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1. Ingrid Klimke (GER), Sleep Late - 40.4
2. Ruth Edge, Two Thyme - 40.6
3. Terry Boon, Foreign Exchange - 40.9
4. Pascal Leroy (FRA), Glenburny du Leou - 45.4
5. Karin Donckers (BEL), Gormley - 45.6
6. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Mr. Pracatan - 49.1
7. Dirke Schrade (GER), Sindy 43 - 49.3
8. Daisy Dick, Spring Along - 49.4
9. William Fox-Pitt, Tamarillo - 49.8
10. Joe Meyer (NZL), Snip - 51.3

Ingrid Klimke, the Bronze Medalist from the 2005 European Championships, explained why she had never before competed at Badminton, "Normally every German is afraid of Badminton. I have been here twice as a spectator. We all come and watch but no one was keen to ride in it.When I saw the course in Sydney (the 2000 Olympic Games) I said, 'Oh, that looks like Badminton.'

"Our coach (Chris Bartle, a Brit who won Badminton in 1998) encouraged us to go to England. "You can compare (yourselves) with the British riders. We hope we can make a good job here.

With Chris Bartle, "We definitely do more Cross Country schooling and techniques - our seat and course walking."

Ingrid spoke about Sleep Late in the Dressage, "He right away relaxed. I could really ask him to do the movements on the spot." In regards the Cross Country course Ingrid said that she had only been around once quickly; however, she felt the water would be influential.

Ruth Edge who stands second and Terry Boone who is in third place are members of the UK Sport funded World Class Potential Program.

Ruth said, "It's a huge support for budding potential Olympians, (hopefully one day). It's a great honor to be on the program.

"The lake has a lot of riders worried. It's the first time my horse will see the huge crowds we get at Badminton."

Terry Boonbroke his leg in September and is ". . . still gettiing physio." Terry gave up the ride on Cashel Bay because of his injury. Cashel Bay is now ridden by Mary King, a two time past winner of Badminton.

Terry spoke of his own ride Foreign Exchange, "He went to Burghley two years ago I know he's capable of a four star track. I hope to be able to keep him focused on the fences."

The first horse in the Dressage on Friday morning goes at 9:45 AM.

The Second Rotation of the Afternoon

The highest placed competitors from the last rotation of Thursday afternoon were Pasccal Leroy (FRA) and Glenbuurny du Leou, who slipped into fourth on a score of 45.4 and Dirk Schrade (GER) with Sindy 43, who moved into seventh place on 49.3. (Dirk and Sindy 43 are pictured at the left.)

Glenburny du Leou is a grey Selle Francais gelding - twelve years old.

Sindy 43 is a 12 year old German bred chestnut mare who placed third at Luhmuhlen when it was a three star, in 2004.

The First Rotation of the Afternoon

Thirty-eight year old Ingrid Klimke, daughter of the late famous German Dressage Gold Medalist Dr. Reiner Klimke, took the lead from Ruth Edge by .2 of a fault riding the 15 year old British bred grey gelding Sleep Late. (Ingrid and Sleep Late are pictured at the right.)

This pair, heavily tipped before the start of the competition, were the Bronze Medalists at the European Championships, in 2005. This is their first trip to Badminton, though Ingrid has ridden on the fouth place German Three Day Olympic Team at two Olympic Games.

The Second Rotation of the Morning

The first rider of the Second Rotation was Daisy Dick with Spring Along. This pair finished eleventh at Badminton, in 2004, and eighth here last year, as well as eleventh at the European Championships last fall. They slipped briefly into second place behind Andrew Hoy and in front of William Fox-Pitt; however that placing did not last. (Daisy Dick shall be forever famous when Blyth Tate (NZL), twice World Champion, complained that the Badminton organizers would not take more entries from non- British residents of Great Britain such as himself, while accepting less well known young British riders. such as Daisy Dick to whom he referred as Samantha Clippity Clop!)

By the Lunch Break all of the top three had been sent packing down the order to be replaced on the Leader Board.

Twenty-six year old Ruth Edge (nee Friend) now leads on 40.6 with Two Thyme, a twelve year old English Thoroughbred who won the British Open Championship at Gatcombe, in 2004, and placed third at Saumur (in France) last year. (Ruth and Two Thyme are pictured at the left.)

Ruth is closely pursued by Terry Boone who rode Foreign Exchange a twelve year old chestnut gelding with whom Terry won Bramham in 2004. Terry is now thirty two years old; but is a former European Young Rider Champion. Boone's score is 40.9, a mere .3 of a fault adrift of the lunch time leaders.

Belgium's Karen Donckers, a companion of Carl Bouckaert's, slipped into third position with the fifteen year old Irish Thoroughbred Gormley. This pair have had excellent international placings which include fourth place at the European Championships in 2005, third in the World Cup Final, in 2004, and sixth place in the European Championships, in 2003.

The Leader Board at the Lunch Break Looked Like This:

1. Ruth Edge, Two Thyme - 40.6
2. Terry Boon, Foreign Exchange - 40.9
3. Karin Donckers (BEL), Gormley - 45.6
4. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Mr. Pracatan - 49.1
5. Daisy Dick, Spring Along - 49.4
6. William Fox-Pitt, Tamarillo - 49.8

The First Rotation of the Morning

Well, it's deja vue all over again! It is the first day of Dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** and guess who is in the lead after the first rotation of Dressage on Thursday morning? - that's right - Andrew Hoy - this time with Mr. Pracatan. (Andrew and Mr. Pracatan are pictured at the right below.) And guess who is in second place - that's right - William Fox-Pitt - this time with Tamarillo.

The Ground Jury President is Brian Ross (USA) - he was a member of the Ground Jury at the Kentucky. The other two members of the Ground Jury are Mrs. Anne Mette Binder (DEN) and Mr. Nick Burton (GBR).

The weather is unusually bright and warm - perhaps 75 degrees farenheit, which is boiling hot for Badminton. Stay tuned - the weather report for Saturday, Cross Country day, is rain - that's more like it.

Andrew's test was scored 49.1, while William's received 49.8. possibly because Tamarillo's flying changes were not as smooth as they might have been.

Mr. Pracatan is a Badminton veteran. He placed 7th here in 2003, 5th in 2004, and 6th in 2005. He was Andrew's ride at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Surely Andrew will be hoping for an even better placing in this Mr. Pracatan's fourth Badminton appearance.

Tamarillo, a fourteen year old part Arab gelding has been even more successful at Badminton. William and Tamarillo are pictured at the left.) He won here in 2004 and was a member of Great Britain's 2004 Olympic Silver Medal Team, in Athens,in the same year. Last year Tamarillo placed second at Badminton behind Pippa Funnell and Primmore's Pride. He went on to win the Individual Silver Medal at the European Championships, in 2005, and was a member of Great Britain's Gold Medal Team at the Europeans as well.

At the end of the first rotation Lucy Wiegersma stands in third place on a score of 53.7 with In the Purple, who finished 6gth at Boekelo last year and completed Badminton in 2004 when he was ridden by Matthew Wright.