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Pippa Funnell, 36 years old, already a two time winner of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI****, in 2002 and 2003, only to fall at the same gate in Huntsman's Close with both her horses in 2004, looks precariously positioned to win for a third time, as she is in first place on her 2003 Rolex-Kentucky and Burghley winner Primmore's Pride with a score of 44.5 which included 3.6 time faults. This is Primmore's Pride's first Badminton. He was her ride at the Athens Olympic Games where they were in the Silver Medal Team and won the Individual Bronze Medal. (Pippa and Primmore's Pride are pictured at the right at the Wadsworth Barrels.)

As Eventing fans will remember, Pippa had a very hard time holding Primmore's Pride at Athens and accumulated some time faults for this reason. Pippa commented on this problem, "Yogi (Briesner, the British Team coach) has given me a lot of help. I was chuffed to bits that he wasn't fighting me. We've worked hard on this control problem. We tried a nose band that I found in my tack room when we cleaned it out and we are using a less severe bit. When he came to a trot before The Zig Zag, I said to myself, 'God! this is a major break through!"

Pippa's teammate in Athens, William Fox-Pitt, with his Athens ride Tamarillo, last year's Badminton winner, is a close second on 46.1. Tamarillo ran a double clear for William to place him within 1.6 faults of the leaders. Pippa has one time fault in hand; but, no rails in hand.

William said, "He's not in a good frame of mind. He's been playing the fool all week. I hope he will concentrate tomorrow." William's pulled up his first horse Ballincoola on the Steeplechase when he wasn't travelling well. It transpired that his heart was fibrilating. This is a problem that usually can be handled medically.

Regarding Tamarillo's ease in making the time, William commented, "He's a very quick horse. You don't have to set him up. We were pulling up from nearly Huntsman's Close home." Tamarillo had one glitch coming out of the Quarry. "He saved my bacon there. His legs came up like an airplane." (William and Tamarillo are pictured at the left jumping into water.)

Yoshiaki Oiwa, the first Japanese to ever ride at Badminton, led for most of the day on his dressage score of 51.0. He now stands third with the 18 year old bay gelding Voyou du Roc.

Yoshi said, "It must be a dream. I can't believe I am sitting here with these big names." When asked if his horse was a good Show Jumper, he said, "NO!"

When Yoshi first started riding, he did not like it. "The horses were just finishing race horses. They were very difficult to stop."

"This is Voyou du Roc's last competition. I really wanted to ride well for him." (Yoshi and Voyou du Roc are pictured at the right jumping the bounce out of the water.)

The Top Ten after Cross Country are:

1. Pippa Funnell (GBR), Primmore's Pride - 44.5 (3.6 time XC)
2. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Tamarillo - 46.1 (DC)
3. Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN), Voyou du Roc - 51.0 (0.8 Time XC)
4. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Master Monarch - 51.7 (DC)
5. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Lord Killinghurst - 52.0 (DC)
6. Jeanette Brakewell (GBR), Over To You - 52.2 (DC)
7. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tangleman - 52.3 (0.4 time XC)
8. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Mister Pracatan - 54.5 (DC)
9. Andrew Nicholson (NZL), Fenicio - 54.8 (DC)
10. Daisy Dick (GBR), Spring Along - 55.6 (DC)

Others of Interest:

12. Heidi White (USA), Northern Spy - 56.5 (2.0 time XC)

Heidi and Northern Spy had a cracking round. At times Northern Spy seemed to be going too fast, and perhaps getting away from Heidi. He positively charged through the water as can be seen from the photo at the left.

17. Will Faudree (USA), Antigua - 61.3 (DC)

Will and Antigua are pictured at the right on the Steeplechase. They were on of 12 combinations to finish on their Dressage score

37. Sara Kozumplik (USA), As You Like It -, 82.9 (0.8 time SC; 18.4 time XC)

Sara Kozumplic and As You Like It had one of the best trips through the Lake than this reporter witnessed. Here the pair is pictured at the step up out of the water and before the skinny.

51. Eleanor Brennan (GBR), Bailey Zwei - 122.1 (20 jumping, 22.8 time XC)

(56 horses finished)

***

Earlier In The Day

Good news for both Heidi White with Northern Spy and Will Faudree on Antigua at about 2/3 of the way through.

Will finished on his Dressage score of 61.3 for a tie for 9th place, at present, with the top ranked riders still to run.

Heidi added 2 time faults to her Dressage score of 54.5 for a two day score of 56.5 and 5th place, at present, also with the top ranked riders still to run.

Eleanor Brennan, who lives in Virginia, but is a British citizen and rides with Kim Severson, had a run out in Huntsman's Close and some time faults with Bailey Zwei for a final score of 122.1.

Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) riding Voyou du Roc leads at present on a score of 51.0. He stood equal seventh afte Dressage. Yoshi rides with Andrew and Bettina Hoy.