Eventing: Zara Phillips takes the lead ahead of Bettina Hoy
It was Rüdiger Schwarz’s day. The Warendorf-based German course builder, who designed the WEG course celebrated the biggest success of his career as a course designer. His first World Championships course was not only highly praised by the competitors, but also by the ecstatic crowd of around 44,000 people, who lined the track at the Soers. “My fundamental idea was to make sure that the best pairs headed the field in the World Championships. I placed all of the obstacles that are very technical and demand a great deal freshness from the rider and horse at the start of the course. Towards the end, when the concentration starts to fade, I opted for elements, which test the honesty and strength of the horses. I think that I achieved this aim quite well,” explained the 56-year-old.
Schwarz’s concept came off: Although all of the riders were unanimous in their opinion that the course was overall very demanding and very technical, they also agreed that it was fitting for a World Championships competition and above all fair. Of the 76 riders, who set off on the cross-country course, the bwin Prize, 59 reached the finishing line; seven retired and 10 were eliminated after refusals or a fall. There were no serious falls, only the Australian rider, Sonja Johnson, was taken to hospital with suspected concussion for a check-up, but in fact only suffered a few bruises.
“I can hardly believe that I am in the lead,” swarmed Zara Phillips, granddaughter of the British Queen and daughter of Princess Anne, who herself competed very successfully in eventing competitions. The 25-year-old finished the 6,380 m track comprising of 31 natural obstacles (45 fences) with her chestnut English thoroughbred gelding, Toy Town, without collecting either time faults or penalty faults. So with a score of 41.7 (minus) points she is in first place after the dressage and cross competitions. “I am really looking forward to the show-jumping in the famous huge stadium in Aachen.” Bettina Hoy was overjoyed when she reached the finishing line with her 15-year-old Irish grey gelding, Ringwood Cockatoo. Having picked up 7.2 time faults, the rider, who was ahead after the dressage, is now lying two faults behind Zara Phillips. The interim results put the German rider, Frank Osthold and his Hanoverian gelding, Air Jordan, (46.9) into third place.
Germany still ranks first in the team classification after the dressage and cross-country with a score of 143, followed by Great Britain (175) and the USA (190.1). After the horse inspection tomorrow (10 a.m.), the concluding show-jumping competition in the main stadium will decide who takes the (individual and team) gold, silver and bronze medals (Starting at 2 p.m.).
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