Gemma Stevens cemented pole position in the CCI4*-S with a breathtaking showjumping clear with Cooley Park Muze, the final horse to enter the Scone Palace International Horse Trials main arena. Mindful of the tight time, Gemma saw a long stride at the large Subaru oxer at fence seven, and the 10-year-old bay soared effortlessly over – then nimbly popped the following upright.
“I came round the corner to that blue oxer, thinking about the time and trying to give him enough space, but I saw a bit too much space! But he was lovely,” said Gemma, who was part of Britain’s gold medal-winning team at the recent World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
“I was a little bit nervous beforehand, not because the course was difficult but because I so want to do well. He is such a good jumper, and he’s a very special horse.”
Gemma is also lying in fourth and seventh, with the Chilli Morning clone Chilli Morning IV and Chilli’s Jester.
“My other two horses were unbelievable as well – all three are lovely, lovely horses.”
Breathing down Gemma’s neck just 0.2 of a penalty away in second is Emily King, who jumped clear on her Luhmühlen runner-up Valmy Biats.
Scotland is represented in third by local rider Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley, who also left all the coloured poles up.
Sixty percent of the 99-strong field showjumped clear, but only 35% were inside the time.
The leaderboard is tightly packed, leaving little margin for error for those contending for the £1,500 first prize. Just 1.9 penalties – or five seconds of cross-country time-faults – covers the top six.
