Hannah Bate on Delphy Tango was the first to post a clear show-jumping round in the British Intermediate Championships, and as she was about 12th in, it quickly became clear that this would be anything but a dressage competition.
Nicola Wilson has a really nice string of horses at the moment, including Inde, above.
Zara Phillips’ Silver Lining is eyecatching and talented, and will certainly be a horse for the future. He jumped a clear round show-jumping, but had an unfortunate 20 penalties cross country. Still a super prospect, though, very exciting for Zara.
The class belonged to Oliver Townend (above on Belmont Virlandie, clear show-jumping and 4th in the final line-up) and his former stable jockey Angus Smales, who between them filled 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th places! Vittoria Panizzon squeezed in third place on Borough Penny, improving since the Test Event.
Even the genius that is Mark Todd couldn’t conjure a clear round out of NZB Campino, and they ended up with three rails down. However, as one of EN’s favourite readers emailed EN John saying how much they liked the pictures of Mark winning the 4 year old BYEH class, (horse porn, I think it was called!) here are a couple more!
William Fox-Pitt had one down on Bay My Hero but finished 8th overall
Oliver Townend finished 2nd on the 9 year old Arctic Mouse who was really impressive.
Sam Lees on Heads Your Grey, 23rd
Oliver Townend, on Belmont Virlandie,
Julie de Winton on Mini Miss, 29th
Alice Kent on the 15.1, 15 year old Marlfield Duke
Rodney Powell, 21st on Conair
Nicola Wilson on Aristoteles II
Zara Phillips on Silver Lining
Angus Smales on Chanterelle II, 5th. He won on Clover Hero, and was almost as busy as Oliver all weekend. We’re running out of time here at the Press tent, and Gatcombe 2011 has come to an end. I’ll put the rest of my pictures up later, but it’s been another wonderful Festival of British Eventing. Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, riders, grooms adn organisers, and thank you for reading. Go Hartpury next week, Luhmuhlen and Burghley, Go Eventing!
