreading over the rolling countryside of the Beas River country club – one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Asia, the Cross Country – was beautifully built by International Course Designer Michael Etherington-Smith, who will also be in charge of Olympic Cross Country next year.
The only rider to make the 7min55 of time allowed was Germany’s Frank Ostholt on After the Battle (7min51). Staying on his Dressage score of 53.40, he takes the lead. Commenting on the rain from tropical storm Pabuk, Ostholt noted that the rain was not a problem to the competitors. “The rain doesn’t matter, the weather was no problem; it’s no different to Germany.â€