The only problem with Gatcombe is there’s so much to watch all at the same time. While we were watching the advanced show-jumping and cross country this morning, Mary King was taking an early command of the British Open Championship dressage phase, moving into first and second places on Imperial Cavalier and Kings Temptress respectively. As I write this fairly near the end of the dressage, she remains the only rider to crack the twenties with scores of 25.5 and 29.1. We saw her giving Apache Sauce a warm up before his test later this afternoon, and she said hello to Lily, which made her day, and in turn extended mine, thank you, Mary, as the kids were tiring slightly! We were also just in time to see Laura Collett, an EN fave (!) do a nice test on Ginger May Killinghurst to to move into 4th currently on a score of 30.6.
Laura rides with such maturity and style it’s hard to believe she’s only 21, and will be making her British senior team debut at Luhmuhlen in the European Championships later this year. Jock Pagett did a lovely test on Clifton Lush to lie in 3rd currently on 30.1. Here’s his test:
We bumped into Erik Duvander after watching Jock and Clarke Johnstone, and chatted to him briefly. Obviously he’s delighted with the status of the kiwi team right now, but he also added that along with all the great performances recently comes added pressure.
Clarke Johnstone on Incognito III
Pippa Funnell did a smooth, professional test on Mirage D’Elle who has a lovely balance and elevation to his paces, and of course she looked very comfortable in the big arena and big atmosphere. The professionals, I think, really do have an edge. Watching the likes of Andrew Nicholson, Lucinda Fredericks and William Fox-Pitt get off one horse and jump straight onto the next, it really is another day at the office for them, and although they may be just as nervous as the one-horse rider, their performances certainly don’t belie them. It’s also fantastic to watch them on different rides, each in their own style, each effective, and it’s all packed into three days here at Gatcombe….
Tied with Pippa on a score of 33.2 is Zara Phillips on High Kingdom.
Is it a coincidence that around about the same time as Zara’s ride, there were suddenly a lot more policeman around? The one we spoke to swore not, but there were an awful lot of “dressage aficionados” who turned up just to watch her test!
We also caught up with Nicola Wilson on her way back from the Novice Championship showjumping. She was riding a black gelding who looked remarkably familiar, but actually it was Ngong Hills, another nice horse by Fleetwater Opposition, sire of Nicola’s GB team stalwart and freak jumper Oppositon Buzz, and also yesterday’s 4 year old BYEH qualifier winnner, Supreme Opposition, ridden by Mark Todd. Speaking of Toddy, it WAS him adjusting the boots on the competitor in the 5 year old class, well done to everyone who got it right. I asked Nicola about plans for Opposition Buzz, seeing as he’s headed to the European Champs in a couple of weeks, and she told me she was definitely going to do dressage and show-jumping on him, and then would chat to Yogi and play it by ear.
Lots more action to come from Gatcombe, including the Express Eventing later tonight, lots of jumping tomorrow and who knows what else we’ll find?! Lily and Harry have taken themselves, by invitation, into the main arena with a bunch of other children to participate (yikes!) in the Falconry Display. Thanks for checking in again, Go the Festival of British Eventing, and Go Eventing!
