Penguin Ice excels in heat of competition at Bramham

The Pimms bar and the ice cream sellers were doing a roaring trade while the dressage competitors sweltered in their top hats and tails.

Leading the way after the first day of dressage in the CCI three star competition is Nick Gauntlett riding Penguin Ice, who finished on a score of 43.4 points.

He said: “I’m delighted. He’s a really exciting horse. But I’m under no illusions as there are a lot of good people to come (today).”

Gauntlett is based near Badminton and has been riding the horse, which was produced by Huddersfield’s Oliver Townend, for the past three years.

Townend finished in second place, riding Neo du Breuil, with 45 points. He has won three out of the last four competitions he has entered with this talented horse. Lying third is South Africa’s Alexander Peternell riding Ap Uprising (45.2) and in joint fourth place are last year’s winner Pippa Funnell and Germany’s Peter Thomsen (45.6 ).

Today will see more strong competition in the dressage arena. Competitors include Nicola Wilson from Northallerton, William Fox-Pitt, Lucinda Fredericks, Tina Cook, Pippa Funnell with her second ride, Billy Landretti and one of Germany’s top riders, Simone Deitermann.

Leading the way in the competition is New Zealander Neil Spratt riding Upleadon. The pair won this competition in 2009. “Hopefully that’s a good omen. I was very pleased with him,” said Spratt. “He’s good on the flat but he can get very wound up and tense. He behaved very well.”

Both horse and rider have been out of action due to injuries.

“We were going to do the CCI class but because we were both on the sick list – we had a fall at Belton Horse Trials and I’ve had a broken wrist – I decided to go for the shorter option with the CIC.”

Cumbrian rider Ruth Edge was second in this section riding Rogersdale and Kai Rueder from Germany is in third place with Edino. Yorkshire rider James Somerville, from Boroughbridge, finished in 18th place riding Freddie Too.

The dressage continues today when the third of this weekend’s competitions, the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI three star dressage is also being held.

The highlight tomorrow is the cross-country stage of the event when riders will tackle Ian Stark’s cross-country course which has many new challenges in store this year.

The final showjumping section of the CCI event is on Sunday when the winner of this year’s International Bramham Horse Trials will be crowned.