Jonelle Price does New Zealand Proud

Jonelle sped round the beautiful cross-country track in the grounds of Scone Palace and only collected 2.4 time-penalties, putting her on a score of 30.8 going into Sunday’s final showjumping phase.

“I had a lovely run on him,” said Jonelle. “Control has been a little bit of a thing with him and today has been a positive step in the right direction. He came home full of running. I’ve seen many happy rounds today.”  

Britain’s Tom Jackson has held on to his second place with Hambro Sport Horses’ HH Moonwalk after adding 3.2 cross-country time-faults to his dressage mark of 30.1. And Jenny Caras (USA)’s clear inside the time on Jerry Hollis’s Somersby has whizzed her x places up the leaderboard to third on 35.1. Jenny was one of just three riders to remain on their dressage scores in this class; the others were Heidi Coy, fourth on MGH Jessica and Sam Ecroyd, now eighth with Mister Big Ears 

Alex Turnbull, 22, is in the lead on Charles Robson’s 18-year-old part-bred Clydesdale Harelaw Wizard in The Malcolm Group CCI3*-L after finishing inside the time to stay on her first-phase score of 29.5. 

“He’s been working well in the lead up to Scone and he did a very good test, staying relaxed throughout. He’s an experienced horse and has done plenty at the higher levels, so my main aim was to keep him balanced and maintain that pace while being careful. 

“The rail-ditch-rail combination was arguably the most challenging section; it was after a triple bar coming down a hill, and it really made me think.” 

Alex is in her fourth year with Wizard: “He’s amazing across country; he knows his job inside out and totally loves it.” 

Northumberland-based Emma Carmichael also jumped a clear round inside the time on Tax Break for second place going into showjumping with a mark of 33.2, while Japanese rider Kento Nagura is 0.5 of a penalty adrift in third on the highly experienced Vinci De La Vigne.

Ros Canter is in first place in two classes at this stage - the CCI2*-L after cross-country with Broadstone Lion Man and The Malcolm Group CCI4*-S after showjumping on Izilot DHI. 

Broadstone Lion Man, who belongs to Jo Needler and Kate James, added nothing to his dressage mark of 26 to remain 2.2 penalties ahead of Canada’s Rebecca Howard (Dolmen Cooley), with Emma Lawton (GBR, Dinnarthall Sea King) third on 28.9.

It looked as though Ros might lose the lead in the CCI4*-S to her fellow British Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett when Izilot DHI, owned by Ros and Alex Moody, picked up 0.4 of a showjumping time-fault for exceeding the time allowed by just one second. Remarkably, however, Laura and the great London 52 did the same, and the pair stayed in their original positions, with Ros going into Sunday’s cross-country on 22.3 and Laura on 22.5, which should set the huge crowds enjoying the action at Scone Palace for a truly exciting finish to this class. 

Both riders will be aware, though, of Emily King and Valmy Biats lurking in third on 25.2 and Tom McEwen - the third member of that gold medal-winning squad last summer in Paris - fourth with a mark of 26 on Brookfield Quality.

Wills Oakden received a ducking when he came off his CCI4*-L ride, Keep It Cooley in a water fence, but there was some compensation when he took the lead in the CCI1* after showjumping on Greystone Midnight Harmony from Eliza Bell and Ridgebarn Rummage. Ireland’s Molly Egan tops the pony CCI2* class going into cross-country on Divine Fernando.

As well as international eventing, there are two full days of British Showjumping classes at Scone Palace this weekend. A thrilling Malcolm Group Scone Palace Grand Prix commanded the attention of the crowds in the King’s Arena this afternoon. 

A 24-strong field was whittled down to a final handful who contested the jump-off. Eventer Tom McEwen, who has seven horses here at Scone Palace this week, was first to go on eight-year-old mare Kilcannon Mischief. The pair produced a seamless clear in a time of 50.67 and were tipped for victory until the last combination, Miles O’Donnell and his family’s 10-year-old Jackpot DS (Jack), pushed them into second after zipping round in 50.33. 

“In show jumping there aren’t many shows that give you the chance to ride in front of such a big crowd,” said Miles, who lives just outside of  Cupar. “The first round was technical and twisty, and the jump-off gave you options; you could go as tight and as fast as you wanted. I had to make sure I was just that little bit quicker than Tom!” 

Jack was a relative late starter and has only recently found his stride as a jumper, as Miles explained: “We took a bit of a punt on him, actually; he didn’t start jumping until he was about eight. We had a slow start together but this year it’s all just clicked. He’s got the biggest heart of any horse I’ve ridden and he gives you his all; always 110%.”

 Action from all three phases of the international eventing classes can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.TV. 

The attached pictures of Jonelle Price (Capitaine De Hus Z), Alex Turnbull (Harelaw Wizard) and Miles O’Donnell (Jackpot DS) are free to use, but please credit Peter Nixon.

About Scone Palace International Horse Trials

This is the first running of Scone Palace International Horse Trials, but eventing has taken place at Scone Palace at various stages over the past 50 years. It is situated off the A9 just outside Perth, Scotland, and is Scotland’s premier equestrian event. It runs international eventing classes at CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L and CCI1* level, British Eventing national classes at BE100 and BE90 level and the Scottish Grassroots Championships at BE100 and BE90 level. It will also host British Showjumping, BHS Scotland Style Jumping, Pony Club mounted games and arena eventing. There will be a variety of showing classes, including the NPS Scotland Finals, classes for ridden and working hunters, show cobs, CHAPS qualifiers and Retraining of Racehorses classes.