Mystery Whisper for the Win
It’s the Phillip Dutton show – all Phillip all the time. There couldn’t have been a more deserving winner this weekend, having piloted 8 horses around the cross country clean yesterday, I saw him patiently explaining the basics of eventing to local media last night, and then chatting to young fans by the show-jumping this morning.
Phillip was the only man to jump clear all day, a man amongst 5 women, and even though he had 15 penalties, three rails, in hand, he only used up three time and it was a joy to watch. Look out London!
Phillip on William Penn who went in first and nearly gave all the other riders heart attacks as they watched for hints on how the course might ride, and he had five down and four time.
Luckily Marilyn Little-Meredith came in next, the professional show-jumper (perhaps I’ll still call her that when it suits!) on RF Demeter and showed everyone that a clear round was attainable, but certainly not easy. Phillip had joked the night before when asked about his plans for the show-jumping that he was going to watch Marilyn – ah, these self-fulfilling prophecies will be the undoing of us! He did go on to jump two great rounds, the beautiful clear of course to win, and just an unlucky rail on Ben.
Veronica had a few lucky rubs but tried hard and jumped clear
Kadi Eykamp and lovely Double Rivers Dillon
[Click below for much more]
Brittany Kart on Llewellyn, perfect form
Phillip on Ben.
Some of the horses just looked a little flat today; the course was maybe tricky with a few rollbacks and in the slightly sloping grass arena, and perhaps yesterday’s cross country took more out of them than their riders expected. The same course produced only three clear rounds (from the top three) in the Advanced section, which I suppose makes sense.
I loved watching Selena O’Hanlon and Colombo, another of the ladies to jump clear, what a fantastic partnership they have, as do Kevin Keane and Fernhill Flutter who had one rail and some time, but just made me smile; Fernhill Flutter looked ready to run around ten more cross country courses and Kevin knows him inside out, I’m so glad their first CIC*** ended so happily.
Manolo Blahnik jumped a lovely clear with Sara Kozumplik, another established partnership
Diana Burnett and Shigatzi
Mr Medicott was on the muscle but Karen rode him beautifully for her second clear
Henny jumped his heart out but had a rail with Peter Atkins
Michael didn’t have a terrific day, three rails down on each of his grey horses, I still love Icarus though, above and below!
Marilyn had a rail in hand and used it up on RF Rovano Rex
I spoke to her and Karen afterwards, and hope to bring that to you very soon; it’s like triage trying to line up all the pictures and video I have waiting! More coming, and also wishing I had that hour back to Go Eventing longer!
