Jacky Green works for Team New Zealand and operates out of Maizey Manor Farm in the UK and she is a regular Eventing Nation contributor. Today Jacky has kindly sent us a report from Hartpury International and, as always, she has been very kind to focus on the US pairs for our readers in North America. Thank you for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading.
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From Jacky:
In an unusual turn of events this summer, Hartpury ran in glorious sunshine which was much appreciated by the competitors and in particular the horses. It was a shame, therefore, that the dressage for the CIC*** was run in the eerily silent indoor arena whilst the CCI* and CCI** enjoyed the atmosphere of the big outdoor with its busy shopping area and crowds sitting on the banks. With a massive start list of 97 (and a further fuming 98 balloted out) there was much talk of why British Eventing and Hartpury had not run a second much needed section of three star, with our season so heavily disrupted by the weather riders are finding it increasingly hard to tick the qualification box and even to get a decent run.
So it was a high class field that moved outdoors on Saturday morning for the showjumping. Allison Springer had performed the best test for the USA with Arthur on a 40.8 with Sinead Halpin posting Manoir De Carneville’s (Tate) best score ever at a CIC*** on 44. Jules Stiller was not far behind on the beautiful Enjoy Me on 48 and Sharon White was on 53. The showjumping track was best described as “soft” with over 50% of the field jumping clear and the time being so easy that just a single entrant collected a time fault. Sinead and Tate rode a classy clear, Arthur just had a “moment” at a big oxer for 4 faults, Sharon pulled a rail with Rafferty’s Rules and Enjoy Me had a couple which is unusual for him.
By the time the cross country started in the afternoon the crowds were spilling out round the track and enjoying welcome warmth for once and after last years hard going it was great to see the track so green and good. Unlike the showjumping, XC time on the course did prove influential with Andrew Nicholson being the only one to make it…with both of his horses! Sinead and Tate blitzed around for 6.4 and eventual 8th place, Jules Stiller and Enjoy Me were just seconds behind her with 7.2 and Sharon White let off the handbrake too with just 10 faults.
Alison Springer has a love for Arthur that is boundless…which is lucky for Arthur because I think I would have shot him as a four year old. Notoriously spooky, despite a perfect ride from Alison he never locked on to the first of the double of corners and sailed blissfully past it with that “Gosh I am so cool” look on his face. In true Arthur form he then completed the rest of the course perfectly.
Tate really was the star of this weekend, Sinead piloted him into the top 10 that was dominated by the Antipodeans with the on form Chris Burton providing the Aussies with a boost after their poor Olympic showing with a win on Kinnordy Rivaldo. Also on top form the Kiwis filled 4 out of the first 6 placings for a truly international feel to Hartpury.
Meanwhile at Maizey Manor we now have a “Rest of the World” team of our own. Currently in residence we have Switzerland, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Me thinks our team is looking pretty good!
