Individual winner Nana Dalton and Abbeylara Prince Photo: Hanna Broms/FEI
Nana Dalton proved she is no ‘nana’ on cross country at Waregem when she won the CICO3* individual competition at Military Waregem this weekend. Nana, who we believe is making her debut on a British Nations Cup side, came home clear with only 6.8 time penalties, the lowest in a field where no-one made the time of 6:41 minutes.
The Tom Ryckewaert designed cross country course claimed many victims including the overnight leader, Chris Burton riding Tempranillo, who retired on course after three refusals. His team mate Andrew Hoy was also eliminated on cross country leaving only Paul Tapner riding Bonza King of Rouges, finishing fourth and Sam Griffiths riding Foxdon Sunny Jim in 30th place, effectively eliminating the Australian team. They weren’t the only ones to lose team members however with Francis Whittington and Coral Keen not making it home for the British team and every team dropping one rider on cross country with the exception of the German team that, needless to say, won this round of the FEI CICO3* Nations Cup.
It was a tough course with 15 riders eliminated and five retiring from the 68 starters on Sunday and several of those coming unstuck at the influential Fence 18a, a skinny hedge drop fence. However Nana (full name Suzanna), who completed her first ever CCI4* at Badminton earlier this year, rose to the challenge - ironically she is trained by Chris Burton who obviously has taught her too well! Even more impressively, Nana won on her young horse, the nine year old Abbeylara Prince, a chestnut Irish Sport Horse that was recently 10th at Hartpury while her Badminton horse, Absolut Opposition, finished in 39th place.
The winning German team at Waregem Belgium. Left to right: Andreas Dibowski - FRH Butts Avedon, Annamaria Rieke - Petite Dame, Andreas Ostholt - Pennsylvania 28, Julia Krajewski - Samourai du Thot Photo: Hanna Broms/FEI
The very consistent Andreas Ostholt, riding for the German team on Pennsylvania 28, also had no jumping penalties but 14.80 time to finish in second place and he was joined by two other German team members in the top ten, Julia Krajewski and Anna-Maria Rieke to ensure their position on the top of the podium. They completed with all team members on a score of 179, well ahead of the second placed Belgium on 153.50 and The Netherlands in third on 280.50.
Chris Burton and Santano II led from the start Photo: Guillaume Beguin
Chris Burton didn’t go home empty handed however, winning the CIC2* on the impressive Santano II owned by the Black Run Syndicate. This eight year old horse that has now had three wins and two second places from its six international level eventing starts led from start to finish, adding only 7.6 time penalties to win on a score of 43.50. Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott finished in second place on 48.70 and Julia Krajewski riding Chipmunk FRH third on 50.60. Again no combinations completed the cross country under time on a tricky 2* course but the winner of the CIC1*, Coral Keen on Cascadelle came home clear and under time, one of only six combinations to do so from a huge class of over 100 competitors
Julien Despontin was the highest placed Belgian rider Photo: Hanna Broms/FEI
Final results all classes here
