Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerserare currently leading after the dressage at Pau
© Nicolas Hodys
The first eventing test in the CCI 5*-L competition at the Pau 5-Star event has drawn to a close. British rider Tom McEwen, currently ranked world no.12, takes first place at the top of the provisional leaderboard after today’s dressage tests on Toledo de Kerser (24.0), just ahead of the New-Zealander Tim Price, ranked world no.3 riding Wesko (25.6). The highest-ranking French horse-rider pair, Arnaud Boiteau on Quoriano*ENE HN comes in fifteenth place in the provisional rankings before Saturday’s cross-country event (33.2).
Tom McEwen talks about his performance in the dressage ring, his eventing superstar and the challenging cross country course ahead:
“I’m delighted to be in first place on the provisional leaderboard after the dressage test. I could tell that my performance was very smooth, and I think that’s what the judges were looking for today. There’s a lot of good competition in the CCI 5*-L Pau 5-Star event, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s cross-country event.”
“I really came here expecting a twisty track. But now I’ve walked it, it is tricky, but in general a really fluent track with some big fences and positive lines. I wouldn’t say that there are difficulties in one specific area: there are some really big questions all along the track. Perhaps the first water, with the sequence of five very close jumps in sequences: it’s a bit like doing Spring Garden at home, so you need to keep some energy for the end of the course. Then there’s a really big final fence with a difficult corner. The last water is perhaps also a difficulty.”
“He’s a really great horse! The start and finish sections of the course are fairly twisty at the start and finish, but there are some really open stretches in the middle where you can make up time. Toledo knows how to handle it all so I’m feeling confident about tomorrow.”
Australian results:
The second day of dressage saw Chris Burton and Quality Purdey, Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quid and Isabel English and Feldale Mouse compete. Chris Burton is currently the highest places Aussie, currently sitting in 6th position, with a score of 27.8.
Shane rose, Kevin McNab and Isabel English are currently sitting in 14th, 15th and 26th position, with scores of 33.0, 33.2 and 35.3 respectively.
Shane Rose and Virgil are scheduled to be the first Aussie combination out on course, being the 14th combination.
Click here to view the dressage results.
Click here to view the cross country timetable.
EQ Life wishes Shane, Kevin, Isabel and Chris the best of luck tomorrow!
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