AS the eventing action at Millstreet builds up to its climax, the cream of the world’s top riders are set to tackle the testing cross-country phase today. With the dressage behind them, it is Australia’s Christopher Burton (Lawton Chloe) who heads the feature Noel C Duggan CCI4*L class, while at the time of writing, British rider Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class have taken a commanding lead in the prestigious ERM invitational short format showcase.

Townend’s breathtaking test was well rewarded with score of just 21.00, but also excelling to currently hold second spot is Ireland’s Sarah Ennis (Horseware Stellor Rebound) who scored 24.9. Ennis’s compatriot and fellow team silver medallist Sam Watson is also well positioned with his Camphire victor Imperial Sky on 27.5 but with several of the higher ranked riders due to run later in the proceedings, the placings are likely to change further.

While the leading spot will be hard to emulate or better, other contenders include the world number one Tim Price, Gemma Tattersall and Bill Levitt.

In the former long format class, Irish hopes are pinned on Joseph Murphy, who is very well placed in seventh spot with his new rider Cesar V, and also on Brian Morrison who has slotted into 10th with Global Orchid.

Plan B

It is a huge credit to the team at Millstreet that the event itself is even taking place. Following a week of almost relentless rain, and despite the venue’s wonderful permanent infrastructure, parts of the cross-country tracks at Drishane Castle were waterlogged and major decisions had to be made. “It was borderline,” admitted Thomas Duggan. “But we were lucky that space here is never an issue, and also that Mike Etherington-Smith had a plan B in place. As a result, we removed one entire section of the track, and replaced it with 10 new fences on drier land.”

Amazingly, this was all achieved in two days, and every track has been re-roped and remained at the required length.

The cross-country action kicks off at 8am tomorrow. First up is the CCI3*-L followed by the feature CCI4*-L, while the ERM showcase runs from 12.45pm.