It’s been a day of dressage at the Kronenberg Horse Trials in The Netherlands but thoughts are already turning to the cross country.

Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man sit in second spot in the CCI3*-S on 29 penalty points, with leader Bobby Upton (GBR) and It’s Cooley Time on 25.2.

Caroline Powell and Legally Grey popped into fifth place in the CCI4*-S with a 26.9 penalty point effort. Clarke and Aces High are in 14th on 31, Caroline aboard Greenacres Special Cavalier in 21st on 32.1, James Avery on MBF Connection scored 32.5, Caroline with CBI Aldo sit on 33.9, and James aboard Dallas 13 tallied 37.1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin lead the pack on 20.9.

The CCI4*-L gets underway Friday evening NZ time.

ESNZ head coach Sam Griffiths is full of praise for the event. “It’s our first time here and I think it should become a regular on our schedule. It is a great venue – the facilities here are unbelievable.”

The Kiwis have had a chance to look at what Sam is describing as a “nice and inviting” the cross country course. “It is basically the first one of the season. It is very sandy going and you do have to weave in and out of the woods, which will be a bit of a memory test for the riders.”

The course was no walk in the park with some decent questions, and particularly at the 4* water. “You get to there and know it is a serious course. I am confident our top combinations will handle it but this is eventing. We are all really looking forward to the rest of the competition. It is a very exciting year for us and this is the start of the road to the Paris Games.”

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaise
Photos by Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times