An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Gatcombe International (2) - find out more here
The Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa Gatcombe International Horse Trials is underway and it will be the very last eventing competition hosted by HRH The Princess Royal at her home at Gatcombe Park. But never fear, we’ll still get the chance to ride and spectate at this great venue each year at the Festival of British Eventing
Friday saw a win for Nicky Hill, having just finished competing at Burghley on MGH Bingo Boy, riding Galley Proof in the Intermediate Section D and a quick nod here to New Zealand’s Tayla Mason, currently working with Tim and Jonelle Price who finished fourth in this class on Centennial
Izzy Taylor and Springwind Vangelis
Izzy Taylor had a good at the office with two wins, riding Hartacker in the Intermediate Section E and Springwind Vangelis in the Intermediate Section I (with New Zealand’s James Avery taking second place on One Of A Kind) and, not to be outdone, Oliver Townend also bagged two wins on Arklow Puissance in the Open Intermediate Section G and on Newmarket Caro in the Open Intermediate Section F.
This class was packed with big names, including Laura Collett in third place on Sir Papillon so a big shout out for Australia’s Ben Leahy riding Feloupe who finished in second place but on an equal score to Oliver of 33.6
Phoebe Locke, who told us at Houghton International on becoming the 2019 British Young Rider Champion that “I’ve come second so many times” seems to have got the hang of this winning business and took the Open Intermediate Section J in another very competitive class. She was particularly pleased with her horse Pica D’Or finally producing, in Phoebe’s own words from her Facebook page, ‘a half sane dressage test (first of the season) of 26’
Lauren Yallop rounded out Friday’s completed classes by winning the Intermediate Section H on Hacien
The best shorts at Adelaide, the best dog and now the best score for a great eventing official and owner of Whatley Manor, Christian Landolt
The dressage is also underway for the International classes with Kitty King and Vendi Cruz leading the CCI-S2* Section A on a score of 25.4, just ahead of Phoebe Locke on Ardeo Fun Size (25.6) and Kitty again riding Fernhill Mojito in third (29.3)
In a wonderful turn up for the books, Mr Whatley Manor himself, Christian Landolt leads the CCI-S3* riding Toblerone NZPH (28.1) ahead of Alex Bragg on Zagreb (28.6) and the USA’s Katherine Coleman on Monte Classico (29)
We’ll have more to come in a quick wrap each day from Gatcombe Park and our full feature article coming up next week ……..
Laura Collett and Sir Papillon
