Caroline is in the lead

Caroline Powell has taken the lead in the Burghley Horse Trials in the United Kingdom after a brilliant cross country round this morning (Sunday, NZ time).

Aboard her 17-year-old grey Lenamore, the New Zealand World Equestrian Games team member came home clean and 20 seconds inside time, notching the fastest time of the day.

They're less than one penalty point ahead of last year's winner Oliver Townend (Great Britain) aboard Carousel Quest. Five time winner William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) and Seacookie are in third after they too came home clear, but with time penalties.

The master Mark Todd (New Zealand) and Major Milestone flew past 18 other combinations to 11th slot after also coming home clean and clear. It was the first four-star start for the 11-year-old and just the fourth competitive outing for the combination.

Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) and Armada were clean and clear and now sit in 13th spot, one ahead of Annabel Wigley on Black Drum who are just .1 of a penalty behind them.

Nicholson picked up 20 faults with Avebury and are in 26th slot, while Dan Jocelyn and Special Advocate are in 25th, Bruce Haskell on Kiwi Smog 35th and Craig Nicolai on Just Ironic 40th . Jocelyn was eliminated on Special Attorney.

The showjumping phase – the last of the three disciplines – will run tomorrow (Monday, NZ time), and with points tight at the top, it is still anyone's title.

The winner will walk away with 50,000 pounds sterling.