Maryland 5 Star dressage – Oliver Townend holds second as part ends

Oliver Townend holds second on the conclusion of the Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage, with fellow Brit Bubby Upton simply behind him in third after her check on Cola. Tamie Smith holds the lead on Mai Baum for the USA. 

Oliver and Ballaghmor Class – the 17-year-old three-time five-star winner owned by Karyn Shuter, Val Ryan and Angela Hislop – put in a completely skilled check right this moment, hitting the excessive marks all through.

The highlights of the Maryland 5 Star dressage check for Oliver Townend included the prolonged canter and last centreline, with each actions incomes eights throughout the board from judges Christina Klingspor (Sweden), Valerie Pleasure (USA) and Xavier Le Sauce (France).

He was awarded one outlier mark of 4, from Xavier at B, for his rein-back the place Ballaghmor Class appeared to kind of crouch on the finish of the motion and maybe kicked the white board. The opposite two judges gave a seven for this motion.

Oliver has completed on the rostrum on all three events that this occasion has run – he was second in 2021 on Cooley Grasp Class, then third on As Is in 2022 and third on Cooley Rosalent final yr. He returns after a difficult season for Ballaghmor Class, who missed out on Badminton and the Olympics after a deep-rooted hoof abscess within the spring.

“It’s a particular venue and for Cecil County and Maryland to placed on a five-star is one thing at all times be glad about,” stated Oliver. “Anybody that places on such an ordinary of occasion with such nice prize cash deserves to see Ballaghmor Class right here.”

The rider choked up when requested to pay tribute to his tremendous associate, who should be nearing the tip of his profession at 17 years previous, though his rider typically says he’s nonetheless bettering.

Et Hop Du Matz makes five-star debut

Additionally for Britain, Harry Meade is now ninth on Away Cruising, who did his check yesterday, and twelfth on his second trip, five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz, owned by Mandy Grey.

“He’s a younger horse and I’ve at all times stated he’s a bit behind and to offer him loads of time as he’s a really tall, weak, gangly spider of a horse, however having gone that softly softly strategy, really he’s been very uncomplicated and he’s at his first five-star at 10 so he’s not behind, however he nonetheless has a lot of enchancment to return,” stated Harry.

“The flying modifications are a piece in progress and we had errors in two that are pricey. However total I’m thrilled – he went like he was working at residence not in the primary enviornment on Friday afternoon at a five-star and the primary factor was he took a constructive expertise away from right here. He’s doing all the appropriate work, I’m nonetheless happy together with his mark and there can be extra to return so I hope he’ll be a extremely good horse.”

David Doel, who carried out his check yesterday on Galileo Nieuwmoed, holds sixteenth going into tomorrow’s cross-country.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the business on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest degree, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.