Oliver and Ececheira through the water for a win
An Eventful Life is filming all riders on cross country at Burnham Market International - find out more here
Oliver Townend continued to stamp his authority on Barefoot Estates Burnham Market Horse Trials, as he has done so often in the past. Having won a novice section on Thursday, on Friday he claimed both an intermediate and the advanced classes, riding Ececheira and Lanfranco respectively – Lanfranco was also a winner at Burnham Market last year.
Oliver moved ahead of dressage leaders Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott thanks to a fast clear cross country round – Bettina incurred time penalties, dropping to second place. Ireland's Austin O'Connor took third riding Kilpatrick Knight, with Oliver back in fourth on Samuel Thomas II.
The open intermediate was close fought with the top two riders both finishing on their dressage scores. Harry Meade and Orlando held Tim Price and Cooley Showtime back in to second place, with third and fourth, Elizabeth Power and Bill Levett, equally close together, five points behind the leaders. Bill is back in action tomorrow as one of our charity camel racing jockeys.
Another camel jockey was in the money in an intermediate: Laura Collett & Dacapo finished runners up to Angus Smales on Ballinteskin Rado, a horse who spends all winter hunting with his owner.
On Saturday the action kicks off at 8.30am in the show jumping arena and an hour later on the cross country course. The camel racing will take place up on the cross country course, at approximately 12.50pm and then again at 2.30pm. The professional event rider jockeys are Australian Bill Levett, Ireland's Jonty Evans, and a trio of British girls, Sarah Cohen, Laura Collett and Lissa Green.
