Equestrianism: Iorio's dressage one-two
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ELIZABETH IORIO, a 24-year-old United States rider who has been based in England for just over a year, made an excellent start to the Pedigree Chum Scottish Championships at Thirlestane Castle, where she now holds the top two places.
Iorio, trained by Captain Mark Phillips, is leading in the Scottish Open Championship on Wily Wizard, who went ahead of her earlier mount, Backdraft. She found the latter in a field in Yorkshire when he was five and bought him for pounds 3,000. "I got him and made him, he's my baby," she said.
Eddy Stibbe, riding for Netherlands Antilles, is third on Rimini Park Fabian, with Ian Stark on Jaybee and Alice Plunkett on Baladin sharing fourth place. Jaybee, who is likely to be Stark's mount for next month's European Three-Day Event Championships, will be having his first cross- country run in a competition since winning at Badminton in May. "It's a big course for his first time back," Stark said.
Arakai, who has been added to the European Championship shortlist, looked close to boiling over in the dressage arena yesterday. Arakai's test began only one hour after Jaybee had entered the arena and it proved to be insufficient time to get him settled. "I reckon that will be 166 penalties," Stark said afterwards. His eventual score of 132 penalties may therefore not have seemed too bad.
SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS (Thirle-stane Castle): Scottish Open Championship (after first day of dressage): 1 Wily Wizard (E Iorio, US) 79 penalties; 2 Backdraft (E Iorio, US) 86; 3 Rimini Park Fabian (E Stibbe, Neth Antilles) 89; 4= Jaybee (I Stark, GB), Baladin (A Plunkett, GB) 91.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments