Vittoria Pannizzon on Chequers Play The Game
Some of the world’s best eventing riders including 18 Olympians, World and Olympic Champions were among the 343 strong international field from 10 countries at the 2017 Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair which drew to a close on Sunday
After five days of fantastic eventing action across the three disciplines the main event the Irish Field CCI3* was won by Italian rider Vittoria Panizzon on her Chequers Play The Game with a score of 35.5. Vittoria is the first ever Italian rider to win at Tattersalls where she led from the first day’s dressage phase through a faultless cross country performance and had just one time fault in the show jumping. In second place was Team GB’s Piggy French on Quarrycrest Echo, finishing on her dressage score of 39.3. Young British rider Willa Newton on Caja 20 finished in third, also on her dressage score
Edmond Mahony Chairman Tattersalls and Tattersalls Ireland with (L-R) 2nd placed Britain's Oliver Townend, Nicky Roncoroni , Kitty King and Alexander Bragg, France's Raphael Cochet, Sidney Dufresne, Pierre Touzaint and Luc Chateau with third placed Ireland Sarah Ennis, Austin O'Connor, Cathal Daniels and Sam Watson and team manager Sally Corscadden
The FEI Nations Cup (CICO3*) was won by Team France with Luc Chateau, Raphael Cochet, Sidney Dufresne and Pierre Touzaint finishing on an overall score of 137.60. Team GB added to their recent second places at Houghton and Strzegom with another silver here for the team of Oliver Townend (MHS King Joules), Nicky Roncoroni (Watts Burn) and Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) while the home side finished third with their team members Austin O’Connor, Cathal Daniels, Sarah Ennis and Sam Watson finishing on a score of 197.90.
Luc Chateau on Propriano de l'Ebat
The shorter format George Mernagh Memorial CIC3* was won by Frenchman Luc Chateau on Propiano de l’Ebat with a final score of 37.2 incurring just 1.2 time penalties on his cross country round to add to his dressage score whilst English rider Oliver Townend came in second after a flying cross country round on MHS King Joules within the time allowed of seven minutes and no penalties throughout the jumping phases.
Only two double clear cross country rounds were recorded with France’s Sidney Dufresne on Tresor Mail duplicating Oliver’s achievement. Tim Price riding Ascona M took third place while the best of the Irish riders was Sam Watson on Ardagh Highlight on a score of 48, placing fourth individually.
Tim also maintained his lead in the Eventing Ireland CCI2* on Kilcooley Cruising, adding nothing to his good dressage score of 38.3 and Vittoria Panizzon added a second place in this class on One Night Love to her win in the 3*.
Tim Price and Ascona M
Two poles rolled by Millie Dumas on Cameya cost her the win in the Connelly’s Red Mills U25 CCI2* competition which went to Britain’s Sam Ecroyd on Tuallaher Sunrise with a score of 42.7 and Tom Jackson moved into second place on Courvoisier, also with a clear round.It wasn’t all bad news for Millie, who finished in third place on Cameya and fourth on RF West Indie
It wasn’t all about horses at Tattersalls all weekend as the shopping village consisting of local artisan foods, pancakes, gourmet burgers, arts, crafts, country clothing reported a brisk trade and the jumping mini ponies proved to be really popular with the youngsters along with the novelty dog show with special prozes for the waggiest tail and best six legs (dog and owner).
A large crowd of just over 10,000 people enjoyed the international equestrian action and country fair in the Co Meath countryside in Tattersalls contributing to a record crowd of just over 32,500 for the five day event which was up on last year’s figure of 30,000.
