Oli loses out at Pau

By Justine Thompson

Event diary

26 October 2009 12:37

Oli Townend lost his overnight lead at Les Etoilles de Pau in France at the weekend after knocking up a cricket score in the show jumping.

Oli had a jumping fence in hand entering into the final phase with the brilliant 14-year-old Carousel Quest. The horse had given his all the day before in the cross country.

Unfortunately, however, the pair hit seven fences and incurred time penalties, collecting a score of 31 which dropped them to eighth place.

Oli wasn’t too upset though as he had already secured the HSBC FEI Classics in emphatic style. William Fox-Pitt, last year’s winner, slipped to fourth.

The show jumping course seemed fairly straightforward, with only two related distances, but there were only four clear rounds.

German rider Dirk Schrade jumped one of the clears on King Arthus to score the first four-star win of his career.

Lucy Wiegersma was best of the British contingent at Pau, coming fourth on Granntevka Prince.