ALEX HUA TIAN LEADS FOR TEAM CHINA
ALEX HUA TIAN LEADS FOR TEAM CHINA
ALEX HUA TIAN LEADS FOR TEAM CHINA
25 June 2021
Chinese Olympic star Alex Hua Tian is in the lead in the CCI3*-S class after dressage at Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials.
The 31-year-old, who is due to compete at the Tokyo Olympics next month, scored 25.6 aboard Vivian Gu’s Hamlet, a nine-year-old whom he bought from showjumper Joe Davison.
Alex said: “It was a good test – he’s very flashy on the flat – but the nice thing is that there is a huge amount of room for improvement, even at this level. He’s a very talented horse but hasn’t had that much mileage for his age; he’s a real people-pleaser who always wants to be in your face and having cuddles.”
Second in the CCI3*-S is Willa Newton, with a mark of 26.4 on Laurence and Anne Marshall’s Cock A Doodle Doo, another nine-year-old. Alexandra Farrar-Fry (Grey Finnsky) is third with 28.1.
Adam Morgan and his seven-year-old gelding Manfriday top the CCI2*-S class at this stage with a dressage mark of 26.7, ahead of second-placed Stephanie Sacks (Guidaro) on 28.6. Eliza Stoddart is third with 28.9 on De Pleasure.
This is the first time that Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials, which is situated between Newcastle and Alnwick in Northumberland, UK, has run a CCI3*-S class. The jumping phases of both international sections take place tomorrow (Saturday, 26 June), with national eventing classes on Sunday, 27 June. Alnwick Ford’s cross-country course is designed by David Evans, who is responsible for building the cross-country course for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Photo credit Lottie Elizabeth Photography.
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About Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials
Alnwick Ford Horse International Trials was established at Alnwick Ford Equestrian Centre in Northumberland in 2017. This June 2021 competition is the inaugural running of a CCI3*-S class. The event also hosts CCI2*-S and national intermediate, novice, BE100 and BE90 classes. The Alnwick Ford organising team also run the Hambro Sport Horses Burgham International Horse Trials – Northumberland’s premier equestrian event – which takes place from 28 July-1 August 2021 with classes up to CCI4*-S level. www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk
