Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig are the best of the Kiwis on the opening day Concours Complet International D’Arville in Belgium, with a 29.7 penalty point dressage effort in the CCIO4*-NC-S.

The combination sit in seventh spot with half the field having completed their dressage. Her Nations Cup teammate Lauren Inns and Global Fision M scored 32.1, Dan Jocelyn with Blackthorn Cruise scored 34.6, and Muzi Pottinger aboard Good Timing posted 37.3.

The individual New Zealand combinations are also handily placed, with James Avery and MBF Connection scoring 33, and Caroline Powell aboard CBI Aldo 34.8. Still to come in the class ais Ginny Thomasen with Gladstone.

The German Nations Cup team have dominated the first day, with Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21 leading the pack on 24.3, Calvin Bockmann on The Phantom of the Opera in second on 28.1, Emma Brussau aboard Dark Desire GS in third on 29.0, and Libussa Lubbeke on Caramia 34 in fifth with a score of 29.2. They lead the 12-strong Nations Cup competition on 81.4 penalty points with hosts Belgium in second on 93.3, and New Zealand third on 96.4.

Megan Heath aboard Adagio for Strings is the sole Kiwi in the CCI3*-S and notched a 35.1 penalty point dressage test with half the field still to go. Anna Lena Schaff (GER) and Lagona OLD lead on 26.6.

Dan Jocelyn and Greannanstown Atomic scored 32.3 for their CCI2*-S dressage, where Antonia Baumgart (GER) and Laguvulin 4 lad on 24.3. Still to come in that class is Caroline Powell on Oakley Olive.
Dressage will continue overnight.

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THE HORSE DETAIL
Good Timing – owned by The Volunteer Syndicate
Lord Seekonig (by Lord Fauntleroy, out of Seekonig who is by Carpalo) – owned by Sharon Honiss, Annabelle and Robin Greville Williams, and Brayden and Samantha Lissington
Blackthorn Cruise (by Vancouver, out of Ms Cruze who is by Cruising) – owned by Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn
Global Fision M (by Flipper D’elle HN, out of Kantussa who is by Cantus) – owned by the Innes Family Syndicate
MBF Connection – owned by Hazel Liversey
Gladstone (by Der Senaat 111, out of Vanessa B who is by Phin-Phin) – owned by Elaine Butterworth, Anthony Quirk and Ginny Thomasen
Oakley Olive (by Cevin Z, out of Sportsfield our Clare who is by Newmarket Venture) – owned by Jo West
Greannanstown Atomic – owned by The Atomic Syndicate and Dan Jocelyn

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