Esib receives her prizes from David Holmes, CEO of British Eventing, Katie Page-Harvey, President of the Magic Millions and The Princess Royal
A clear round in the show jumping on Sunday morning kept Oliver Townend on his dressage score of 28 and in the lead of the British Eventing Trophy for Advanced Horses at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing but Australia’s Bill Levett and Pippa Funnell kept the pressure on by also jumping clear rounds on board Improvise and Maja’s Hope
However, nine withdrawals before the afternoon’s cross country phase changed the complexion of the competition with both Oliver and Bill withdrawing their horses Ballaghmor Class and Improvise and Pippa opting for a gentle run around Gatcombe Park to add 21.2 time penalties to finish in fifth place overall (52.9)
In fourth place after the show jumping, Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around were well placed to move up but they picked up 20 penalties and, although Izzy went clear in both the show jumping and cross country phases on board PSH Gazelle, 14.8 time penalties (the third fastest cross country ride of the class) added to their dressage score of 38.3 left them in sixth place at the end of the day
Vittoria Panizzon and Super Cillious in the atmospheric Main Arena
It was a good day for international competitors with Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon and Super Cillious moving from ninth to fourteenth after dropping one rail and adding two time penalties in the show jumping but a good cross country ride saw them rise again into fourth place and New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn riding Blackthorn Cruise also made a strong move up the leader board into third place to finish on 51.7 thanks to the fastest cross country time
“He gave me a lovely ride” said Dan of the nine year old that also placed third at Gatcombe earlier this year in the Open Intermediate and obviously relishes this course “He got a little strong on me and got his head down towards the end which was a bit frightening in a couple of places but I’ve got full faith in this horse and his cross country ability”
This was a 4* preparation run for Blackthorn Cruise who now, like the winner, is Burghley bound
Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise
Britain’s Becky Woolven and the 12 year old mare DHI Babette K were the highest placed British combination. Starting with a dressage score of 33.1, they show jumped clear but added two time penalties then produced a very solid round on cross country with just 16.4 time penalties. Becky also had Charlton Down Riverdance in the British Open Championship, finishing in fifteenth place
Becky Woolven and DHI Babette K
But it was a win for the Irish at the end of the day with Elizabeth (Esib) Power riding Soladoun taking the class on a score of 50.70. The 11 year old gelding has only had two starts this year due to a small injury, finishing 30th at Burgham recently and then pulling off the win here which Elizabeth admits was quite a surprise, but a very nice one, in the lead up to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials
Esib Power
Esib Power and Soladoun
