Oxfordshire, United Kingdom—Sept. 13
The Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI*** leaderboard shifted after Day 2 dressage, with yesterday’s dressage leader Clark Montgomery falling to third with Loughan Glen. Great Britain’s Sarah Bullimore took the lead aboard chestnut mare Lilly Corinne (38.9), and Ireland’s Aoife Clark slotted into second (40.0) with Fenyas Elegance—another chestnut mare.
“I’m chuffed to bits with the mare,” said Bullimore to Lloyd Bell Productions. “We’ve always promised to be up there. She’s fantastic on the flat and does move beautifully, but this is the first time we’ve ever properly delivered. She’s finally just growing up. Certainly two years ago she was very hot. We’ve just been working on her and getting her brain in the right zone and working with me.”
“She’s come on leaps and bounds this year,” said Clark of her 9-year-old mare. “To do it in the atmosphere today, I was really pleased with her attitude.”
Phillip Dutton and Ben dropped to 21st after today’s rides, but they enjoyed a jump school today. Meghan O’Donoghue is sitting tied for 42nd aboard her own Pirate (52.3), while Cindy Rawson is 62nd with Mocharabuiee, and Julian Stiller sits 82nd with Sintra BK. Running Order, ridden to the CCI**** level by U.S. rider Doug Payne, is sixth after dressage with new pilot William Fox-Pitt.
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All three-star riders head out on Eric Winter’s cross-country course tomorrow.
“She does love her cross-country, and she will give you her all,” said Bullimore of Lilly Corinne, a 9-year-old Oldenburg (Lovis Corinth—Fatima, Fierant). “That’s the lovely thing about a mare. A gelding gives you everything, and it’s very straightforward, but a mare will absolutely lay herself down for you and give you 150 percent. She is one of those; she will fight for you.”
Check out Eventing Nation’s preview of the three-star cross-country course, and read about Day 1 of dressage at Blenheim.
Full results available online.
