Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class ©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
The penultimate combination to go, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class scored the best Badminton dressage in 18 years with a phenomenal mark of 20.8 to sail into the lead. Oliver is currently in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam and he couldn’t be off to a better start.
Mark Todd another combination to go in the afternoon session on Kiltubrid Rhapsody are closely behind Oliver scoring 23.4, the best top level dressage score for Mark in over a decade.
Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
Rosalind Canter, the leader after day one has dropped to third place with Allstar B with a score of 23.9 narrowly ahead of “The People’s Horse” Cooley Rorkes Drift and Jonty Evans. Jonty and “Art” not only performed their best ever test at any level but also the best ever 4* score for Ireland with 24.1.
Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift ©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
In equal fifth are two previous Badminton Champions from Australia, Paul Tapner and Sam Griffiths on 24.4. They will certainly be hungry to win another title and won’t be hanging around on the cross-country tomorrow!
Paul Tapner and Bonza King Of Rouges ©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh ©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
Piggy French also posted a fantastic performance to lie in equal 10th as we head into the cross country on the brilliant mare Vanir Kamira, with whom she was 2nd at Burghley last year.
Piggy French and Vanir Kamira ©️The Gaitpost/Nico Morgan Media
The ground could certainly prove influential in the cross-country tomorrow and we are sure this years Badminton is not going to be a dressage competition. With less than 5 marks separating the top ten, and the top 66 places no higher than the 30’s, tomorrow is definitely all to play for.
We wish all the combinations the best of luck for tomorrows cross-country phase!
TOP 10 AFTER DRESSAGE DAY TWO
| 1. | Oliver Townend | Ballaghmor Class | 20.8 |
| 2. | Mark Todd | Kiltubrid Rhapsody | 23.4 |
| 3. | Rosalind Canter | Allstar B | 23.9 |
| 4. | Jonty Evans | Cooley Rorkes Drift | 24.1 |
| 5. | Paul Tapner | Bonza King Of Rouges | 24.4 |
| 5. | Sam Griffiths | Paulank Brockagh | 24.4 |
| 7. | William Coleman | OBOS O’Reilly | 24.6 |
| 8. | Michael Jung | La Biosthetique Sam FBW | 24.7 |
| 9. | Yoshiaki Oiwa | The Duke Of Cavan | 24.9 |
| 10. | Lauren Kieffer | Veronica | 25.0 |
| 10. | Piggy French | Vanir Kamira | 25.0 |
View the full results HERE
Huge thanks to Nico Morgan Media for the photos.
Seraphina Williams
