Jesse Campbell and his 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Cleveland are the best of the Kiwis at the end of the first day of dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, sitting in 12th equal spot on 31.4 penalty points. He later said the horse felt a bit tense but “held it together really well”.

Jesse has lined up twice before at Badminton, but this is Cleveland’s first time at the iconic event.

World number two Tim Price and his first mount Bango are in 26th on 37.6 penalty points. The 13-year-old chestnut had competed at other CCI5*-L events, but this is his first tilt at Badminton. Bango is the lesser experienced of Tim’s two horses at Badminton this year. “He just showed a bit of tension throughout . . . but I am happy to be here again and looking forward to the weekend.”

Oliver Townend (GBR) continued his searing form. The Kentucky CCI5*-L winner today set a new record in the dressage at Badminton with his 19.7 penalty point effort aboard Andrew Nicholson’s former horse Cillnabradden Evo. He’s five points clear of his nearest opposition, Tom McEwen (GBR) on 24.7 with Piggy French (GBR) rounding out the Brit trifecta on 26 aboard Vanir Kamira.

The British dominate the top 10, with just two other nationalities spoiling their run in the 40-strong combinations to have completed their dressage.

Tim has had a look at the cross country and describes it as big and bold with lots of angles and skinnies, decisions to be made and plans to stick to.

There’s plenty of talk about the going and Tim was pleased to see the cross country course being watered today.

Tonight will see Tim aboard Ringwood Sky Boy, Sir Mark Todd on NZB Campino, Andrew Nicholson on Swallow Springs and Virginia Thompson aboard Star Nouveau complete their dressage.

Who

Day

UK Time

NZ Time

Ginny Thompson & Star Nouveau

Friday

9.38am

10.38pm

Mark Todd & NZB Campino

Friday

10.02am

11.02pm

Andrew Nicholson & Swallow Springs

Friday

10.10am

11.10pm

Tim Price & Ringwood Sky Boy

Friday

3.48pm

4.48am Saturday

The horse details:
Ringwood Sky Boy – owned by Varenna Allen, Robert Taylor and Tim Price
Bango – owned by Numero Uno Syndicate
NZB Campino – owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Sir Mark Todd
Swallow Springs – owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon
Cleveland – owned by Kent Gardner and Jesse Campbell
Star Nouveau – owned by Elaine Butterworth, Anthony Quirk and Virginia Thompson

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photo by Libby Law/ESNZ