As day four of the Lakes & Craters Three Day Event dawned, the mobile coffee van was working overtime. The stress of getting through the final horse inspection, coupled with the previous long three days of competition had many people (including this reporter!) searching for that extra buzz. Despite tackling a challenging cross country course in the heat the day before, most horses passed without a problem, with only one combination withdrawing after being held. Show Jumping Course Designer Paul Williams (father of Olympic show jumper Matt) was delighted to hear that both Will and Ben had made it through, meaning he would build the 3* course for more than one combination!
The line for the coffee van grew as the final horse inspection began
Show jumping started with the Junior Pre-Novice. Charlie King and Charlton Veeza may have had one rail but it made no difference. They took out the class, leading from start to finish, proving they are one up and coming combination to look out for. Alice Grimshaw and Mandalay True Blue finished in second place and Sophie Fox and Practice Makes Perfect were third. The show jumping course appeared deceivingly easy and riders either got it right or very wrong. Some horses seemed to be feeling yesterday’s effort, with more rails falling than staying up! While others popped around with ease – showing how influential the show jumping can be in a true Three Day Event.
All smiles - Charlie King and Charlton Veeza collect their prizes
This was also the case in the open Pre-Novice sections. Eventer and World Cup show jumper Wendy Schaeffer was all class as usual. A beautiful clean round aboard Smokin Sun saw them take out the Section 1, a fantastic example of how to tackle the course. Emily McQueen and Kings Sun also jumped around clear to finish in second place and Teil Hodson and San Gennaro came in third.
Wendy Schaeffer and Smokin Sun on track to win the Pre-Novice 1
In the Pre-Novice Section 2, the beautiful stallion Grande Farnese was ridden by Linda Williams, clearing the 1.05m track in style to move up and take out the class. Another clear round from Fiona Guthrie and Belle Amour saw them finish in second place. Anne Le Guevel had one unlucky rail aboard In Your Dreams, seeing them finish in third place and leaving Barry Roycroft stumbling over her last name in the presentations!
Linda Williams and Grande Farnese enter the ring
The jumps were raised and the course changed as the CCI1* horses came out to play. The Young Rider class kicked things off, with Barry getting behind the microphone again as a crowd gathered and the tension grew. Tesse Cook aboard Rimfire Don Pierre cantered into the arena with two fences in hand. The pressure may have on but Tesse was super cool, keeping all the fences up in one of only a few clear rounds to take out the class. Andrew Cooper and Mighty Delago showed how influential the jumping can be, one rail and a fantastic cross country saw them move up from 11th place after dressage to finish second. Annie Nutku and Mr. Marvel had four rails, however it was still enough to secure them third place.
Tesse Cook aboard Rimfire Don Pierre in the CCI1* Young Rider Class
The open CCI1* class riders showed their experience as more combinations got around, leaving all rails in their cups. With just one rail separating second and seventh place, the pressure was on to go clear to be in the placings. Amanda Ross and Loxley entered with no room for error, quite a few combinations were breathing down her neck, having all gone clear and being less than four penalties away. Ever the professional, Amanda responded with a lovely clear round to take out the CCI1* class, adding no penalties to her day one winning dressage score. Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Empress took second and Jonathan Mclean and Brinkin Fitzwilliam were third in what turned out to be a very competitive class.
Amanda Ross and Loxley trot up in style
The course was changed yet again for the CCI2* riders and Katie Roots found herself entering the final phase with just one rail to spare, as the previous two combinations jumped beautiful clear rounds. Trevalgar II was still full of running and with his ears pricked he listened to Katie’s every instruction, jumping his first ever clear round. Katie was understandably beside herself with excitement; Trevalgar was a horse that she saved from being put down and has exceeded her expectations in every possible way. Lucy Yeomans and RSB Bluejay jumped a lovely clear to second as did Naomi White and Mighty Tosca to take third. More on Trevalgar’s remarkable story can be heard by clicking on the link below
Interview with CCI2* winner Katie Roots
Katie Roots and Trevalgar II jump a lovely clear round
Whilst there were only two riders to go around it, the jumps were raised for the CCI and CIC 3*. Ben Leahy and Le Directeur had a few rails but as they were the only pair left in the CIC3* class, they secured the win. Their trip over from Western Australia was certainly worthwhile and they did a fantastic job to complete the event which saw so many combinations come unstuck. Will Enzinger and TS Jamaimo looked set to take out the CCI3* but unfortunately jumped a wrong fence, resulting in elimination and robbing him of a qualification for 4*. Unfortunately that is the highs and lows of eventing and the Lakes and Craters Three Day Event this year has certainly showed us the that anything can happen in this wonderfully frustrating sport.
Ben Leahy and Le Directeur take out the CIC3*
Article and photographs by Emily Penney
