Badminton: Friday

After all 83 horses that were presented passing the first inspection, the first day of Dressage went underway.

Andrew Nicholson began the day on Avebury, delivering a respectable score of 47.2. This left him in 8th place after day 1. Georgie Spence was second to go with Birthday Night, yet had a difficult test leaving her with a score of 72.8, and is currently in second to last place. The most notable test of the day was most definitely 21 year old Laura Collett's on Rayef. Laura was 5th to go and set a score that the rest of the field were chasing for the rest of the day - to no avail. The Badminton first-timer achieved a highly impressive score of 36.5, leaving her well in the lead above German rider Marina Kohncke (39.8).

After the first break came some riders hopeful to score a good mark, including Pippa Funnell on her first ride of Mirage D'Elle. Pippa achieved a score of 56.8, leaving her in equal 21st after day 1. Pippa will be hoping to challenge the top spot tomorrow with her promising Redesigned. Also in the second section was Mary King with the lively Apache Sauce. Mary was given a score of 55.5, leaving her in 20th position. Like Pippa, Mary will be hoping to achieve a higher score with her second ride of Imperial Cavalier tomorrow. William Fox-Pitt achieved a respectable score of 47.5 on Navigator, placing him in 9th. William too has a second ride tomorrow in Cool Mountain - and is a hot contender for the top spot. Gaining a score of 43.3 - and consequently 4th place - was German rider Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas.

After lunch we saw last year's leader after the dressage Kai Ruder with Les Prince Des Bois, scoring another decent score of 44.8 leaving him in 5th place. In addition, promising young rider Harry Meade scored a perhaps slightly disappointing score of 59.3, along with Gemma Tatterstall with King's Gem - scoring 58.3. A better score of 43.0 was given to Italian rider Susanna Bordone and Carrera, leaving them in 3rd place.

Then the final section of riders included Horse and Hound's blogger Ben Hobday, who was given a score of 61.0 on Upton's Who, perhaps slightly worse than he was hoping for - yet I am sure as a Badminton first-timer he is quite happy just to be continuing onto the exciting cross country on Sunday. James Robinson achieved a score of 52.3 on Comanche, along with Badminton first timer Flora Harris, who gained a respectable score of 52.8 on Law Choice - leaving her in 14th, one place behind James.

First to go tomorrow at 9am is Vicky Brake on Looks Like Fun, with second to go a first-timer Lucie McNicholl with Zeus of Rushall. Perhaps the tests to look out for will belong to:
Tina Cook and Miners Frolic at 11:54,
Ruth Edge and Two Thyme at 13:48,
William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain at 15:30,
Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz at 15:46,
Oliver Towend and Ashdale Cruise Master at 16:02,
Caroline Powell and Lenamore at 16:18,
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier at 16:26,
Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak at 16:34,
Pippa Funnell and Redesigned at 16:50 and
Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision finally at 16:58.

Good luck to all, I am sure tomorrow's scores will jumble the results table up a fair bit!