Andrew Hoy takes the lead after Dressage at Leg 4

Leg 4 of the Event Rider Masters started with a bang today at Gatcombe with some of the early performers posting personal bests.  Gubby Leach and Xavier took an early lead and in doing so recorded a career best score of 46.4, to leave them in 10th going into tomorrow’s jumping phases.  Matthew Heath and One Of A Kind was another unexpected pair in the top ten.  The first time this combination have scored a sub 45, scoring 44.9 to take 7th place.

A highlight in session three came from Izzy Taylor and KBIS Briarlands Matilda who produced a polished test to score 42.9, leaving them in third place.  The top two positions were both sub 40 scores and came from Oliver Townend, riding recent Burgham CIC** winner Cillnabradden Evo, who scored 39.1 to sit in 2nd and Andrew Hoy who rode a correct and expressive test on Cheeky Calimbo to score 36.6 and take the top spot.

With just three rails separating the top eighteen combinations and not one combination with a rail in hand, day two is sure to be another thriller!