Laura Collett and Grand Manoeuvre out-manoeuvred the rest of the field today in the CIC3* at Belton International
Laura Collett has started well at Belton International, leading the CIC3* after the first day of dressage on the leggy chestnut Grand Manoeuvre.
Another British lady rider, Piggy French, led the class for much of the day on Quarrycrest Echo with a score of 42.30 and Piggy was delighted not only with Quarrycrest Echo’s test but with being back in competition. After taking a year out in 2016 for the birth of her baby Max, Piggy has been working on getting back into riding fitness and it all seems to be paying off with a win at Oasby a few weeks ago and a strong start at Belton today
Piggy French
However Laura and Grand Manoeuvre produced the only sub-40 test of the day with some very good work across the board; the big moving horse packaged it all together today to really show his ability and this is his best score at this level since Belton last year
Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino
The young New Zealand rider Jesse Campbell is also capable of pulling off a sub-40 test at this level but today a score of 42.40 on Kaapachino put him into a very strong third place just ahead of his compatriot Sir Mark Todd in equal fourth place riding NZB Campino (43) with Izzy Taylor riding KBIS Starburst. Like Laura, Sir Mark and Jesse are Badminton-bound on these horses and Jesse in particular must be delighted with Kaapachino’s test
Another British lady rider, Pippa Funnell lies in sixth place on Billy Beware while fellow Australians Paul Tapner on Bonza King of Rouges and Sam Griffiths on Happy Times, who was happily chirruping throughout his test, are in equal eighth place on 45.40
Sam Griffiths and the evergreen Happy Times
