Germany’s Julia Krajewski riding Ero de Cantraie moved into the lead of the CCIO4*-L on Friday afternoon at Military Boekelo-Enschede, but it is Great Britain that holds the top spot in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition after two days of dressage.
While Julia is a two-time winner at Boekelo, this is the first experience here for her twelve-year-old bay gelding Ero de Cantraie but he looked very comfortable and relaxed in the big arena, pulling off a personal best score for him at this level and Julia looked very pleased as she exited the arena.
The three judges - Andrew Bennie (NZL), Angela Tucker (GBR) and Pollyann Huntington (AUS) - awarded her a score of 23.9 penalties with both Andrew and Angela bang on the same percentage (77.86) and having Julia in first place, but Polly’s preferred test was that of British team combination Kirsty Chabert riding Classic VI, who earned a 10 from Polly for her final halt.
Gemma Stevens had maintained her overnight individual lead with the nine-year-old chestnut gelding Chilli Morning IV (25.4) until Julia moved the pair down to second place, where they finished the day. Gemma later came back into the arena on her team horse, Cooley Park Muze for 17th place, but it was her teammate and past World Champion, Yasmin Ingham riding the nine-year-old Kinda Corvette, by the top eventing stallion Diarado, who matched Brazilian rider Marcio Carvalho Jorge’s Thursday score of 26.0 on Castle Howard Casanova, to share equal third place going into the cross country phase.
Watch all Friday tests in the video below with Julia’s leading ride starting at 04:50:00
Britain top FEI Eventing Nations Cup after dressage
The two other British team combinations, Kirsty Chabert riding Classic VI and Katie Magee riding Cushlas Indigo, also share an equal placing, both in sixth place on a score of 26.4, helping Great Britain to take the lead of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Final on a score of 78.8 penalty points. But it is very close with defending champion Germany currently in second place on a combined score of 79.1 thanks to Christoph Wahler riding Gainsbourg de Bedon and Arne Bergendahl riding Bronco NRW joining Julia on sub-30 scores, both in the top 15.
The United States holds third place (84.0) with the jet-setting Allie Knowles, who has been competing between bases in the UK and the US this year, riding Montpellier Scais the best performed pair of this team, currently in ninth place (27.0).
Tim Price one to watch on cross country
Tim Price’s The Highlander took the top spot for New Zealand on Friday, finishing the day in 25th place (29.4) and could be one to watch on cross country, with the pair on good form, having won both a CCI4*-L (Strzegom) and CCI4*-S (Kronenberg) in June this year.
The last combination to head out on Adrian Ditcham’s reversed course tomorrow will need to put their foot down to beat some of the combinations ahead of them, but Tim has the advantage of going out on Gloire de Marchenval, currently in 47th place, as his first horse.
Jonelle Price and Indian Tonic are now in 38th place and Australia’s Lamoza Velisha, who had the promise of a very good test on Thursday marred by Call Me Cooley’s spectacular reaction to the flying changes (possibly the best rear we’ve seen all year!) heads into cross country in 83rd place (watch the Thursday dressage tests in our article here).
Merel Blom leads Dutch Championship
Defending national champion Sterre van Houte and her thirteen-year-old bay gelding Crossborder Radar Love had to settle for second place in the Dutch National Championship, led by Merel Blom-Hulsman and her ten-year-old bay gelding Diego TH after the first phase. Merel, who previously claimed the Dutch Championship title with Ceda in 2019, are in 19th place (28.1) overall.
There is also an Under 25 Leaderboard at Boekelo this year, currently led by the USA team member Jack Curtis riding Luska Candy Clover, in 26th place overall.
Full start lists and results here
