Sophie Callard, Lizzie Baugh and Tom McEwen at the Warner Leisure CCI2*-S presentation
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park 2023 - order or view videos here
Lizzie Baugh seems to have taken to the 2023 British Eventing season like a duck to water.
Having won four classes at Lincolnshire Horse Trials recently, Lizzie added the Warner Leisure CCI2*-S at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park on Friday to her early season haul.
Riding Toni Dalby Rose’s eight-year-old Shannondale Cedric, the locally-based rider took the win on a score of 37.1, thanks to the only double clear cross-country round within the optimum time and just four faults in the show jumping
Lizzie Baugh and Shannondale Cedric Photo courtesy Hannah Cole
“He was a little bit excited in the dressage and didn’t really produce his best work, he was a little bit tense, but he rose to the top in the show jumping. He really tried hard in the mud” said Lizzie
“Cross-country he’s a really good cross-country horse and he’s always straight and honest on his lines so that was never an issue for him, he covers the ground so well. I knew he might be competitive as the show jumping had caused issues, I didn’t necessarily ride for the time, and he comfortably galloped round in the time
I’m just really grateful to the whole team here for all the extra effort they have gone to, we are all just so grateful of the run at the moment.”
Lizzie now hopes to do the same on cross country with her CCI4* horse, B Exclusive
“I’m really excited for Sunday, it looks like a good track, I need to have another walk or two and really finalise what I’m going to do. But it looks like a good test, and I can’t wait to get out, give it a go and see how we get on”
Sophie Callard and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce Photo courtesy Hannah Cole
Sophie Callard, riding Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry’s, Brookfield Benjamin Bounce was close behind with 37.6. Sophie almost produced what would have been the only clear round in the CCI2* show jumping, with just the last fence falling, and completed cross country with the second fastest time of 5.2 penalties for second place
“I’m thrilled with Bounce, he’s just amazing!” said Sophie “He was incredible and travelled really happily, jumping well and tried his heart out today. I really couldn’t have asked for much more from him. The event has done an incredible job getting us all in, getting us out again, keeping it running. They accommodated all of our needs so well – they’ve been really so great.”
Tom McEwen riding Magdelena Gut, Vicky Bates, and David Myers’ Falaise De Riverland led the dressage with a score of 26.4 but, like so many others, had a rail in the difficult show jumping conditions and just 6.4 time penalties on the ‘cracking’ cross country
“It was the first run of the season for Falaise, so really pleased with her, she’s had a few trips out hunting over the winter as we’re all quite used to going round arenas and not so much out of the mud, but she tried really hard” said Tom
“The cross-country was a cracking course and was just such a shame for the organisers in general as they’ve done a fantastic job and the ground really is superb out on course.”
Tom also the CCI4* cross country to look forward to on Sunday, currently in third place after dressage on board JL Dublin
Tom McEwen and Falaise De Riverland Photo courtesy Hannah Cole
Eliza Bell leads Investec CCI3*
Eliza Bell (nee Stoddart) riding De Pleasure took a commanding lead of the Investec CCI3*-S with a score of 24.7, ahead of Thursday’s leaders Bubby Upton riding Viktor Krum, now in second place on 27.7.
Another young British team gold medallist Finn Healy joined Bubby on that score with Treamble, relegating a German team Olympic gold medallist, Dirk Schrade, to fourth place (29.8) on board Casino 80
The CCI3*-S concludes on Saturday and, although Saturday's Intermediate and OI Under-21 have been abandoned, the Open Intermediate sections G and H will also continue as planned
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for video snippets and more during the event!
