We have reports from all over Eventing Nation this weekend. Samantha is in Kentucky at the Midsouth Team Challenge, I’m in Mexico for the Pan Ams, and Jacky Green is generously providing us with reports from Le Lion young horse championships in France. Thanks for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading.
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From Jacky:
Luckily there was no fog Saturday morning but we had a heavy frost on the ground and icy temperatures. As the crowds started to pour in through the gates the sun came out to welcome them. The day started with the 6 year olds and at 10.30am the forty odd starters went out to tackle their first International.
Huge crowds, a big enough track and decent waters all served to make the cross country plenty enough of a test. Whilst it looks very much on the scoreboard as though pretty much the entire field cantered round clear the second water in particular rode very tough and there were plenty of hairy rides through that as well as the arrowhead to interspace log at the end which had a fair few legs left on it. 8 minutes 45 seconds is a long gallop for young horses and quite a few finished looking tired but the fast ground and inviting fences meant they all finished with their ears pricked and looked happy. Paul Tapner held onto his lead with Indian Mill and few of the overnight placings changed much but at the end of the day these are the best 6 year olds in Europe and no one wants to see carnage in a 6 year old class, it is about the future for these guys and I think the balance was just right.
With an incredibly efficient turn around the 2 star began some 20 minutes later and it was quickly apparent that this was going to be much tougher as several course holds early on meant a nail biting wait in the warm up as the delays became longer. Strong sunshine made it a warm afternoon and after some notable scalps went early on such as Clayton Fredericks who spectacularly somersaulted over a fence on top of a mound (both he and Mr Big Cat walked away unscathed if slightly winded), fellow Aussie Bill Levett was decanted in the second water and the last combinations caused plenty of run outs slowly it seemed to begin to ride better and at the close of play there were fifteen inside the time from the 68 starters and plenty of movement up and down the scoreboard. The arrowheads on steep slopes at the end of the course were hugely influential with big drops down to them and taken on a wing and a prayer by many it seemed 50/50 whether they sprawled over them, jumped them or ducked out at the last second. The top 5 looked very polished and secure, Bettina Hoy giving her Designer a fabulous ride, Nicola Wilson on last years 6 year old runner up Annie Clover looking neat and tidy, Ruth Edge on her impressive Bojacx storming round nearly 15 seconds under time, Piggy French riding Kitealy Brief immaculately despite have sore ribs from her fall at Weston Park and then Kitty King heading affairs with the striking Zidante giving the Brits the top 4 slots going into showjumping.
