The Olympic gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin lit up the arena at MARS Badminton Horse Trials with a stunning performance and took the lead after the first day of dressage with the excellent mark of 22.4. They have almost five penalties over second-placed Emily King and Valmy Biats on 27.3.
A new face burst onto the scene in third, first-timer Tom Woodward who, at 23 is the youngest rider in the field of 81. He scored 27.9 on the 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky, a result he described as “surreal”.
The world champion Yasmin Ingham, also making her MARS Badminton debut, is fourth on Rehy DJ on 29.1. Oliver Townend, the early leader on Ballaghmor Class, is now in fifth place and Gemma Stevens is sixth with Chilli Knight.