A change of breeches for Tim Price and beautifully through the water on Cekatinka
New Zealand riders Tim Price and James Avery both had rides in the Intermediate classes at the SsangYong South of England Horse Trials and both had mixed fortunes with Tim taking home some ribbons but also taking a dip at the water complex and James putting in a great dressage performance only to sadly lose the lead in a ditch
In our video interview at Belton International, Tim talked about taking over the rides on some of Jonelle’s horses during her pregnancy and at the South of England this weekend he had his first outings with some of them. There were some ups and downs, as often happens when riders take on new rides, but Tim finished in the placings on the 10 year old mare Cekatinka with a sixth place in the Open Intermediate and 15th place in the Intermediate on the nine year old Ascona M.
Tim and Ascona M
The grey mare Ascona M looked amazing as she started her dressage test and, although Tim’s compatriot James Avery had just produced an excellent test on Zazu (see video below), it is likely that Tim and Ascona M would have beaten them if only this hadn’t happened ...
Tim managed to keep Ascona M in the arena, calm her down and got back on track to finish the test with some more top class work (although by now the submission factor was severely compromised!) for a score of 35.9 which, considering the antics in the middle, showed how good the score could have been.
Out on cross country those flamboyant front legs were put to good use eating up the ground
Another new ride for Tim, the eight year old bay gelding Cooley Showtime that finished third at Le Lion d’Angers YH CCI2* last year, was also competing in the Intermediate Section N. They too performed well in the dressage phase on 30.2 but Cooley Showtime totally misread the takeoff for the roll top jump in the middle of the water complex, resulting in both horse and rider getting a thorough soaking. Tim took a minute’s rest on the bank, having taken a lung full of water
“It’s a while since I’ve been that wet” he mused but was soon back on his feet, hoping he didn’t have his ‘see-through when wet’ breeches on! (No you didn’t Tim)
Not long after he was back through the water complex in dry breeches on Cekatinka who took the same fence beautifully to the applause of those still around
James Avery and Zazu lead the field after the dressage
It wasn’t just Tim who took an unusual tumble. James Avery led the class with a lovely test on the nine year old Zazu, previously ridden by Jock Paget before his return to New Zealand last year. James and Zazu scored 29.1 and then produced a clear show jumping round to lead heading into the cross country phase.
Zazu has not had a cross country fault in his two international starts and James describes him as a ‘cross country machine’ so was not anticipating any problems on the Intermediate course
All was going well until Zazu jumped down into the wooded ditch at Fence 10 where they had a stop and James rolled off as they became a little entangled.
“I really don’t what happened” says James but he wondered if one of Zazu’s back legs clipped a front shoe as they landed after the first element, preventing him from being able to take off over the ditch. Zazu was fine, although a bit surprised to be standing in a wooded gully; he stood quietly while James replaced the bridle which had come off and they walked back home. So close to a win but so far ....
James was also competing another ride previously campaigned by Jock, the 10 year old chestnut gelding Optimus Prime, who finished 10th in the same class. Both horses are owned by Joe Giannamore who was so influential in Jock’s UK eventing career and James has now stepped into Jock’s (large to fill) shoes, riding Joe’s horses and managing the yard which he says is ‘fantastic’
“It’s a great place and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be take over from Jock” says James “It’s hard work and we need to get some help soon on the yard but I’m loving every minute of it”
It was bad luck for James and Zazu this weekend but this is one combination to keep an eye on in the near future .........
View all fences on the Intermediate courses here
