The weather is already coming into play at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau this week, the last CCI5*-L of the Northern Hemisphere season, with dressage contested in the pouring rain and changes planned for tonight’s cross country.

Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park remain the best of the Kiwis, sitting in fifth place on 26.3 penalty points. Rosalind Canter (GBR) and Isilot DHI lead the 73-strong field on 19 with Emily King (GBR) on Valmy Biats in second on 24.6 and Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent in third on 24.6.

The Kiwis ruin an otherwise Brit top 10, with Samantha Lissington on Lord Seekonig in seventh on 26.7 and Tim Price aboard Jarillo in ninth on 27.2.

Clarke is very pleased with his Paris Games mount. “He was very focused and rideable and gave me a super test,” he said.

Samantha too is rapt with Lord Seekonig. “ A mistake down the first centre line had us playing catch up for the whole test but what a test it was,” she said. “It’s a personal best at 5* for both of us . . . he really pulled out all the stops.”

Tim said his young horse had “acquitted himself well and did the best of his capabilities today”. “We had a couple of little mistakes but nothing too big or substantial and he is in the mix,” said Tim. “Tomorrow is a whole new day with the course being so wet and rain falling as we speak. One job done and on to the next.”

Tayla Mason and Centennial sit in 19th with their 30 penalty point effort with Caroline Powell scoring 32.8 aboard CBI Aldo and 33.5 on High Time. James Avery and MBF Connection have 34.3 on the scoreboard with Ginny Thomasen and Capitaine de Hus Z notching 34.9.

The wet conditions have led to the organisers and cross country designer Pierre Michelet to modify the cross country, removing three obstacles and altering one route between two others. A meeting will be held tonight to decide if any further changes are needed.

ESNZ high performance eventing head coach Sam Griffiths said each of the eight Kiwi combinations have their own goals for the weekend. “Some are here simply to end their season on a high note, while others are competing to win. We’ve also brought riders in the making with a lot of potential who should perform well here in Pau.”

He says the riders have had very wet weather in the past few weeks, so are “pretty much used to it, but of course we’d rather have the sun”.

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Horse Breeding Owner
Capitaine De Hus Z by Cosinhus out of France de Hus who is by Fergar Mail David and Karie Thomson and Ginny Thomasen
Jarillo by Dantos out of Fiorilla who is by Alicante

Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good

Menlo Park by Berlin out of Faerie Queen who is by Rock King

Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone

MBF Connection Luidam out of Traditionally Aloof

Hazel Livesey and James Avery

Lord Seekonig Lord Fauntleroy out of Seekoenigin who is by Carpalo Sharon Honiss, Annabelle and Robin Greville Williams, Neil Robertson and Brayden Lissington
CBI Aldo Goodluck VDL out of KMS Eclipse who is by Ramon

Serena Greenwell, Pat Melville-Evans, Jo West and Caroline Powell

High Time Hemmingway out of Freckleton Maxima’s Mandolin

Ruth  Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West and Caroline Powell

Centennial Euro Sport Centavos out of Made You Look who is by Moonwalker Sue Rutter and Sonya, Kyle and Tayla Mason

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photo: Irish Eventing Times – Pam Cunningham