Paul Sims and the distinctive Oaken George in the Novice Section A
“Glengarnock has never felt better” says Paul Sims who took his first ever Advanced win at Belton International on the horse he is hoping will add another Badminton completion to his record 4*career
Paul had a busy time at Belton International, not just riding but also fitting in presentations as the winner of the Advanced Section L on Glengarnock, winner of the Open Intermediate Section I on Last Secret and second place on Oaken George in the Novice Section A
Glengarnock jumps clear in the Advanced Section L
For Paul everything seems to be coming together at the right time with this being his first Advanced win and Glengarnock pulling it all together in the show jumping, not his favourite phase until recently
Glengarnock may have just won his first Advanced class but he has an enviable CCI4* history with completions at both Badminton and Burghley for the past three years and hopefully, if he moves from this year’s Badminton Waitlist into the Acceptances, he will add another one to this record.
Paul admits that Glengarnock is by no means a ‘blood horse’ so making the time at CCI4* level is a challenge but he added only 1.6 time penalties on cross country at Belton to finish on a score of 29.6. Last year at Burghley Paul and Glengarnock were in third place at the end of the first day of dressage and once again they showed they can strut their stuff with the best of them in the dressage arena, in second place after this phase on 28 behind the arena master Andrew Hoy on Cheeky Calimbo with a score of 26.
However Andrew picked up eight penalties in the show jumping while Glengarnock jumped clear thanks to his new found skill over the coloured poles
Paul Sims
Ireland’s Mark Kyle riding Jemilla finished second (34.4) in this class thanks to a fast cross country ride and just one time penalty in the show jumping while Australia’s Sam Griffiths and Beaurepaire Nemo took third on 36.6
