Paul Tapner still leading the overall Event Rider Masters series

Paul Tapner still leads the overall Event Rider Masters series with 92 points with a sixth place finish partnering Kilronan in their last competition together.

The fifth leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM), at Blair Castle International Horse Trials, developed into a tough jumping competition with the leader-board being shaken up dramatically after the showjumping and final cross-country phase. The biggest casualty was the overnight dressage leader Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott who dropped to second place in the showjumping following two costly poles. The pair then had an unfortunate run out toward the end of the cross-country putting them right out of contention for a podium finish.

Riding Cillnabradden Evo, who Britain's Oliver Townend partnered to win the fourth leg at Gatcombe three weeks earlier, the pair were faultless show jumping to head out on the cross-country in pole position, where they completed an impressive clear jumping round adding just 2.4 time penalties to win the penultimate leg of the ERM on a score of 45.2. Young Brit – Tom McEwen on board Diesel took second place on the podium on 56.1 with Gemma Tattersall (GB) riding Santiago Bay in third on 57.7.

The ERM final is in two week’s at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and with competitor’s taking forward their four best scores from the previous five legs the £50,000 ERM rider bonus looks wide open. Australia’s Paul Tapner is the overall series leader on 92 points. He finished in sixth place today riding Kilronan, which was the pair’s last competitive appearance together. Gemma Tattersall lies in second with 90 points and Oliver Townend sits in third with 74 and Jonelle Price on 69. Tapner, Tattersall, Townend and Price all tipped as serious contenders for the ERM series title.

Paul Tapner commented;

“We always thought Oliver was well suited to this series and he’s certainly making a strong late challenge, Gemma has also been very threatening on the leader-board in all her ERM starts and Jonelle is a very fierce competitor. I hope my horse Yogi Bear can pull something special out of the picnic basket at Blenheim in order to secure us the series”!

New for 2016, the Event Rider Masters incorporates six CiC*** Eventing competitions at venues across Great Britain with a total of £350,000 on offer across the series including a £30,000 rider bonus for the leading rider on points across the series. The series finale will be held at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on 10 and 11 September.

Free streaming can be viewed from anywhere in the world at www.eventridermasters.tv

ERM incorporates six competitions venues: