Andrew and Quimbo at Blenheim
There was plenty of drama in the showjumping phase at Boekelo. Germany's Michael Jung entered the day with a rail to spare over the world number one Andrew Nicholson, but the resilient Kiwi, riding Quimbo, put the pressure on with a clear round. It turned out to be a little too much for Jung and Halunke FBW. They looked unbeatable heading into the day, but an eight fault round dropped them to second, giving Andrew and Quimbo the win. It is the second time that he has won at Boekelo.
Andrew and Quimbo (owned by Deborah Sellar) had trailed Olympic gold medallist Michael Jung through the dressage and cross country phases, but he knew he had a pretty good chance of overtaking the German in the showjumping.
“Quimbo is an amazing showjumper for an eventer,” said a very happy Andrew just after the victory. “He is good at everything, but particularly this, so I thought we had a good chance.”
Wet weather had made ground conditions tricky throughout the event, and Andrew with his nine-year-old horse were 108th of the 112 strong field to go in the cross country.
“It looked worse than it rode, but the same narrow track ridden by so many gets quite deep. It becomes a lot harder work for him but he coped very well.”
Quimbo has been with Andrew since he was three, and has consistently featured on the podium. Just two weeks ago the pair won the Eight and Nine-year-old championship at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. In late August, Andrew and his grey horse Avebury won the prestigious Four Star title at the Burghley International Horse Trials.
“Now we just need to do the same at Pau,” he said, of the four star event in two weeks’ time.
Other Kiwis to feature in the top 20 were Mark Todd and Leonidas II who were 17th, Megan Heath aboard St Daniel in 18th spot and rising young star Jesse Campbell on Kool Kaapachino who were 20th.
Australian riders Catherine Burrell (above) riding Urzan finished in 29th place and Sammi Mcleod riding Kintara finished 33rd
The winning German team Photo: Jon Stroud/FEI
In the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup, New Zealand couldn’t do enough to slide past eventual team winners Germany while France took the third place on the podium
The new Eventing FEI Nations Cup format seems to have found favour with the riders. US rider Jon Hollings (above) commented "I hope it sticks around," he said "and becomes and even bigger deal."
Holling, and all four members of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing team were competing at Boekelo as part of the USEF Land Rover Competition and Training Grants program which made the US team experience possible.
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Results
CCIO3*:
Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Quimbo (owned by Deborah Sellar) 38.8 penalty points 1,
Michael Jung (GER) Halunke FBW 40 2,
Nicholas Touzaint (FRA) Princesse Pilot 43.4 3,
Ingrid Klimke (GER) Tabasco 70 4,
Kenki Sato (JAP) Toy Boy 50 5,
Piggy French (GBR) West Side 50.6 6,
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) Lilly Corinne 50.6 7,
Benjamin Winter (GER) Ispo 51.4 8,
Elaine Pen (NETH) Vira 51.6 9,
Felix Vogg (SWI) Onfire 51.8 10
Nations Cup: Germany 149 penalty points 1, New Zealand 155.6 2, France 175.2 3, Netherlands 180.6 4, Great Britain 210 5.
Full individual results http://janssen.sportcg.net/2012/boekelo/leaderboard01.html
Full team results http://janssen.sportcg.net/2012/boekelo/nationcup01.html
