(Ruth Edge leads both the CCI*** and CIC***8/9yr old championship after the dressage on Carnaval Prince (42.4 penalties) and Applejack II (42.0). 

Ultra consistent Edge is also competing at the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships this weekend and will ride two horses on Saturday morning in the Haygain Medium Open Championship before returning by car – the bike is packed in the car in case of heavy traffic on teh way back to Blenheim for cross country on Carnaval Prince and show jumping on Applejack II.

Her two pure dressage campaigners Zero and Charlesfield Dante also attended the BD Winter Championships in April coming equal first in the Elementary Open.

“I was delighted with how both horses have performed especially with such an atmosphere in the 8/9 year old arena and the horse (Applejack II) coped well with the undulations.” While showcasing her dressage prowess, Ruth is keen to prove her all round ability with the horses she has produced from BE100 level. Carnaval Prince has already completed two CCI*** events this year with an impressive win at Chatsworth in May and fourth at Bramham in June.

Applejack II is competing in his first CIC***. The combination won an International Intermediate** at Barbury earlier in the year and an International Intermediate** at Gatcombe last year. Their most recent form has seen them winning the Intermediate at The Festival of British Eventing last month.

William Fox-Pitt lies in second place (44.0) just 1.6 penalties behind the leader riding Parklane Hawk. Overnight leader Piggy French makes the dressage leader board a British one two three with Chase The Moon (46.2) and also lies in eigth with Flying Machine (47.6), winner of the Blenheim CIC*** 8/9yo Championship in 2009. Francis Whittington is the only other British rider in the top ten with Easy Target (48.6) in equal ninth place.

British based New Zealander Neil Spratt is fourth after dressage and in strong contention with the Welton Crackerjack sired Upleadon (46.4). He is closely followed by Germany's Peter Thomsen and Cayenne (46.6). Fellow Australians Matt Ryan riding Maybee IV and Lucinda Fredericks riding Prada are in equal sixth on 47.2 penalties. Making up the top ten is Irish rider Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe (48.6).

Spectators were treated to probably the last group sighting of the retired trio from the 2000 Olympic Silver Medal winning team – Supreme Rock, Over To You and Shear H20 who were just as delighted to see the crowd! These horses hold a combined total of 5480 BE points. Pippa Funnell was riding 'Rocky' for the first time since Badminton in 2003.

Team GB WEG Eventing team previewed their dressage tests with commentary and scrutiny from Tracie Robertson - World Class dressage for eventing coach.