Panizzon ‘shocked’ at dressage win

For most riders, the thrill and examination provided by the cross-country is the main attraction in eventing, and Vittoria Panizzon is not alone in finding that the dressage element lacks the same excitement.

That was not evident yesterday, however, after the Italian pocketed €1,000 in the winner-takes all Castlemartyr Challenge in Cork, a precursor to the Johnson & Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials at Ballindenisk.

It came as a surprise to the British-based Italian woman, who was in the process of loading up her horse before being called back for her prize.