Pippa Funnell riding MCS Maverick - CCI4*-L eventing winners at Bramham International Horse Trials 2023
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Bramham International Horse Trials 2023 - order or view videos here
Cross-country day at Bramham is always a crowd-favourite, with people coming from near and far to enjoy a day packed with some of the best equestrian sport on offer.
This year’s offering was made even better by cloudless blue skies, with a light breeze keeping temperatures at a pleasant level. With three sections of cross-country, plus the final phases of competition for the CCI4*-S combinations, there was plenty of action to keep everyone entertained.
57% of starters in the CCI4*-L sections jumped clear (excluding time penalties) around the Ian Stark designed course with problems pretty much evenly spread across the course and no particular ‘bogey’ fence.
Pippa Funnell riding her new mount MCS Maverick went into the cross-country phase of the CCI4*-L at Bramham International Horse Trials in second place and a copybook clear round, despite the horse’s relative inexperience, put them into the lead with just 1.2 time penalties to eventually take the win, Pippa’s fourth win over four decades in the sport.
Bubby Upton wins CCI4*-L U25 riding Magic Roundabout IV at Bramham International Horse Trials
In the Under-25 section, World Class Podium Potential rider Bubby Upton retained her lead in convincing style with Magic Roundabout IV.
They tackled the cross-country with great skill – the chestnut with a striking white blaze and socks is known as ‘Zebedee’ and certainly lives up to his springy namesake by making a great picture over the fences. Thanks to some last-minute advice from trainer Caroline Moore, their round proved to be faultless and they clicked the timing beam of at 10.10, ten seconds inside the time – the only combination to finish inside the optimum time in this section.
Selina Milnes riding Cooley Snapshot wins the CCI4*-S at Bramham International Horse Trials
With the two sections of CCI-L 4* done and dusted by lunchtime, Bramham Park was opened to the short section riders and, after a few riders, it became clear that the time would play a significant role in the competition. The undulations of the park, the testing track set by Ian Stark and the hot conditions all needed careful management by riders as they tried to get the best from their horses.
45% of the combinations jumped clear around the course (excluding time penalties) with Fence 7 and 15 the most influential questions on course.
Experienced rider Selina Milnes riding William and Angela Rucker’s nine-year-old, Irish-bred Cooley Snapchat were in eighth after the dressage, added nothing in the showjumping and a speedy cross-country would put them into a podium position.
They were one of the rounds of the day, cruising round the course and making it look easy, adding just 1.2 time penalties for a final score of 34.9, putting them on top of the CCI4*-S leaderboard.
