Clark still leading Irish rider after Badminton cross country

DUBLIN’S Aoife Clark was still the leading Irish rider at Badminton’s four-star horse trials today (Saturday) after finishing the demanding cross country phase.

Though dropping one place to 11th overall after jumping clear but incurring 4.8 time penalties on the Duke of Beaufort’s estate this afternoon, Clark is still less than ten penalty points off New Zealand leader Andrew Nicholson.

Riding the 15 year-old gelding Vaguely North, Clark is on a total of 47.7 points against Nicholson’s score of 37.8 with the gelding Nereo.

With two exceptions, Irish riders made big gains on the leaderboard after cross country, the most notable being Joseph Murphy and Sportsfield Othello, who climbed 40 places with their clear round. Murphy’s second horse, Electric Cruise, was unfortunately eliminated after three refusals at the Mirage Pond water obstacle.

Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Adventure rose to 21st place, with Elizabeth Power and September Bliss close behind in 24th.

Camilla Speirs and Portersize Just a Jiff dropped in the rankings after incurring 20 jumping faults and 4.4 time penalties.

Sunday sees the final show jumping phase at Badminton, where the eventual winner will be decided.

Irish scores after cross country were:

11th Aoife Clark/Vaguely North 47.7 penalties
21st Michael Ryan/Ballylynch Adventure (ISH) 53.3 penalties
24th Elizabeth Power/September Bliss 54.9 penalties
28th Joseph Murphy/Sportsfield Othello (ISH) 58.4 penalties
36th Clare Abbott/Euro Prince (ISH) 65.2 penalties
42nd Sam Watson/Horseware Bushman (ISH)(TIH) 69.6 penalties
48th Camilla Speirs/Portersize Just a Jiff (ISH)(TIH) 74.2 penalties
Elim Joseph Murphy/Electric Cruise (ISH)(TIH) 52.6 penalties

Aiofe Clark and Vaguely North gallop through the Lower Lake and lie 11th after cross country at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Picture: Helen Revington