Not that the rest of the lyrics apply to William, we just love this song. Sing along if you want ..... there's no doubt this guy is a winner
Riders aiming for the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide in November probably heaved a huge sigh of relief when William Fox-Pitt advised during the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials that he would not be competing in Adelaide this year. Let’s face it, there is not much left for William to win (except a gold Olympic medal and if he continues on to Rio, which we hope he will, that is still very possible) having just notched up his 50th three day event of his career. William, 44, scored his first three-day event victory in 1991 at Windsor on Thomastown. Since then he had represented Britain at 15 championships and has won 11 four-star events.
William wins again! Photo: Libby Law
At Blenheim this weekend, William went into the CCI 3* showjumping with no room for error. His horse Seacookie had not showjumped the previous week at the Burghley Horse Trials as William had retired him on the cross-country course there, feeling that the horse was not enjoying the ground on course. His instincts proved correct as Seacookie this weekend was certainly back on form, finishing the cross-country course bang on optimum time and clear in the showjumping which was “a big relief” and a “fantastic day” for William.
He certainly had some good riders hot on his heels. The ‘Catch Ride King’ and evergreen Mark Todd (how lucky are we all to live in the lifetime of these outstanding riders and enjoy their achievements) jumped clear on Conair, a horse usually ridden by the injured Rodney Powell and owned by Suzie Belsham.
Toddy "did alright" on Conair Photo: Libby Law
“The horse was very well prepared by Rodney and Alex Franklin. When I schooled him earlier this week I said that if we managed a decent dressage and jumped clear we might just do alright,” said Toddy in a mild understatement as he took second place.
In third place was William’s London 2012 teammate, Tina Cook, on the home bred De Novo News, out of the Selle Francais mare Douce de Longvaut, on which Tina won the British Intermediate Championships.
“He is going to be a fantastic back-up to Miners Frolic [her Olympic horse] – I’m very excited about his future.”
Paul Tapner and Kilronan are moving up Photo: Libby Law
Australian Paul Tapner kept moving up the leader board all weekend. Thirteenth after dressage on the grey Kilronan, they were clear with only 3.2 time penalties on cross country to move up to sixth place then jumped a clear showjumping round to finish in fifth place.
Tim Boland and GV Billy Elliot - homeward bound Photo: Libby Law
Tim Boland, who was second after dressage, showed how well GV Billy Elliot can jump with a clear showjumping round to finish his UK campaign in ninth place here. Tim and Billy are now homeward bound while Chris Burton, the leader after dressage on Underdiscussion, will be staying on in the UK for a little while longer. Chris and Underdiscussion also had a clear showjumping round but unfortunately 28 penalties on cross-country day meant they finished in 19th place.
Frenchman Cedric Lyard, seventh on Cadeau du Roi, won the prize for the highest-placed Burghley debutant and Emily Llewellyn, 12th on Major Buck, was best under-25 rider.
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo Photo: Libby Law
In the CIC 3* it was another New Zealand eventing legend that took the prize. Andrew Nicholson added a convincing win in the CIC*** for eight- and nine-year-old horses at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials to his brilliant victory at Burghley just seven days ago.
Andrew led from the start on Libby Sellar’s smart dark-brown gelding Quimbo, who was bred in Spain along showjumping lines. It was his first win at Blenheim since 1991.
“He’s a lovely horse, very easy to ride and he’s got an amazing jump – he ought to be showjumping really,” said Andrew, who has had Quimbo since he was three.
“He’s probably one of the most experienced horses in the field, as he’s been doing advanced since he was three.”
Andrew had sufficient in hand over his nearest rivals to allow himself a steady cross-country. “I watched Piggy French [lying second after dressage and jumping] on West Side – she’s no slouch, so when I saw she had 10.4 time penalties, I knew I didn’t have to go mad.”
Piggy finished in seventh, also taking eighth on Kiltealy Brief. William Fox-Pitt finished second on Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero ahead of local rider Izzy Taylor on KBIS Starlet, who had the fast time of 1.2 penalties.
Sammi McLeod and LG Wellington need no boots here Photo: Libby Law
Australia’s Sammi Mcleod dropped from 5th to 13th after cross country on Sunday due to time faults but still achieved a clear jumping round and was very pleased with LG Wellington (who not surprisingly has the cute stable name of Boots), who was undertaking his first CIC 3* after only one advanced start previously.
William and Andrew both now head to Les Etoiles de Pau in October where William will start Bay My Hero in his first 4 star.
For final day photo gallery CLICK HERE.
For fuil results CLICK HERE.
