Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo have moved into the lead at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials after the 15 penalties that were added to their score card for knocking down a red flag during their cross-country round earlier today were removed.
It was an otherwise copybook round, with the duo pulling off the fastest round of the day so far.
The penalties were reviewed by the ground jury, who watched video footage to assess whether the horse’s shoulders were the correct side of the red flag at the second open corner coming out of Equidry Huntsman’s Close (26b).
At 4.15pm the penalties were removed and Ros and ‘Walter’ went into the lead.
“I wouldn’t have said he did anything wrong there. Hopefully we won’t have another situation like the Olympics, but we’ll see,” said Ros after her round, referring to last year’s Games in Paris.
On that occasion, the pair were also handed 15 penalties for a knocked flag, but they remained in place after a review.
Great Britain carried on to secure Olympic team gold there, but it dashed Ros’ chances of an individual medal
All fences on a cross-country course are marked on either side with flags: white flags on the left, red flags on the right. A penalty-free round requires rider and horse to pass between the flags.
An extraordinary horse
Ros and Walter stopped the clock with 11 seconds to spare.
“He’s an extraordinary horse. I’m not even the fastest rider in the world but he’s got such acceleration right to the end. I’m a lucky girl to have him,” said Ros, who added that he preparation this morning has been very different after the sad passing of Caroline Moore in March.
“She’s by my side on cross-country day normally,” explained Ros. “Even at the Olympics when she wasn’t there, she was on the phone and messaging.
“I had to have a chat to myself and remember everything she would have said and remind myself that I can do it.”
Main image by Tim Wilkinson
