Pippa Funnell and the Irish-bred Supreme Rock hold a five-point advantage after the first day of dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors sponsored Badminton three-day event, where the new scoring system has come in for continued criticism.
But it is Hugh Thomas' 29-fence cross-country track that has caused most controversy, with many riders outspoken in their views that the Badminton director has designed a track specifically to justify the altered scoring method, which Thomas himself helped conceive in his role as chairman of the international equestrian federation's three-day event committee.
New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, currently lying in seventh place with Merillion, said: "Hugh Thomas should give up course building", he said yesterday, referring to the unusual twists and turns on a course that is usually renowned for its big, bold fences approached on a straightforward galloping stride.
Many riders have described the 1999 challenge as more of a show jumping course, particularly over the first third. But these are fences that don't fall when a horse hits them. The tactics employed by Thomas are designed to prevent a repeat of the result two years ago, when the course ran in the same direction and 17 horses completed within the time. Under the new scoring system every second over the optimum time incurs one penalty.
There was something of a surprise when Greek rider Heidi Antikatzides moved into joint-third with America's Kerry Millikin on Out And About. The 22-year-old French-based rider, who is making her first Badminton appearance, rode in the junior class at Punchestown four years ago, where she spotted her Badminton contender Michaelmas after it won the national class for John Lyttle. She returned to Ireland that summer, bought the horse and has since represented Greece at last year's World Equestrian Games.
Austin O'Connor, who never made it further than the front of Badminton house when Hang On failed the first horse inspection four years ago, got into the dressage arena yesterday to slot into 34th with Simply Rhett.
