An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on the cross country at South of England - click here to view or order videos
Blyth adjusts his stirrups before setting out on course on Darius V
“Well it hasn’t been the best of days” said Blyth Tait to Chris Rigby, the starter at the South of England (2) today as he was about to set out on course in the SsangYong Motor UK Open Intermediate Section Q. All of that was about to change however as Blyth and Darius V flew around the course in great style to come home with no jumping penalties and the fastest time of the class
Blyth had already been around this course on Leo Distinction – the horse brought over from New Zealand after Blyth competed him at Puhinui in 2014 - but 12 faults in the show jumping had scuppered their chances. In the Savills Intermediate Section P Blyth’s horse Carin was in a very good position with a dressage score of 21.4, bettered only by his Kiwi compatriot Andrew Nicholson on Yacabo BK (19.6), and they had produced one of only five clear rounds in the show jumping. Unfortunately two problems on the cross country course dropped them way down the leader board, again dashing Blyth’s hopes
However redemption came in the form of Darius V, the very last horse on course. Blyth set out as if he meant business and kept it up the entire way around the course with just 6.4 time penalties to earn them the win
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night
Andrew Nicholson had led the class after dressage with another good score of 20.9 on Liberto 11 but they picked up 40 penalties on cross country and Australia’s Emma Dougall obviously opted to take it easy on Fernhill Tabasco, maybe in view of their upcoming trip to Boekelo, adding 44.4 time penalties to their very good dressage score of 22.5. Third after the dressage, the USA’s Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night added 12.8 time penalties to their dressage score of 23 to finish in second place behind Blyth and Emily Baldwin on Rinwood Cooley claimed third place with a score of 40.4
We’ve got much more coming up in articles, photographs and videos from the weekend at South of England International so stay tuned ...........
Flying home ............................ Blyth and Darius complete the course and the day with a win
