Oliver Townend and Cillnabradden Evo
An Eventful Life filmed all riders on the cross country course at Blair International Horse Trials - click here to order your video from this event
Britain’s Oliver Townend became the first dual winner of the Event Rider Masters when winning the fifth leg of the series at The Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials scooping the £16,000 first prize from the £50,000 total prize money pot.
Riding Cillnabradden Evo, who Townend partnered to win the fourth leg at Gatcombe three weeks earlier, the pair were faultless show jumping to head out on the cross-country in pole position, where they completed an impressive clear jumping round adding just 2.4 time penalties to win the penultimate leg of the ERM on a score of 45.2. Young Brit – Tom McEwen on board Diesel took second place on the podium on 56.1 with Gemma Tattersall (GB) riding Santiago Bay in third on 57.7.
Townend took over the ride on Cillnabradden Evo from Andrew Nicholson after the New Zealand rider had a near career ending fall from him at Gatcombe 2015. Oliver, clearly now in the hunt to try and win the overall ERM series, has him entered for the finale leg at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on 10th 11th September
Oliver Townend commented that “He is a deceptively quick horse, who has a bit of chequered history with the cross-country, but we have worked hard on that and hopefully turned a corner and I couldn’t be happier for the horse and his owners today. We will certainly be at the ERM final at Blenheim, looking to win the overall series!”
The fifth leg of the ERM developed into a tough jumping competition with the leader-board being shaken up dramatically after the showjumping and final cross-country phase. The biggest casualty was the overnight dressage leader Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott who dropped to second place in the showjumping following two costly poles. The pair then had an unfortunate run out toward the end of the cross-country putting them right out of contention for a podium finish.
Under 25 British rider Tom McEwen secured the second spot and became the youngest rider to feature on the ERM podium after performing a foot perfect cross-country round on the thoroughbred Diesel. It was a remarkable performance as the horse has been injured and not seen a cross-country fence for two years.
Tom, clearly delighted, commented;
“I am so relieved to be back competing on Diesel. He was fantastic today and is such a class horse. I am delighted for him and also to feature on the ERM podium today.”
Gemma Tattersall secured a British 1-2-3 finishing in third. The eight year old mare Santiago Bay has been an outstanding and consistent horse in the ERM this year. Tattersall has now closed the gap on series leader Paul Tapner, who held a commanding lead after leg 5 at Gatcombe Park.
Jock Paget and the nine year old Angus Blue unfortunately lost their second place, following a review by the Blair ground jury, the pair were found to have jumped the wrong side of a flag on the cross-country and were subsequently eliminated from the competition after completing the cross-country.
Paul Tapner and KIlronan
The ERM final is in two week’s at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and with competitor’s taking forward their four best scores from the previous five legs the £50,000 ERM rider bonus looks wide open. Australia’s Paul Tapner is the overall series leader on 92 points. He finished in sixth place today riding Kilronan, which was the pair’s last competitive appearance together. Gemma Tattersall lies in second with 90 points and Oliver Townend sits in third with 74 and Jonelle Price on 69. Tapner, Tattersall, Townend and Price all tipped as serious contenders for the ERM series title.
Paul Tapner commented;
“We always thought Oliver was well suited to this series and he’s certainly making a strong late challenge, Gemma has also been very threatening on the leader-board in all her ERM starts and Jonelle is a very fierce competitor. I hope my horse Yogi Bear can pull something special out of the picnic basket at Blenheim in order to secure us the series”!
New for 2016, the Event Rider Masters incorporates six CiC*** Eventing competitions at venues across Great Britain with a total of £350,000 on offer across the series including a £30,000 rider bonus for the leading rider on points across the series. The series finale will be held at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on 10 and 11 September.
