Harry Meade and Brookfield Cavalier, CCI2*-S winners
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Gatcombe International (2) - find out more here
Princesses and fairy tales go hand in hand, and not just in literature it seems
For Alex Bragg, it was ‘Quite a fairytale’ to win the CCI3*-S at the last ever Gatcombe Park Horse Trials, the Whatley Manor International, at the home of The Princess Royal
“To win the last class at the last Gatcombe is pretty cool, and I’ve done it with my faithful partner in crime, Zagreb” says Alex
The 15-year-old Zagreb, with whom Alex has enjoyed a third place in the CCI5*-L at Luhmuhlen this year as well as several other top three finishes at 4* level, was being prepped by Alex for coming competitions. The pair won on their dressage score of 28.6, an impressive 7.5 penalties ahead of Molly Faulkner riding Call Me Cooley who also finished on their dressage score of 36.1 and Alex was pleased with how Zagreb felt in the lead-up to coming competitions at higher levels
“It’s always great to have an International win and I was thrilled with how Zagreb performed throughout the event. Gatcombe was an intermediary run for him in preparation for the ERM at Ligniere before he goes to Lew Etoiles de Pau 5*. I felt the 3* competition would be better than a simple Open Intermediate; the dressage was in a long arena, and the cross country was definitely more testing, so I feel we made the right decision”
The Somerset-based rider is one of many who will miss the Gatcombe Spring and Autumn events that have been run by Her Royal Highness and the team at Gatcombe Park for 26 years
“We’re very sad to be losing the Autumn Gatcombe fixture, it’s a convenient event for us in the West Country to take numerous horses, and you always knew it would be run well” says Alex “But we all have to understand that it takes a lot of time and effort from a lot of people to organise and stage such an event, and it is hard work. I’d like to thank all of them for the years of commitment that they’ve all put in”
Tom McEwen and Lordships Graffalo, third in the CCI3*-S - Tom had three horses in the top six of this class
For another well-known British rider, it was also a happy but sad occasion. Kitty King first rode at Gatcombe Park in 1999 and enjoyed a win at her first ever Intermediate start
“Gatcombe is a lucky event of mine so I will be sad to see it go. The first time I ever rode at Gatcombe was back in 1999 doing mine and my horse’s first ever Intermediate, which we won so it’s wonderful to start and finish my Gatcombe career with a win”
Fast forward 20 years and Kitty enjoyed another win at Gatcombe, taking the Novice Section K on Monbegs Hendricks and second place in the CCI2*-S on board Vendi Cruz while Fernhill Mojito took ninth place in the same class
“It was great to have a win at the last Gatcombe. Monbeg Hendricks just a five-year-old and went extremely well in all three phases. He kept a very nice expressive rhythm in his test and jumped immaculately in both phases, making it feel much easier than a horse that age should!”
“Both of the 2* horses went brilliantly. Vendi Cruz jumped a beautiful double clear and felt great; he has been knocking on the door for a big result all year, so it was lovely for his owner that he went so well yesterday”
Harry Meade took the CCI2*-S win on another horse that has been knocking on the door of a win this year, Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Harry and the six-year-old Irish bred gelding won on their dressage score of 24.2, ahead of Kitty on 25.4 and Phoebe Locke on Ardeo Fun Size (25.6). The current British Young Rider Champion, Phoebe also won the Open Intermediate Section J riding Pica D’Or in a very hotly contested class packed with big names and upcoming stars
For Cheshire based Emma Rarity, the win riding her own 15-year-old Zummertimes (Leo) in the Novice Section L ahead of riders such as Tom McEwen and Andrew Nicholson meant that she was ‘over the moon with the result’, especially in view of their limited preparation
“It was his first Novice so I didn't know what to expect” explained Emma “I knew he could do a good dressage test and he's a brilliant show jumper, but you never know on the day. He hasn't had a run since May as all of his events have been abandoned due to the weather but, despite that, he was foot perfect from start to finish”
“I couldn't fault his dressage test and he jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping so I thought I'd go for it on the cross country. Leo came late to eventing after being a showjumper his whole life and I've had him three years - it's taken some time as he's quite quirky!”
“Gatcombe is such a beautiful venue. I feel very lucky to be able to ride there and to win was amazing”
You can’t keep a good man down however and Andrew Nicholson took the win in the Novice Section O on Dalton III (watch their ride here) while South Africa’s Alexander Peternell won the Open Novice Section N on Antigone II (watch their ride here)
Georgie Strang and Tom Grant were neck and neck the whole way in the Novice Section M, both starting on a dressage score of 30.3 and show jumping clear then both adding exactly 1.2 time penalties on cross country but it was eventually Georgie who was deemed the winner riding Darcy De La Rose (watch their ride here)
More to come from the Gatcombe Intermediate classes ………
