Ros Canter, Emily King and Yasmin Ingham at the Grantham Cup presentation
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park 2023 - order or view videos here
It has been an interesting week of eventing at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park but, after the dust (mud?) settled, two winners emerged in Emily King and Piggy March
Emily King riding Valmy Biats took the win in the Lycetts Grantham Cup CCI4*, producing a clear show jumping round and then adding just 14.4 time penalties on the cross country course that turned out to offer perfect going, especially for those, like Emily, who are heading to Badminton
Emily King rides Valmy Biats (above) and Ros Canter with Pencos Crown Jewel (below)
Emily finished on a score of 41.2, ahead of Ros Canter riding Pencos Crown Jewel (43.9), another Badminton bound combination, along with Ros’ Lordships Graffalo that took sixth place (46.6)
Past world Champion Ros was delighted to get ‘a spin around on ground that held up brilliantly’ and felt it important to get her horses familiarised with the going as “Badminton could be wet this year, Badminton could be wet next year, so I think it’s really important for them to be educated like this.”
Ros Canter interview
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir
The current World Champion Yasmin Ingham is headed to Kentucky rather than Badminton, but it was equally important for her to get a run on Banzai Du Loir, who took third place (44.2) with a clear showjumping round and a steady 18.8 time penalties on cross country.
Yasmin’s second ride in this class was Rehy DJ, who was initially entered for Kentucky but now likely to head to Luhmuhlen, took 10th place
“I felt a bit nervous coming here after all the OI’s had been cancelled at Oasby and Cirencester Park so we were coming here a bit short on runs but actually they just dropped back into it and felt really good” says Yasmin
Piggy March and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise
Piggy March won the Grantham Cup last year on Brookfield Inocent but this year it was Brookfield Cavalier Cruise that took the spoils at the top of the CCI4*-S Section P
The 10-year-old gelding that had a year out as an eight-year-old and came back to win the CCI3*-L with Tom McEwen at Blair Castle last year has been ridden by Kevin McNab, Harry Meade, Tom McEwen and Piggy during his career
“He’s a lovely natured horse” says Piggy “And he’s had wins with everyone who has ridden him”
Now he’s won a CCI4* with Piggy, at their first attempt together
They led from start to finish, adding just 11.2 time penalties to their dressage score, finishing on 36.6, ahead of Harry Meade riding Red Kite (38.5) and Harry Mutch (43) riding Shanbeg Cooley
Listen to the two Harrys interview here and this is what Piggy had to say about her ride and the whole experience at Thoresby
Lots more to come soon from riders and across the classes at Thoresby!
