| Bramham International Horse Trials. CCI*** and CIC***
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Bramham, Yorkshire.
11th-14th June 2009.
by Rosemary Cooper.
Senior CCI***
So often a three-day-event is decided when the very last fence of the competition falls. When Nicola Wilson cleared the final poles on Master Banks, she punched the air as the crowd cheered a Yorkshire win. Disappointment followed. With three time faults, the lead passed to Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, who had lain just 0.4 points behind. Piggy French and Some Day Soon climbed to third place after a clear show jumping round, while Pippa Funnell and Ensign dropped to fourth after jumping a round marred only by very bad luck at the final fence.
Andrew described Deborah Sellar's Spanish-bred chestnut as the best jumper he’s ever sat on.
“I had to ride him tactically in the show jumping as he was un-nerved by the applause from an earlier clear round but he is careful and will jump from whatever stride I put him on." At the age of 48, the Wiltshire-based Kiwi admitted that it is horses like Nereo, plus the forthcoming London Olympics, that keep him eventing. In 2006 he won the event on Henry Tankerville.
Daisy Dick had taken the lead after dressage on her 2006 Blenheim winner Springbok IV, but withdrew him overnight because of a twisted fetlock. Nicola Wilson and Master Banks, second with their best international dressage score to date, jumped a marvellous round across country in spite of losing a shoe at the water.
Northallerton-based Nicola, placed at Badminton and Burghley 2008 on Opposition Buzz, has achieved a place on the British team. Sir Robert Ogden's Master Banks, a ten-year-old by King’s Master, found last year’s three-star event a little too much for him, but has grown up since, as Nicola put it. ‘I should have kicked on and made some tighter turns, but I’m absolutely delighted with him,’ she said. ‘It’s been a personal best for him in all three disciplines and I’m so exited about his future.’
Piggy French has only been riding the 14-year-old Some Day Soon (aka Edward) since the end of last season, when her father bought a share in him, the other owners being Mrs S Crane, and Mr and Mrs Midgley. Edward finished on his dressage score of 48.0, his best achievement so far for Piggy. ‘I thought it might have taken longer for us to establish a partnership, but now I’m really looking forward to events later in the year. He’s gone as well as he possibly could have done.’
Senior CIC***
After the cancellation of Chatsworth in May, Brahman visitors were also treated to a CIC***, for which all Chatsworth riders were automatically qualified. Andrew Nicholson looked all set to win this competition as well on the nine-year-old Epic, until two showjumping fences down handed victory to fellow New Zealander Neil Spratt and Upleadon. Only two points had separated them after dressage, and both had 0.8 time faults across country, but Neil’s attractive grey jumped a perfect show-jumping round for his biggest win to date. Upleadon, by Welton Crackerjack, was bred locally by Audrey Brewer, and first competed with her daughters, but Neil Spratt has had the ride for just under a year.
‘He’s a lovely horse and he deserved to win,’ said Neil. ‘It’s certainly the biggest atmosphere and biggest occasion he’s seen. It’s even more satisfying when you have a result like that with a horse who is relatively inexperienced. He wasn’t the easiest horse to ride when I took him on but we seem to have struck up a great relationship.’
Sharon Hunt and her Olympic bronze medal ride Tankers Town lowered one show-jumping fence to finish third. ‘He had a show jump down which was the first all year, but third is good, said Sharon. Harry Meade and the striking dun Dunauger jumped clear throughout but seven time faults in the final phase lowered them to fourth place.
RESULTS, CCI*** –
1. Nereo & Andrew Nicholson (NZL), 47.40 penalties;
2. Master Banks & Nicola Wilson, 47.80 penalties;
3. Some Day Soon & Piggy French, 48.00 penalties;
4. Ensign & Pippa Funnell 50.80 penalties;
5. Ashdale Cruise & Master Emily Gilruth, 56.20 penalties;
6. High Times &Lucy Holliday, 56.60 penalties;
7. Cool Mountain &William Fox-Pitt, 57.00 penalties;
8. Minuteman & Melanie Wilder, 62.40 penalties;
9. Just Appeal & Sian Wynne Morris, 65.00 penalties;
10. Clifton Lush & Joe Meyer (NZL), 65.20 penalties;
RESULTS, CIC*** –
1. Upleadon & Neil Spratt (NZL), 47.40 penalties;
2. Epic & Andrew Nicholson(NZL), 52.80 penalties;
3. Tankers Town & Sharon Hunt, 54.00 penalties;
4. Dunauger & Harry Meade, 54.80 penalties;
5. Glenhill Gold & Declan Cullen (IRL), 58.20 penalties;
6. Beau Bear & Alice Pearson, 60.80 penalties;
7. Sonate V & William Fox-Pitt, 61.80 penalties;
8. Sportsfield Othello & Joseph Murphy (IRL), 63.20 penalties;
9. Simon Porloe & Lucy Wiegersma, 63.80 penalties;
10. Murphys Miracle & Louise Lyons,64.00 penalties.