Kitty King and Vendredi Biats Photo courtesy Action Replay Photography
British Olympic rider Kitty King is in the lead after dressage in the principal CIC3* class at the Owen Pugh Burgham International Horse Trials, Northumberland’s only international eventing venue
Riding eight-year-old Vendredi Biats, owned by Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd Baker, Sally Eyre and Samantha Wilson, Kitty scored an impressive 36.1 and will head to tomorrow’s showjumping and cross-country phases with a 2.1-penalty advantage over second-placed Oliver Townend and Detective (38.2).
Third is Japanese rider Ryuzo Kitajima, with a mark of 38.8 on Koko Doro.
Oliver Townend is also in fourth place on Cooley Master Class with 39.2, fifth with Note Worthy on 39.5 and ninth on Cooley SRS (40.2). Oliver is the only rider who could win the Shearwater Tri-Star Grand Slam, where a £50,000 bonus is on offer to anyone who can win three out of five events at CIC3* level. He won the Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials in April; victory at Burgham would ensure that he travels to the NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials in two weeks’ time in an attempt to capture the huge prize.
Tim Price and Falco Photo courtesy Action Replay Photography
New Zealand’s Tim Price heads the Howard Russell CIC2* after dressage on Sue Benson’s Falco after scoring 42.2. Second is Constance Copestake with a mark of 43.4, while Chuffy Clarke is close behind with 43.9 aboard Willem III.
Nicola Wilson and Kings Advocate II Photo courtesy Action Replay Photography
North Yorkshire’s Nicola Wilson is in pole position in the AW Jenkinson CIC* after scoring 34.4 in the dressage with Michele Hedley and Lady Milnes Coates’ Kings Advocate II. Alex Postolowsky is in second with All Or Nothing II on 37, and Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal (Fialotta) is third with a mark of 38.8.
The showjumping for the international classes starts at 7.30am tomorrow (Saturday), while cross-country commences at 8.50am. There are also British Showjumping classes starting at 8.30am. The Burgham Classic 1.40m Grand Prix starts at 1.30pm.
