BIG names from New Zealand lead the field overnight at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials as the first day of dressage action concludes at the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate.

The strong gales and rain which prevailed for the duration of the amateur Grassroots event gave way to blue skies and sunshine this morning, allowing visitors a spectacular view of the dressage, which began with former Badminton champion Paul Tapner riding Kilronan into the arena at 9.30am.

However, it is Marlborough-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson riding Nereo who takes the overnight lead, bringing 37.8 penalties through to Saturday’s cross-country phase, together with high hopes for that elusive Badminton victory.

Fellow antipodean and another former winner Jock Paget (NZL) is in second place on Clifton Promise with 41.2 pens and German Niklas Bschorer (GER) currently stands in third with 42.1 pens.

Local girl Flora Harris, who is based in Marlborough, currently leads the British contingent with 43.6 pens, whilst Pippa Funnell, Laura Collett, Nicola Wilson and Mary King all produced strong dressage tests to give them a fighting chance of overall victory.

Last year’s winner Sam Griffiths had a disappointing dressage result on Paulank Brockagh and currently lies in 13th place with 48.2pens The action in the Badminton dressage arena restarts at 9.20am tomorrow with British team member Tina Cook, who rides De Novo News. With more big names including Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell and Mark Todd taking to the saddle, as well as many local riders including Chipping Sodbury’s Nick Gauntlett, Farmington’s Julie Tew and Cirencester-based estate agent Ben Way, who makes his Badminton debut.