First of all, I want to apologise for all the things I didn’t get to this weekend – there were some requests, and some of my own stuff that I tried to do, and I just couldn’t fit it all in. To see a complete list of all the results, click here.
If Gatcombe 2011 is remembered for anything except Andrew Nicholson’s weekend, and the supremacy of the Kiwis, then it will be for Zara Phillips’ week of milestones – getting married one weekend, and retiring her “horse of a lifetime”, Toytown, the next. Horse and Hound has a nice tribute to him by Pippa Roome.
Luckily it looks like Silver Lining is just one of a few nice horses she has coming up, so although she may not make next year’s Olympics, she has irons in the fire!
Zara and Silver Lining competing in the British Intermediate Championships
Although the kiwis stole the show, I saw lots of lovely young horses jump in the Novice and Intermediate Championship; Nicola Wilson in particular has a very strong string at the moment of really nice-jumping and moving horses.
Nicola on her British team stalwart and jumping freak, Opposition Buzz
Not the best place for a picnic, perhaps inspired by last year’s WEG promotion – I promise they moved before cross country started!
In my limited experience, black labs will do anything for food!
Ok, enough dogs, back to the Open Championship show-jumping!
Andrew Nicholson on 2nd placed Avebury
Laura Collett on Ginger May Killinghurst, 17th
Izzy Taylor on Briarlands Matilda, 10th
Pippa Funnell on Mirage D’Elle, 6th and 2011 British Open Champion
Mary King and Apache Sauce. Like Nicola Wilson, Mary elected not to run cross country on Imperial Cavalier or King’s Temptress, as she’ll be representing Team GB in a couple of weeks time at the European Championships in Luhmuhlen, she finished 15th on this horse.
William Fox-Pitt and Navigator who missed the third element of the combination at 6, and so were eliminated cross country.
Lead the Way and Clea Phillips, LOVE this horse. I took about ten pictures of him, and his expression is the same in all of them – is that the “look of eagles”?! – as well as perfect form of course.
Clifton Promise and Jock Paget. Jock had told me last week at Wilton he never really intended to run Promise cross-country, even though they were placed second going into that phase with a nice clear cross country. Instead he zoomed round on Clifton Lush, taking 3rd place with him. As a rookie on the NZ squad last year, and remembering him and Promise as quite green at Rolex in the spring of 2010, they’re barely recognisable now; Jock is riding with style, tact and accuracy, and is also extremely competitive and focussed, and now with two horses performing as well as these, even considering the strength of the New Zealand side, he’s got to like his chances for London next year. He’s still every bit as friendly, polite and helpful as ever, and I couldn’t be happier for him, and for Frances Stead, owner of Clifton Eventing.
Francis Whittington on Easy Target, 16th
Pippa Funnell on Pure Addiction, 27th
Bill Levett for Australia on One Two Many NJ
Clayton Fredericks and Be My Guest
Angus Smales on Ballyvooney, 23rd
Not sure if the bandanna was purely a fashion choice, or to keep the occasional bursts of sun off her head?
Especially for Eventing Safety John!
It’s been a busy weekend, packed with the very best eventers, entertainment, terrific food and drinks, tradestands and company. Next year the Festival will run earlier in the summer, (12th to 15th July) so as not to clash with the Olympics, but instead will be about a fortnight beforehand. Thank you for joining me, looking forward to the next one already, and go eventing!
