British rider Nicola Wilson claimed a well deserved victory this weekend at Barbury Castle International Horse Trials, taking the top spot in the CIC*** aboard Miss Rosemary Search’s Opposition Buzz. The pair, who recently placed eighth at Badminton earlier this year, have had a great season together finishing within the top ten at every outing.
Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz win at Barbury
Hot on her heels and just point seven of a penalty behind was young rider Emily Llewellyn, who secured not one but two top ten placings! Emily came second on fifteen-year-old Society Spice and tenth on Cindy Llewellyn’s Pardon Me II.
It was a glorious weekend, and the sun shone throughout the four days of competition at the Wiltshire show, which is renowned for its spectator-friendly cross country course.
Andrew Nicholson and Armada who came 21st in CIC***
Following the show jumping phase, there was a shock withdrawal from competition leader Ruth Edge, who had been in the lead from the off, after securing an impressive dressage test mark of 35.4 penalties.
There was more than one problem fence on the cross-country, which included the new St James’s Place Owl Hole and Alan King Racing Stables complex, which was an owl hole on a mound followed by two fences on a severe angle and on a downhill slope! Daisy Berkley rode her trusted Spring Along into forth place- but theirs was a nail biting round as they had a hairy moment at the racing stables, when Spring Along clambered on top of the fence!
German rider Bettina Hoy riding Lanfranco TSF in CIC***
Another fence that caused problems was the second of three water fences; which included a big step down into the water. Chris King was one rider to fall fowl of this element as his ride, Silver Machine, fell on entering the water meaning both horse and rider got a dunking! Luckily both walked away uninjured.
The event was the last chance to impress selectors for riders hoping to go to WEG, which is to be held in Kentucky later this season.
South African rider Alexander Peternell on his second ride AP Uprising in the CIC ***
Andrew Nicholson claimed the fastest round of the day, piloting his first ride Armada into third position. The New Zealand rider was last out on course on his second ride Avebury, and was heading for victory, however an unlucky run out at the tricky Earthline Sunken Ridgeway mean that he eventually finished just outside of the top twenty.
Nicholson also won a two star section on Deborah Sellar’s seven-year-old gelding Quimbo, which he led from the fore with a supurb dressage mark. Ruth Edge was victorious in the second two star competition, riding eight-year-old Applejack II, when even an unlucky pole down in the show jumping could not knock her off the top spot.
William Fox-Pitt riding Mrs Teresa Stopford Sackville's Cool Mountain in the CIC***
Essex based rider Fergus Payne has had a great introduction to three star competition this year, after he completed his second international advanced level cross-country course with a clean sheet. He rode Mr Michael Payne’s and Mrs Judith Skinners sixteen-year-old gelding Ballincoola, who has been a winner at Barbury before, under previous rider William Fox-Pitt.
Also, for the first time since 1964, the Wiltshire County Show went ahead, and for the first time ever coinciding with Barbury Horse Trials, which meant record crowds attended the event.
The event also played host to the ROR championships, which saw a field of twenty-three whittled down to ten riders who battled it out in the main arena on Sunday for the top spot. Matthew Heath piloted Alligator Alley, putting in a foot perfect clear to retain their lead and take the top position.
For full results from this event please see http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/Events/Results.aspx?MeetingID=2621
