On the podium; Alex Bragg, Izzy Taylor and Tim Price Photo courtesy Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters
The show jumping phase of the Event Rider Masters at Jardy saw 11 clear rounds, with the first coming early in the order from France’s Jean Lou Bigot and last year’s Series Champion, Gemma Tattersall (GBR) and “wonder mare” Chico Bella P putting in a foot perfect clear round to climb from eighth overnight into fourth going into the cross country.
“What an amazing mare she is. She’s such a careful horse who wants to do it for us. She loves the big occasions and she’s having THE best week!” said Gemma after her round.
Chris Burton and Cooley Lands (above) and Bill Levett with Shannondale Titan (below) Photo courtesy Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters
Australia’s Shane Rose, Chris Burton and Bill Levett all produced clear show jumping rounds with Shane’s big grey CP Qualified just picking up three time penalties
Crowd favourites, Tim Price (NZL) and Wesko made the up-to height track look easy, continuing their impeccable return to form in the second phase in Jardy. Sitting in third going into the afternoon’s cross country, Tim and Wesko lined themselves up for a fairy tale return to competitive Eventing.
With poles falling all around the course, Izzy Taylor took advantage of Karim Florent Laghaoug’s 2 down to climb into second place with a solid clear inside the time on the exuberant Be Touchable, who is ‘a very, very good jumper but you always have to be mindful of the time because he spends so long in the air’ says Izzy
Holding fast at the top going into the cross country after a stylish show jumping clear, Britain’s Alex Bragg and Zagreb laid down a formidable challenge for the chasing field.
Alex Bragg and Zagreb Photo courtesy Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters
Cross Country
Eight combinations completed the cross country course inside the time with Chris Burton and Cooley Lands achieving it despite a slight detour on course. He wasn’t the only one, with Izzy Taylor also Sat Nav problems to pick up 0.8 time penalties but still finishing in third place
Leading from the off, British favourites Alex Bragg (GBR) and Zagreb needed a huge personal best in the Dressage, a foot perfect clear in the Show Jumping and a fast, classy clear inside the time across the country – all of which they delivered to take the penultimate Leg of the 2018 Series.
“I am over the moon. I was riding a bit like a demon out there, I really, really wanted it. I can’t believe I was faster than Izzy and Gemma, they are absolute speed queens. Tim is a bit more laid back so I expected to be speedier than him!” Alex commented.
Tim Price and Wesko Photo courtesy Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters
Looking like they’d never been away, the fairy tale continued for Tim Price (NZL) and his returning “best friend” Wesko, who delivered a Cross Country masterclass out on Pierre Michelet’s tough 3* track. Taking second place on the Leg 5 Podium means Tim moves up to third on the all important 2018 Series leader board.
Speaking about his second place finish Tim commented, “I’ll take that! I was saying to Billy (Levett) I don’t think I’ve had another one like him, it’s so much fun having him back. You don’t know until you know when you bring a horse like him back out at the top levels, but I guess now I know. It all came flooding back out there – he is just so much fun.”
Finishing just two seconds over the time after a slight navigation error out on course, Izzy Taylor (GBR) and Be Touchable lived up to their reputation with a classy, fast clear to claim third on the Leg 5 Podium. Gemma Tattersall (GBR) and Chico Bella P couldn’t quite break their run of fourth place finishes in the ERM today when they ended their clear cross country round three seconds inside the time.
The fastest event rider in the world, Chris Burton (AUS), didn’t disappoint out on course, this time piloting Kate Walls’ 10 year old gelding Cooley Lands. Delivering an incredible clear 9 seconds inside the time despite an identical problem to Izzy Taylor’s, the Australian keeps hold of the top of the Series leader board going into the Finale at Blair Castle in Scotland.
Shane Rose and CP Qualified Photo courtesy Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters
Bill Levett finished just off the podium this time in fourth place on board Shannondale Titan and Shane Rose, who now flies back to Australia for his own event at Equestriad, picked up 3.2 time penalties on cross country for ninth place
The Event Rider Masters now heads to the final Leg of the 2018 Series at Blair Castle International in Scotland from 25 & 26 August 2018.
