United States Eventing Association

International Riders in Control at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Germany’s Julia Krajewski has taken pole position at the end of dressage in the CCI3* at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

Riding Chipmunk FRH, the 28-year-old scored 33.4, which gives her a 2.3 penalties lead over Britain’s Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street.

Krajewski said: “I normally don’t get nervous before dressage, but when you’re right at the end you have time to think about it. This is the highlight of Chipmunk’s season – he was my reserve horse for the Europeans, so he was fittened up for that, and we thought Blenheim would be a good alternative.

“He wants to please and he’s very genuine – if he understands something, he’ll do it.”

There are two American in the top-10 with Kim Severson leading the way in third on a 37.8 aboard Cooley Cross Border. Hannah Sue Burnett and RF Demeter sit in sixth on a score of 39.7.

In all, seven riders scored in the 30s, demonstrating the high standard of dressage on display this year.

There are five other U.S. riders competing in the CCI3*

=16th - Doug Payne and Vandiver, 46.6
=24th - Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Carpe Diem IV, 47.1
28th - Tiana Coudray and Under the Clocks, 48.2
41st - Lauren Kieffer and Landmarks Monte Carlo, 50.5
81st - Andrea Baxter and Indy 500, 63.1

See the full CCI3* results here

The international theme was continued in the CIC3* for 8- and 9-year-old horses. After the first day of dressage for this prestigious class, Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto is in first place aboard Brookpark Vikenti with a mark of 40.7.

Kazuma, who has been based with one of Britain’s most successful riders, William Fox-Pitt, for the past three months, admitted that he was “very surprised” to find himself in the lead. A former show jumper who is only in his second season of eventing, but who aims to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, he said: “He was a bit tense today in the warm-up but settled down in the arena.

“The cross-country course looks big and tricky – William [Fox-Pitt] said it was easy, but not to me!”

Second is Australian Christopher Burton, who picked up a mark of 42.6 with Cooley Lands. And Oliver Townend, winner of Burghley two weeks ago and a member of Britain’s gold medal-winning team at the recent European Championships, is third on Ridere Dorcha with 43.4.

For the U.S., Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp sits in fifth currently with Deniro Z on a 44.4.

See the full CIC3* for 8- and 9-year-olds here

The competition continues tomorrow with the second day of dressage in the CIC3* for 8- and 9-year-old horses, and the dressage phase of the Event Rider Masters competition.