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Dust at Belton and green grass in Sydney in March? It seems that the weather has gone mad at recent events, but we are certainly not complaining after a day bathed in warm sunshine at Belton International, an event that has in the past been subject to snow
This first day of the event is usually a bit quieter but the sun had tempted out spectators to watch the Novice sections, some Intermediate competitors and possibly even enjoy a cocktail in one of the seemingly many British Polo Gin bars scattered around the event
Willa Newton and Cock A Doodle Doo won the Novice Section A on a score of 26.30, adding just 0.8 time penalties to their very good dressage score to finish several penalties ahead of Sian Coleman and Lady Baton Rouge (31.80). In third place was Georgie Frow, riding Fabris for the pregnant World Champion Ros Canter who was on the sidelines watching Georgie pick up not only third in this class but also fourth place on her own TS Shanghai in the Novice Section C, which was won by Phillipa Ward on the eight-year-old Tipperary William
Oliver Jackson
Local rider Oliver Jackson won the Open Novice U18 on the nine-year-old bay gelding Viktor Crum. They had one pole down on the final show jump but a very good dressage score and double clear cross country round on a difficult course gave him the win on a score of 28.80
Oliver Jackson
Milo Kennedy and Fusions Detective leave the Open Novice U18 Start Box (above) and Josie Smailes on Ars Vivella, fifth in the Novice C (below)
Ibby Macpherson fought off two WEG gold medallists to take the win in the Novice Section B riding Ballinamurra De Valera. Gemma Tattersall on Facari and Tom McEwen on Lordships Graffalo took second and third with Gemma just 0.10 penalties behind Ibby’s finishing score of 27.30
Laura Collett and London 52
The big class of this event is the Lycetts Grantham Cup CCI4*-S which started today with the first section of riders doing their dressage. At the end of the day it was Izzy Taylor and her Le Lion winner Monkeying Around who held the lead on a score of 26.2 with Laura Collett riding London 52 in second place (28.8) and William Fox-Pitt riding Little Fire in third (30.1)
William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire
The atmospheric arena caused a little tension for some horses including Bill Levett’s Lassban Diamond Lift who was putting in a lovely test until a spook saw him bounce from the side of the arena to the middle. Bill got him back on track but unfortunately the unwanted manoeuvre also resulted in an error of course as Bill regathered his thoughts. Despite all that, Bill and Lassban Diamond Lift (below) are currently in 13th place
