The four star Olympic combined training, featuring a host of British and international Olympic bound combinations, was won by locally based Laura Collett riding Rayef (pictured above). Following a clear show jumping round by Collett the pressure was on overnight leader Chris Burton and Holstein Leilani, who had two poles down, dropping them to fifth place. Jonathan Paget and Clifton Promise finished second and One Two Many NJ ridden by Bill Levett was third. Clayton Fredericks and Bendigo had one rail down to finish fifth in the class of 17 with many riders having opted to withdraw after the dressage test
Laura commented "I am really pleased with Rayef's performance today. At Barbury there is a lot going on, including the cross country being right next door to the show jumping so there are many distractions but he really concentrated and focused on the job. We will now go to Aachen, Germany next week".
Success continued for Wiltshire based riders with Kitty King and Persimmon (pictured left) maintaining their lead after a clear cross country to win a hotly contended two star competition in section B. Just under five marks behind, Australia's Paul Tapner with Indian Mill, also locally based at Highworth finished in second and British team member Piggy French and DHI Topper W was in third. Team mates Zara Phillips riding High Kingdom and William Fox-Pitt with Lionheart performed solidly finishing in fifth and seventh place respectively.
Kitty commented on Persimmon's performance; "I am thrilled with this result because he is only a young horse. He is seven and in his second season and to lead from the front and beat Olympic horses is excellent".
Bill Levett and One Two Many NJ Photo: Libby Law
Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware held on to their overnight lead putting in clear on the cross country to win section C of the two star competition, with Piggy French and West Side completing in second and Oliver Townend and ODT Ghareeb performing a swift cross country round in third. Piggy French went one better in section D to win on board and Kiltealy Brief (pictured right). Performing a faultless performance with a double clear and no time penalties on cross country the pair clinched victory from Trefeinon Red Kite and Melanie Wilder and America's Julian Stiller and Enjoy Me in third.
Pippa Funnell commented: This is a 'A" level test for this horse, but the cross country has been very beneficial for his level of education. He is a homebred so this win is extra special.
In the three star event New Zealand dominate the first three places following the show jumping today with Andrew Nicholson in the lead on Avebury, Jonathan Paget with Clifton Lush in second and Mark Todd on board NZB Campino in third. Boyd martin now has two horses in the top 10 jumping clear on Otis Barbotiere to move up to 8th and four faults on Remington to in fourth place. Phillip Dutton too moved up to sixth place with a clear round on Mystery Whisper.
Chris Burton and Kinnordy Rivaldo dropped from 12th to 20th with four faults on the relatively inexperienced Kinnordy Rivaldo and Clayton unfortunately had 24 jumping faults on Waltersdown Don to drop him from 6th to 85th. This class certainly showed the value of a clear showjumping round but cross country is still to come on Sunday with riders starting in reverse order of placing.
Paul Tapner and his contemporaries Laura Collett, Lauren Shannon and Mark Todd walked away with their stick-ability prowess intact, following a win in the Hit Air Pro Bull Preventer V Jockeys Rodeo Bull Challenge. Following a competitive match the Jockeys, headed by Robert "Choc" Thornton, Richard Johnson, Andrew Tinkler and Wayne Hutchinson had to settle for second, despite a late addition to their team from Barbury's resident trainer Alan King. The event raised funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Away from the Eventing action visitors enjoyed the inaugural CGA Festival of Food, featuring a host of local home made and grown food producers and mouth watering cooking demonstrations including Brian Turner of Ready, Steady, Cook fame preparing Kindeys Turbigo and Kesh Desai of Lucknam Park, near Bath creating Roulade with cumin crushed new potatoes. Additionally the Wiltshire County Show featured a host of displays and demonstrations celebrating Wiltshire rural life, alongside the It's a Knock Out competition and feast of shops providing a shopaholics paradise.
All photos by Libby Law. To view the photo gallery CLICK HERE
