Saturday at Bramham Park

 

Oliver Townend held his lead in the Equi-Trek CCI3* at Bramham International Horse Trials thanks to a ‘fantastic’ round on MHS King Joules (above) to remain on his dressage score of 37.9.

The event, which is an important selection event for many countries, is proving to be a good one for Oliver and is one of the few internationals that the very busy rider has yet to win “I’ll try and do my best tomorrow as he’s capable of jumping a clear.”

 

 

      Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II

 

However, with only a fence between the top four, tomorrow’s show jumping is looking to be a tight affair. One rider who could throw herself into the Rio Olympic selection mix for Australia with a good result here is UK based Sammi Birch, who maintained her second placed position with a clear across the country adding just 1.2 time penalties to her dressage score. Sammi and her 13-year-old homebred gelding Hunter Valley II had a whoopsie on course at Tattersalls recently but made no such mistake this weekend and hopes that the final day will bring a good result

“Anything could happen; it’s a different time on the third day so you never know how it’s going to go!”

 

Sammi Birch

 

 

 

Andrew Nicholson consolidated his return to the top level speeding into third place, on the aptly named Jet Set IV (above), finishing on his dressage score of 41.

Last year Holly Woodhead won win the Bishop Burton College CCI3* at Bramham Park and this year is on her way to another win on Heidi and Ian Woodhead’s DHI Lupison in the British Equestrian Trade Association CIC3*.

 

       Holly Woodhead and DHI Lupison

 

Lying second after the dressage, Holly moved into the top spot when Pia Munker and Louis M withdrew before the cross country. Holly then held on to the lead, cruising round to finish three seconds inside the time, posting an unassailable lead score of 40.0.

The top ten of this class is awash with great British female eventing talent with the in-form Gemma Tattersall on Christopher Stone’s Chico Bella P finishing in second place, adding nothing to her dressage score of 42.7 and Tina Cook on Billy The Red moving into third place. Billy The Red is by the show jumping stallion Balou du Rouet so should jump well tomorrow and is also one of Tina’s top hopes for Rio selection

 

      Gemma Tattersall and Chico Bella P

 

Australian Paul Tapner on Yogi Bear VIII and New Zealand’s Tim Price are the only two non-British riders in this top ten, currently in fourth and seventh places respectively

Holly said; “I’m extremely happy; my horse Luke was amazing cross country.  It was big and bold with a tight time; it was a highlight from start to finish.  It’s a privilege to ride him round any of Ian Stark’s course.  I’ve had to pinch myself when I see the riders I’m among – they’re world class.  I hope he has his jumping shoes on in the morning!”

In this year’s Bishop Burton College CCI3* U25 section, another previous winner, Tom McEwen, has taken the lead after cross country on the 9-year-ol d gelding Toledo de Kerser , adding only 2.4 time penalties to his dressage score however there are only five penalties separating the top three going into the final phase.

 

      Tom McEwan and Toledo de Kerser

 

 “He coped well, cruising round really easily after setting off at my own pace. I took the long route in the second part of the first water jump but finished super easy with plenty of jump left. It was a well-built course to attack and have a bit of fun.”

 

Tom McEwan

 

Second placed Bert Bolton, who showed how fast he and his 12-year-old ex-racehorse Purple Sands could go at Chatsworth recently, did it again here but maybe just a little too much!

 “I was twenty seconds under the time, I’m not proud of it, it was faster than I would’ve liked. He was seriously up for it and didn’t fancy slowing much; I’m over the moon with him. He hasn’t had a clear show jumping round yet this year but tomorrow could be the time to do it”

Moving into third position, and having a fantastic season after spending a winter with German eventing master Michael Jung, is 19-year-old Sam Ecroyd on his own Wodan B. “He finished really well and didn’t have any worrying moments. He lost a front shoe early on so I took some turns a bit carefully.”

 

 

The second leg of the Event Rider Masters completed with a podium finale at the end of the cross country once again. This time it was a win for Alex Hua Tian on Don Geniro (above), the dressage horse that proved too naughty for Alex’s girlfriend and is now becoming an eventing star, on their dressage score of 40.1

Alex takes home a £16,000 first prize thanks to the innovative new series and a convincing win for the rider who is headed to Rio for China “I can’t believe it.  We were dead last at Chatsworth a few weeks ago and to be top of the podium having won now is just extraordinary. He’s such a talent and it’s just amazing.  This is such a great result for me and ERM.”

 

Alex Hua Tian

 

      Drat - just one rail! Bill and Shannondale Titan finish in fourth

 

A rail in the show jumping for the USA’s Clark Montgomery and Australia’s Bill Levett proved expensive with Clark and Loughan Glen finishing in second (40.5) and Bill in fourth on Shannondale Titan (43) while speedy pants Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo moved from eigth place into third with double clears in show jumping and cross country

 

 

Full results here