Nat Dixon and Vic - CIC1* winners at Chilham International Photo courtesy Spidge Event Photography
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Chilham Castle International (2) - order or view videos here
After several weeks of sun and bone dry conditions, the unseasonably hot spell came to a sudden halt last weekend and eventers at Chilham Castle International found themselves ditching the ice creams, discarding their shorts and digging out their wet weather gear
While conditions on Saturday were still mild for the BE80 (T) and BE90 competitors on Saturday, the wind and rain on Sunday made it much more like traditional eventing weather. Chilham (2) is a FEI international event and the CIC1* competitors performed their test on Saturday on the lawn in front of the impressive Chilham Castle, home of the Wheeler family who are so supportive of the event, then returned on Sunday for show jumping first thing in the morning followed by the cross country
Nat Dixon and Vic were the winners of the CIC1*, winning on their dressage score of 33, a great way to finish the 16-year-old warmblood’s eventing career as he now will be enjoying slightly less taxing equestrian pursuits but Nat has another up and coming horse ready to step into Vic’s shoes
Nat Dixon
Alycia Port and Flower Faerie finished close behind on 33.7 and Gaspar Maksud took third riding Altus Louvo with a score of 34.2, adding just one time fault in the show jumping to his dressage score
Cooley Moonshine - not only talented but gorgeous looking too
While the International class was won by a British class, the national Novice classes were taken by international riders. The Open Novice was won by Canada’s Rebecca Howard on Trebor and the Novice Section I was won by Liz Halliday-Sharp on board the very exciting prospect Cooley Moonshine. This six year old has won all five of his starts this year including his first CIC1* start at Brightling Park (watch their winning ride here) and is really one to watch as he goes up the grades with Liz.
Olivia Craddock and Galwaybay Panther jump a clear show jumping round
Olivia Craddock riding Galwaybay Panther took second place (30.8) and Melanie Saxe was third riding Butts Leonardo R (32.4)
Sophie Jenman and Allspark
Caroline March riding Macgregor won the Novice Section H (33.8) with Sophie Jenman on Allspark in second (34.5) and France’s Gaspar Maksud yet again in third on Cado Louvo (35.1)
Congratulations to all winners but especially our cross country video winners listed below and we will have some great footage coming up soon from this event
BE90 Sec A: Iain Monk and Lyfield Caradean
BE90 Sec B: Lauren Davis and The Grand Artist
BE90 Sec C: Lucy Gasston and Smart Colours
BE90 Open Sec D: Melissa Joannides and Craan Bob
BE80 (T) Sec E: Alice Mayne and Kilbegs Been Dun
BE80 (T) Sec F: Janet Phillips and Mozaik
CIC1* Sec G: Nat Dixon and Vic
Australia's Emma McNab and Mr Bean 37, competing in the Novice at Chilham, now head to the Festival of British Eventing
