Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, runaway winners of the CIC***, a clear 8 points ahead of himself and Quimbo! Avebury also had the fastest time of the day, one second quicker cross country than Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz
Andrew and his second-placed horse, Quimbo
Lucy Wiegesma had a mixed day: she pulled Woodfalls Inigo Jones up after Fence 11 because she told me she felt he’d lost his action and sadly he has injured himself and will be off for at least the rest of the season. On a much brighter note, Simon Porloe was fabulous and finished in 3rd place. Oliver Townend and Pepper Anne had a fast clear cross country to finish in fourth place.
Tiana told me Ringwood Magister lost a front shoe at the third fence, the big table before these wishing wells, and then she saw the second front shoe fly off at the B element of this jump, number 4. Regardless, they continued the whole way round and jumped a well-judged clear round, 2 seconds over the time looking rock solid, so fingers crossed Ringwood Magister/Finn isn’t sore on his feet tomorrow as the US horses have a whole day of veterinary evaluations before the US Olympic team is announced Monday evening GB time.
Remington picked up 6 time faults to finish right behind Tiana in 6th place. I caught up with Boyd at the end of the day to talk about his rides and his plans for Neville now that he’s been caught!
Otis did look fantastic on the course today, and finished 23rd with 11..6 time penalties
Neville – enjoying the Great British Summer!
Opposition Buzz and Nicola Wilson finished right behind Remington, and pinged round in their usual exuberant style, which must have been extremely satisfying for Nicola knowing that practically anyone who’s anyone in the world of Eventing was at Barbury this weekend watching! Luckily for the Team GB Selectors and their connections, the two London-bound combinations in this section both had good, steady clear rounds, and reserves Pippa Funnell also went well on Mirage D’Elle while Francis Whittington didn’t run Sir Percival cross country as they leave for Aachen on Wednesday.
Andromaque was seriously impressive – Will could open her up along the galloping stretches and she was beautiful to see, and then like a sports car, compress her and bring her back in a few strides for the combinations which she looked to handle very easily indeed, before accelerating quickly away from the fences again. I think out of all the US horses today, she looked the most nimble and catlike cross-country, and maybe therefore best suited to Greenwich. Will, of course, also has Championship experience under his belt, and rode with a cool, hard head today – I’d pick him, but I’m terrible at maths and so far I’d pick all of them! Thank God I’m not a selector!
Borough Penny Z and Vittoria Panizzon for Italy, 11th.
Arthur and Allison Springer – clear with just 4 time penalties to finish 12th.
Izzy Taylor, one of the most stylish riders on the circuit today – 13th on KBIS Starlet
Mystery Whisper was very excited waiting at the start box, and Phillip had said earlier this weekend that he’d never known him get as excited as he did before his dressage but their clear round was workmanlike and never looked in any doubt.
Loughan Glen set off very well with Clark Montgomery and never let up. They had a nasty moment coming out of this water, which is where Boyd got off Neville prematurely, but survived and finished full of running with only 4.4 time faults. I saw Jess Montgomery later and she told me Clark had found a bit he’d been wanting to use for some time at one of the tradestands here at Barbury, a full-cheeked snaffle gag, so he decided to go ahead and try it. Obviously it worked pretty well–he wanted something not too strong, but that would also keep Glen’s head UP, and Jess said he hopes to be able to take him to Gatcombe now to have another run in it.
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville made easy work of the course, I didn’t see any sticky moments at all, they just seemed to jump everything out of stride and looked very switched on the job. Will Coleman told me he had a great ride on Twizzel, his first run back since Kentucky, and I managed to get a short clip of him, and a couple of others, going through the water in the main arena.
Similarly Phillip Dutton gave Mighty Nice a wonderful ride round and the horse looked to grow in confidence the further he went. Without seeming to ever do anything they still seemed to meet every fence perfectly, Phillip hardly moved in the saddle, and yet managed to present his horse in the right balance at the right pace every single time – genius! Andrew Nicholson can do it too, I watched him gallop up the hill, take two very quick pulls, one with either hand which just warned the horse and set him up, but the rhythm and his stride never faltered and he galloped right up to the perfect spot at a max table and away again, barely losing half a second, and it looked so easy and effortless for the horse.
Mr Medicott looked as honest and bold as the day is long, but still a bit argumentative in front of fences
Butts Leon gave Nina Ligon a super ride, they cruised round, and are really looking like a partnership now.
Paul Tapner guiding Caicos around his first CIC***
How quickly fortunes can change! Run in reverse order of merit, the last three to go ie the top 3 were all Kiwis, but when Mark Todd (3rd) suffered from a memory lapse and was eliminated for missing out the 21st fence, and then Jock Paget (2nd) had an annoying fall from Clifton Lush at the alligator water, fence 11, it was left to Andrew Nicholson to fly the flag. Luckily he obliged picking up 1st and 2nd places and said later it’s a great boost to the morale for London.
Click below for much more…
Ireland’s John Kyle and Coolio
Tom McEwan and Diesel
Jonty Evans and Double Dutch
Francis Whittington and Easy Target
Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise
Sam Watson and Horseware Bushman. After a run-out at the double of corners Sam was lucky to survive a very awkward moment at the angled double of houses coming out the water in the main arena, but finished safe and sound. We expect to hear news of the Irish Team early this week.
Sarah Bullimore and Lilly Corrine – they had a fall on the flat between the two corners later and elected to retire
Clarke Johnstone and Orient Express
Caroline Ryan-Bell and Rathmoyle King
Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet
Captain Geoff Curran and The Jump Jet
Wills Goodhew and Trefilan Quicksilver
Clayton Fredericks and Walterstown Don
A huge thank you to the organiser Holly Farr, and every single jump judge and volunteer. Barbury was absolutely brilliant, but if possible created more questions for the various selectors than it solved! I’m glad I’ll sleep well tonight knowing I don’t have to worry about making anyone’s list or leaving anyone off my own! Go the Olympic Eventing Teams – USA, Ireland and New Zealand! Go Barbury and Go Eventing!
