Wendy and Dancer at Fontainebleau Photo: Pauline Chevalier
Wendy Schaeffer has had a run of bad luck in recent times with injured horses and some involuntary dismounts. However, the sign of a champion is to start firing on all cylinders when it counts.
Last weekend Wendy opted to go to Weston Park International Horse Trials on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border in England. Many of the top international riders aiming for London 2012 were competing and, although it could be said that some may be taking their horses easily in the lead up to Badminton, there can be no doubt that a win is a win. Wendy scored a good 37.5 for dressage and then only added 3.6 time penalties to win on a total of 41.10. The second place went to one of the most fancied combinations for a medal at London; Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Andrew scored 31.40 in the dressage, a score only bettered by William Fox-Pitt on the ex-Australian horse Macchiato (30.40) – unfortunately William had time faults and two rails showjumping, relegating him to 14th overall.
However, Andrew incurred time penalties on the cross country and showjumping, enabling Wendy and Koyuna Sun Dancer to make their mark on the UK circuit at just the right time. It will hopefully be a performance she can repeat at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. As Wendy herself would say “Bring it on!”
In the same section of the Advanced class, Australians Andrew Hoy and Cheeky Calimbo were 11th and Emma Dougall with Kelecyn Ice Age were 17th.
Andrew Nicholson also did well in the Advanced Section J, winning on Quimbo . Australians Brook Staples riding Ever So Clever III was 16th, Catherine Burrell unfortunately eliminated and Paul Tapner chose to withdraw Inonothing after a very good dressage of 33.60, saying
“Inonothing did a good dressage and was clear showjumping but we withdrew him from the cross country in order to save him for Badminton. Being 16 we felt he is experienced enough now to miss a run”
Paul placed second with Wickstead Didgeridoo in the Advanced Section K with only a few time penalties added to a great dressage score of 28.9. Bill Levett also competed in this section and had another great dressage score of 26.4 on Hippolyte but chose not to jump.
In the Advanced Section L, Paul and Kilronan were seventh and Chris Burton on Haruzac 15th (for Chris’ latest blog, check out the bloggers page HERE). Andrew Hoy withdrew Rutherglen before cross country and Bill Levett withdrew One Two Many NJ after dressage, so it’s obvious that some riders are being cautious in the lead up to the big one at Badminton in just under three weeks time.
For full results from Weston Park, visit http://www.westonht.freeserve.co.uk/wpsres.html#ResSN
