One of the last horses of the day and the sun is finally out for Tim Price and Spartaco - 4th in the Intermediate Section O
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
South of England International (2) - find out more here
It seems that the world’s top eventing riders left the hurricanes of Tryon behind only to be chased by British storms
2018 World Equestrian Games British team gold medallists Gemma Tattersall and Tom McEwen along with Tina Cook and Ireland’s silver medallist Padraig McCarthy returned to eventing in the UK, having avoided the worst of Hurricane Florence in Tryon, only to be subjected to some good old British storms
Storm Bronagh had just finished whipping up severe gusts and an outpouring of rain over the south of the British Isles but it was then followed by two severe yellow warnings for rain and wind issued by the Met Office which hit the South of England International Horse Trials on Sunday
Saturday had already been soggy at the event held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, Sussex but at least the wind had stayed away, enabling competitors to get a good, if slightly sodden, day’s competition in.
Gemma Tattersall and Facari MG (above) and Chillis Prince (below) Photos courtesy Julian Portch
Gemma Tattersall had a good day despite the rain with two wins at Novice level and a third and fifth place in the BE100 sections. Chilli’s Prince won the Novice Section G, adding 6.4 time penalties to his dressage score to finish on 32.4 but it was the seven year old mare Facari MG that put in the test of the day for a dressage score of 19, winning the Novice Section H on a score of 21.4, a whopping 14.3 penalties ahead of Tina Cook on David Cricket in second place
It was a much closer call in the Novice Section H with the USA’s Liz Halliday-Sharp finishing second to Gemma on board Flash Cooley (34.7) and then also picking up fourth and seventh places on Cooley Stormwater and Duiske Abbey. Liz’s very talented young Cooley Moonshine led the way in the London Capital & Finance CIC1* after Saturday’s dressage with a score of 26.6 ahead of Canada’s Rebecca Howard on Trebor and Sarah Holmes on Harley Brown while in the SsangYong CIC2* it was Italy’s Roberto Scalisi who led the way after the first few competitors had completed their dressage tests with more to come on Sunday morning
When Sunday dawned, it was again a wet one with the CIC1* and CIC2* competitors having the worst of the weather in the morning. However, Liz Halliday-Sharp didn’t seem fazed by the rain to win the CIC1*, finishing on a score of 29 with just 2.4 time penalties added to her dressage score – this really is a combination to keep an eye on for the future. 1* winners at Chilham Castle, Nat Dixon and Vic also added 2.4 time penalties on cross country to move into second place (34.30) and the delightfully named Coolrock Wacko Jacko ridden by Georgia Bartlett took third place (34.60)
Vic, who is retiring from eventing competition at the end of this season, is only ridden by Nat at competitions or leading up to them
“He probably hates me” laughs Nat “He sees me coming and must think ‘oh, oh here we go, some hard work coming up!” However, Vic can’t dislike Nat that much as he usually comes up trumps for her, even in these conditions
Chris Burton and Chloe 21
Chris Burton moved into the lead of the 2* on Sunday morning riding a new addition to his stable, Chloe 21. Owned by Carolyn Townsend and Sue Lawson, Chloe will soon have their Lawtown prefix added, but they haven’t had much time to get that organised.
Previously ridden by Anna Siemer, Sue and Chris visited Germany a few weeks ago to buy the 11-year-old mare before Chris headed off to the World Equestrian Games. Despite not having much time to get acquainted, Chris and Chloe led after the dressage with a score of 29 but Chris opted to withdraw before the cross country
Gemma and the experienced campaigner Quicklook who was on a good dressage score of 24.6 and show jumped clear but was withdrawn before OI cross country
Gemma Tattersall also withdrew Santiago Bay, who had a handy dressage score of 29, before cross country but she still managed to finish first and second in the class with Billy Shania winning (31.2) and Chilli’s Knight the runner-up (36.7).
The show jumping was influential with only three riders that completed the class jumping a clear show jumping round and all three were riders recently returned from Tryon – Gemma on Billy Shania, Chris Burton on Lawtown Girl and Padraig McCarthy on HHS Noble Call. We caught up with Padraig to talk about WEG experience and we’ll bring you that interview soon …..
Five cross country rides in one hour - Tom McEwen and Braveheart B eat up the course
Much to the relief of many, the skies cleared and the sun came out in the afternoon for the Intermediate classes. Once again, these classes were sprinkled with the magic of medal winners and Tom McEwen proved, as Gemma Tattersall had earlier, that when you’re hot, you’re hot (even if it’s raining)
Tom not only won the Batcheller Monkhouse Intermediate Section N on board Braveheart B with a score of 34.5 but also took second place on The Magician and then he did it again in the Inkerman of London Intermediate Section O, winning on Dreamaway II and taking second place on Dream Big.
Tom McEwen
Tom couldn’t quite pull off a win in the Claydon Horse Walkers Open Intermediate Section P but did take fifth place on Royal Roxey, thanks to a very fast time on cross country.
Andrew Nicholson's 7 year old As Is is another star in the making (above), as is Tina Cook's 8 year old Killadeas (below)
No-one made the time on the Intermediate courses, which are notoriously difficult time-wise, but Andrew Nicholson came close in the Open Intermediate with four time penalties, the lowest of the afternoon, on board As Is. They moved up to second place, ahead of Tina Cook and Killadeas, who started with a very good dressage score of 24.6 but had 10 time penalties on cross country for third place
Laura and Calmaro now head to Le Mondial du Lion Young Event Horse Championships
Laura Collett and Calmaro also started on a dressage score of 24.6 but a clear jumping round and just eight time on cross country gave them the win.
Laura, who is just coming off a 3* win at Blenheim, also took fourth place on Finduss PFB and sixth on Parkfield Quintessential and hopefully the roll she is on will continue as they head towards Le Lion d’Angers in France. This has been happy hunting ground for Laura, winning the 7 Year Old World Young Horse Championship on Mr Bass in 2015 - can she do it again in 2018?
Laura and Finduss PFB
