Barbury International Horse Trials

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The view from the xc towards the main arena at Barbury

The St. James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials came to a conclusion yesterday with Andrew Nicholson and Avebury triumphant for the 4th consecutive year in the CIC 3*.

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury wasting no time on the turns

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury wasting no time on the turns

If you have never been to Barbury International Horse Trials, make sure it is in your diary for next year. It’s in a spectacular location near Marlborough and you’ll say “wow” before you even turn down the drive due to the surrounding poppy fields and stunning views. The event is held in a valley thus providing an amphitheatre for spectators to enjoy a wonderful view of the whole event. Many of the best event riders in the world were competing here and every section was very competitive.

The highest caliber class was the CIC 3* which was won for the 4th year running by Andrew Nicholson riding Avebury.  He took 2nd place too with Nereo.  As is always the case these days, it was a truly International top 10, with four Kiwis in the top 5 placings. Two Brits, Nicola Wilson 4th and Laura Collett 6th, two from France, and one apiece for Ireland and Australia. See top 10 placings below.

Herefordshire rider Louise Harwood with Whitson

Herefordshire rider Louise Harwood with Whitson

Sadly Herefordshire rider Louise Harwood, who was lying 6th before XC, had to forego a place in top 10 after Whitson ran out at the corner after the eyehole.

At times the rain was torrential on Sunday and many riders and spectators got soaked, but the ground held up very well. The weather was much better on Saturday when there were 3 sections of CIC2* xc, 3* show jumping, the hunt relay, BS showjumping and the very entertaining JCB Champions Challenge enjoyed by many sitting on the grass bank in the sun. The jockeys team comprised AP McCoy, Richard Johnson, Sam Twiston-Davies and Wayne Hutchinson and the event team: Sir Mark Todd, Tina Cook, Harry Meade and Andrew Nicholson.

AP McCoy

AP McCoy leads his team to victory

As reported on the Barbury website: “The ‘Champ’ – AP McCoy, proved that his extraordinary talent in the saddle, which has kept him at the top of the jump jockeys championship for the past 20 consecutive years, still remains – as he led three former weighing room colleagues to victory in the JCB Champions Challenge at the St. James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials today. Joining McCoy was Sam Twiston-Davies, 22, one of the brightest of the new generation of young jump jockeys; Richard Johnson, who is (after McCoy), the second-most successful jockey in jumps history, with over 2000 winners.  The quartet was completed by one of racing’s leading players Wayne Hutchinson, stable jockey to Barbury trainer Alan King.

Run in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, McCoy was returning to the saddle for the first time in public since retiring, riding against a quartet of some of the biggest names in eventing, led by Andrew Nicholson, who has won the Barbury International three star three times in a row with his lovely grey Avebury.  Andrew’s team mates were fellow New Zealander and rider of the 20th century Sir Mark Todd and two of Britain’s finest rider’s – Harry Meade, who finished third at last year’s Badminton Horse Trials and multiple winning Olympic medallist Tina Cook.  The winning Portman (juniors) and Bicester with Whaddon (seniors) teams from the Inter Hunt Scurry also took part.

The jockeys and eventers were VERY competitive in the JCB challenge

The jockeys and eventers were VERY competitive in the JCB challenge

In the preliminary round, McCoy’s team actually trailed in behind the Bicester with Whaddon, who stole a late win on their final leg, when the mount of Richard Johnson proved a little less than willing over the first two obstacles.  But amidst the “We miss you AP” that could be heard being cheered from the Barbury crowds, a jump off between the jockeys and the eventers was called for.

AP set a blistering start to take the lead over Andrew Nicholson and the final leg provided a nail biting finish between Johnson and Meade. They both crossed each other’s tracks in the water obstacle and following a ‘stewards enquiry’, the jump jockeys were crowned the winning team of the second battle of Barbury.

Following the race AP said:  “Thank you to the Eventers and Hunts for taking part as its in aid of the IJF, which is a really important organisation for horseracing and beyond. It felt great to be back in the saddle and today was something a bit different, and at least we won!”.”

 

Also as reported by the Barbury team: “New Zealand swept the board in the three two-star level (CIC2*) classes at the Barbury International Horse Trials, sponsored by St James’s Place Wealth Management, with Andrew Nicholson, Tim Price and Jesse Campbell taking one apiece.

The in-form Andrew Nicholson was unstoppable in section B, winning on the Headley Stud’s Loughnatousa Joey on the first occasion he had ridden the horse. He was the only rider of the 93 cross-country starters in the section to achieve the optimum time.

However, 19-year-old Ella Hitchman, who is in her first year of Young Riders, ran the experienced New Zealander close to the wire, finishing just 0.8 penalties in arrears. She would have won, but for collecting 1.6 time penalties to finish four seconds over the optimum on Rocky Rockstar.

“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know where I could have made up the time,” said Ella, who is currently on a gap year and planning to go to Cirencester next year. “Still, it’s a pretty good result!

“We competed here last year in the junior trial, so I knew he could handle the hills and, anyway, he’s used to doing a lot of hill work at home [near Cheltenham]. Rocky is now 12 and it’s only that he’s showing us what he’s really made of.”

Gemma Tattersall 3rd in the CIC 2*

Gemma Tattersall 3rd in the CIC 2*

Gemma Tattersall, a candidate for the British team for the forthcoming European championships in September, which will be announced later this week, finished third on Santiago Bay.

Tim Price’s win on Kyrle Arscott and Diana Chappell’s The Court Jester in section C was particularly special because they had invited the Prospect Hospice in nearby Wroughton, which has a stand at Barbury, to “adopt” the horse for the day.
The 10-year-old gelding has already paid a visit to the hospice, where a member of staff had a sit on him. Tim has taken on the ride because his usual Australian rider Sammy Birch (nee McLeod) is pregnant. “He’s a class horse,” said Tim, who hopes to take him to Blenheim.

Tim finished on his leading dressage score of 36.1 with Australian Christopher Burton in second on Santana and Sir Mark Todd third on Amacuzzi.

Jesse Campbell, based down the road in Ogbourne St Andrew, and the youngest of the Kiwi trio, had the win in section D sorted right from the early stages with a fast round inside the time on Cleveland.

William Fox-Pitt, the dressage leader on Ramdam de Mons, hit one show jump and was then eliminated for a rider fall when the horse stopped at a ditch on the cross-country. Oliver Townend, second after dressage, had two show jumping rails down and dropped down the order.

Jesse explained that the eight-year-old has been taken slowly because he can be tricky. “He’s been hard work, he’s talented but a bit of a maverick and I’ve had a few bloody noses on him. I’ve always believed in him, though. He’s a big beautiful horse.”

It was another international line-up, with Ireland’s Camilla Speirs second on BT Cloud and Italy’s Stella Benatti third on Zaron. Mark Todd was giving his four-star horse Oloa an easy spin round for fourth and Izzy Taylor was best Brit in fifth on Direct Puissance.”

As reported in yesterday’s write up, Powys event rider Franky Reid-Warrilow had another great result with Dolley Whisper in the section won by Tim Price.  A clear XC inside the time and one rail down SJ secured her 4th place as best British rider, behind 2nd placed Aussie Christopher Burton and 3rd placed Sir Mark Todd.  Franky and Dolley Whisper have recently been selected to represent Britain at the CIC** European Championships in Helvoirt, Netherlands from 20 to 23 August.

Sam Smith, the popular event rider and equine sports therapist from Gloucestershire suffered a horrid rotational fall resulting in a dislocated shoulder and broken wrist, but I’m pleased to say he’s now on the mend at home. Get well soon Sam.

CIC 3* Results:

125 AVEBURY Andrew Nicholson
33.9 1
2
33.9 1
51 NEREO Andrew Nicholson
38.3 4
4
38.3 2
97 LEONIDAS II Todd Sir Mark
38.4 5
5
38.4 3
141 BELTANE QUEEN Nicola Wilson
44.1 18
11
44.1 4
130 RINGWOOD SKY BOY Tim Price
45.0 23
15
45.0 5
136 GRAND MANOEUVRE Laura Collett
43.3 15
9
2.0 45.3 6
140 PIAF DE BNEVILLE Astier Nicolas
43.8 17
10
2.8 46.6 7
115 SIMON PORLOE Padraig McCarthy
47.5 35
23
0.8 48.3 8
132 INDIAN MILL Paul Tapner
41.2 12
8 26
49.2 9
93 MINOS DE PETRA Pascal Leroy
41.0 11
4 15
4.8 49.8 10