Zara Tindall, Francis Whittington, Sarah Arrowsmith, Sharon Mepham, John Horrell Photo courtesy Lucy Hall
Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship
Francis Whittington has out-galloped his rivals to clinch the coveted Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship at The Festival of British Eventing, presented by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).
Under glorious blue skies and in front of a packed crowd, Francis steered Sarah Arrowsmith’s seven-year-old gelding Evento to the fastest cross country clear round of the section for just two time penalties.
“He’s a great galloper. I set him up a bit for some of the earlier fences, but once we were in our stride I let him roll along on a long rein and took a few tighter lines,” explained Francis, who is no stranger to speeding around Gatcombe Park – in 2004 he made history by joining the select band of riders who have finished inside the time in the British Open Championship.
Evento joined Francis’ team at the end of 2014 having come from Ian Woodhead’s yard.
“He’s got a bit of fire in his belly, but now he’s mentally growing up,” continued Francis. “I hope he’ll go on to big things.”
Francis rolled a pole in the show jumping, but his dressage score of 29.5 was enough to keep his nose in front of runners-up Selina Milnes and Iron IV and third placed Frenchman Arthur Duffort and Sue Ricketts’ Oaklands First Time.
The top six:
1st – Evento (Francis Whittington) 35.5
2nd – Iron IV (Selina Milnes) 35.7
3rd – Oaklands First Time (Arthur Duffort) 36.7
4th – Simply Simon II (Etti Dale) 37.2
5th – Fleurelle (Izzy Taylor) 37.3
6th – Sportsfield Lord Livesey (Matthew Heath) 37.9
Peter Windus, Zara Tindall and Oliver Townend Photo courtesy Lucy Hall
Advanced section
Oliver Townend made the Advanced section his own claiming three of the top four places with his trio of rides.
Top of the pile was Peter Windus’ Dunbeau, who added one pole down in the show jumping and eight time penalties across the country to his good dressage score of 25.7.
He finished just over one penalty ahead of Oliver’s second ride, Sue Chadwick and Komfi’s Samuel Thomas II.
“It was a really nice surprise [to finish first and second],” said Oliver, who recorded characteristically speedy rounds on all three rides. “I liked the changes to the course, which meant spectators were more spread out around the park. The new water rode well, although having to turn back and jump it a second time was a bit disconcerting.”
Oliver was referring to the brand new Equex China Pond at the top end of the course, which required riders to first jump in over a hanging log and out over a triple brush (fence 12ab), before looping back and jumping another log in followed by a corner out (fence 13ab). It was a focal point for spectators, who were able to see at least half a dozen fences from this vantage point.
Oliver also finished fourth with Michael McGrath’s Dromgurrihy Blue, just behind Tom McEwen and Frank and Jane Inns’ up-and-coming Toledo De Kerser, who led after the Show Jumping, but opted for a steady trip across the Gatcombe parkland to drop to third.
Results:
1st – Dunbeau (Oliver Townend) 37.7
2nd – Samuel Thomas II (Oliver Townend) 38.9
3rd – Toledo De Kerser (Tom McEwen) 41.5
4th – Dromgurrihy Blue (Oliver Townend) 45
5th – High Kingdom (Zara Tindall) 47.9
6th –Landine (Rose Carnegie) 50.7
Alexander Whewall Photo courtesy Lucy Hall
Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship
Alexander Whewall celebrated the biggest win of his career when he triumphed in the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship
The spectacular Gatcombe Park, bathed in wall-to-wall sunshine, played host to fascinating afternoon of sport as familiar faces and new stars battled it out around Captain Mark Phillips’ testing intermediate track.
Somerset-based Alexander, who partnered Lisa Coward’s Chakiris Star, turned in a dressage score of 29.7 before posting a foot-perfect double clear for just eight time penalties.
“I came here hoping for a placing, so to win in this company is just amazing,” said the 28-year-old, who keeps his string of 13 horses at his parents’ yard near Bristol.
Alexander, who is trained by British Eventing Master Coach Lizzel Winter, has struck up a fantastic partnership with the 10-year-old gelding, who did dressage with his owner for the first two years of his career and only started eventing as a seven-year-old.
“He’s only little and he’s not flash, but he tries so hard. He was spot on in all three phases today; I couldn’t fault him,” added Alexander.
Oliver Townend, who had already enjoyed a successful afternoon in the advanced sections, finished runner-up with Peter Finer and Posy Kopanski’s promising nine-year-old Master Trump. Oliver posted by far the fastest time of the section – 3.6 time penalties – but a dislodged rail in the show jumping demoted him to second.
Emily King secured third spot with Jane Del Missier’s Dargun.
Results
1st – Chakiris Star (Alexander Whewall) 37.7
2nd – Master Trump (Oliver Townend) 38.6
3rd – Dargun (Emily King) 42.8
4th – Leo Distinction (Blyth Tait) 48.1
5th – Lui D (Meghan Healy) 48.3
6th – Galwayby Smokie (Fiona Davidson) 48.6
