Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II lead the CCI4*-L class at Barroca d’Alva
© Australian Equestrian Team
By Equestrian Life
Sammi Birch is currently placed first and fourth after the cross country phase at Barroca d’Alva CCI4*-L in Portugal with Hunter Valley II and Finduss PFB respectively. In a field of 25 starters, Sammi placed third after dressage with Hunter Valley II on a score of 28.9 penalties, and fourteenth with Finduss PFB on 34.8 penalties. Fast cross country rounds with minimal time penalties on both horses saw the British based Australian rise to a commanding position on the leaderboard ahead of Sunday’s show jumping phase. Sammi finished the cross country phase on a score of 31.3 riding Hunter Valley II, and 38.8 with Finduss PFB.
Sweden’s Ludwig Svennerstal is currently in second place in the class riding Balham Mist. Tenth after the dressage, he produced the only cross country round clear of time penalties in the class, and is just 1 penalty behind Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II on a score of 32.3. New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington is currently in third place with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ on 37.8 penalties.
It’s been a successful trip to Portugal for Sammi Birch and her upper level horses; two weeks ago she placed third and fifth with Hunter Valley II and Finduss PFB in the CCI4*-S class at the first leg of the Portugal Winter Tour. Good luck to Sammi Birch, Hunter Valley II, Finduss PFB and all of Birch Equestrian’s connections in the show jumping phase!
Results and start times for the event can be found here.
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