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Emily King retains NAF CCI4*S/British Open lead
Emily King and Valmy Biats have retained their lead in the NAF CCI4*S/British Open at Hartpury International Horse Trials, carrying their overnight score of 26.4 into Saturday’s decisive show jumping and cross-country phases.
Emily established the advantage on Thursday and remained at the head of the leaderboard as the final combinations completed their dressage today.
She will be hoping to go one better than she did when the British Open was held at Hartpury for the first time in 2024. On that occasion, she and Valmy Biats finished second behind New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali, making Emily the highest-placed British rider.
Two years on, Emily returns to the final day in pole position. New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Speedwell remain closest to the leaders on 27.9, while Bubby Upton and K have moved into third on 29.0. Another Kiwi combination, James Avery riding Dallas 13, is also in contention in sixth place.
Yasmin Ingham has two combinations inside the top five, with Gypsie Du Loir fourth on 29.2 and Kinda Corvette fifth on 29.7.
With just 3.3 penalties separating the top five, the competition is finely poised ahead of tomorrow’s British Open showjumping and cross country phases, held as part of the CCI4* this year.
NAF CCI4*S/British Open – Top 10 after dressage
Emily King (GBR) – Valmy Biats — 26.4 (BCO)
Jesse Campbell (NZL) – Speedwell — 27.9
Bubby Upton (GBR) – K — 29.0 (BCO)
Yasmin Ingham (GBR) – Gypsie Du Loir — 29.2 (BCO)
Yasmin Ingham (GBR) – Kinda Corvette — 29.7 (BCO)
James Avery (NZL) – Dallas 13 — 29.8
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) – Corimiro — 30.1 (BCO)
Bubby Upton (GBR) – Auckland 7 — 31.5 (BCO)
Izzy Taylor (GBR) – SBH Big Wall — 31.5 (BCO)
Tom Jackson (GBR) – United 36 — 32.2 (BCO)
The leaderboard also highlights several riders with multiple chances of a top finish. Yasmin Ingham has two horses inside the top five, while Bubby Upton has two inside the top eight, giving both riders a strong hand heading into the final day.
For Emily, the challenge now is to protect the advantage she has built through the opening phase. Campbell, Upton and Ingham are all within close range, while Avery and Bullimore remain firmly in contention.
Emily therefore arrives at Saturday’s final day with both the CCI4*S and British Open titles in her sights - and the opportunity to improve on her recent second place at Luhmuhlen and other strong results this popular pairing have produced together.
Samantha Brown leads CCI3*-L into cross country
Samantha Brown and Spirit LSS have taken the advantage into Saturday’s cross-country phase of the NAF CCI3-L, with Samantha holding the lead after today’s dressage at Hartpury.
Samantha was the first competitor into the arena this morning, producing a score of 29.2, setting the benchmark for the rest of the field. Nobody was able to better her mark, leaving them at the head of the leaderboard going into Saturday’s cross country.
Lucy Standish and Global H moved into second on 29.9, while Finn Healy and Intentie W are third on 30.6.
Sarah Bullimore and Nakota sit fourth on 31.3, with Australia’s Ellie Fredericks and Upper Class Brit fifth on 31.4. Sophie Weening and Jimmy Choo M share sixth with India Wishart and BP Quinnton on 32.2.
NAF CCI3*-L – Top seven
Samantha Brown (GBR) – Spirit LSS — 29.2
Lucy Standish (GBR) – Global H — 29.9
Finn Healy (GBR) – Intentie W — 30.6
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) – Nakota — 31.3
Ellie Fredericks (AUS) – Upper Class Brit — 31.4
Sophie Weening (NED) – Jimmy Choo M — 32.2
India Wishart (GBR) – BP Quinnton — 32.2
With just 3.0 penalties separating the top seven, Saturday’s cross country is set to have a major bearing on the final standings. The going on the cross country is looking good, even with such dry hot conditions of late, and as always the CCI3*L is likely to be a thrilling challenge.
Ingham takes CCI2*-L advantage into cross country
Yasmin Ingham has another leading combination at the top of the NAF CCI2*-L, with Club Class producing the standout dressage score of 25.6.
Yasmin holds a 2.5-penalty advantage over Tom Rowland and Darkley Against The Oddz, who are second on 28.1. Tarka Abraham and Ace Figaro are third on 28.2, with Rowland also fourth on Calcourt Diamond on 28.6.
Emma Carmichael and Qualitys Snap complete the top five on 29.3.
NAF CCI2*-L – Top 10
Yasmin Ingham (GBR) – Club Class — 25.6
Tom Rowland (GBR) – Darkley Against The Oddz — 28.1
Tarka Abraham (GBR) – Ace Figaro — 28.2
Tom Rowland (GBR) – Calcourt Diamond — 28.6
Emma Carmichael (GBR) – Qualitys Snap — 29.3
John Westmore (GBR) – Calcourt Bolt — 30.8
Alexander Whewall (GBR) – Billy Nutella — 31.6
Ibble Watson (GBR) – GFS Moonlight Echo — 31.8
Melissa Joannides (GBR) – Graf Leopold — 32.0
Althea Bleekman (NED) – No Deal WFS — 32.4
With 6.8 penalties separating the entire top 10, there is plenty still to play for when the combinations tackle cross country on Saturday.
Jackson retains Hartpury Uni & College British Intermediate Championship advantage
Tom Jackson continues to hold the lead in the Hartpury University and Hartpury College British Intermediate Championship, with My Star Turn maintaining top spot on 24.0 after the completion of dressage.
Dani Stewart-Richardson and Londonlook TN are just 0.5 penalties behind on 24.5, while Tom has a second combination, BLS Absolutely, in third on 25.9 and a third ride, Brookfield William, sitting eighth on 29.5, making him one of the key figures in the championship going into the jumping phases.
Kitty King is also making her presence felt with two horses in the top six. DSH Mr D is fourth on 27.0, while Renkum Jitterbug is sixth on 27.6.
Bubby Upton and Sancerre De Tiji occupy fifth on 27.4, while Katie Magee and Springhead Jupiter are seventh on 29.1.
Emily King completes the group of riders with multiple combinations in the top 10, sitting ninth with Angell's Choice on 31.7 and tenth with HG Woods on 32.2.
British Intermediate Championship – Top 10
Tom Jackson – My Star Turn — 24.0
Dani Stewart-Richardson – Londonlook TN — 24.5
Tom Jackson – BLS Absolutely — 25.9
Kitty King – DSH Mr D — 27.0
Bubby Upton – Sancerre De Tiji — 27.4
Kitty King – Renkum Jitterbug — 27.6
Katie Magee – Springhead Jupiter — 29.1
Tom Jackson – Brookfield William — 29.5
Emily King – Angell's Choice — 31.7
Emily King – HG Woods — 32.2
Just 1.9 penalties separate the top five, setting up a highly competitive show jumping phase before the championship reaches cross country.
Viklund sets the pace in Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championship
Therese Viklund and Mr Wilder have established the early benchmark in the Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championship, posting 26.8 to lead Katie Magee and Stonehavens Dreaming by 1.8 penalties.
Emily Young-Jamieson and La Vita 44 share third with Tom Jackson and K. La Belle Story De Rock 1 Z on 29.1, while Tom also has Mullins Mill Cooley fifth on 29.4. Louise Bradley has two combinations in the top 10, with Happy Time sixth and Ardeo Gold tenth.
Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championship – Top 10
Therese Viklund – Mr Wilder — 26.8
Katie Magee – Stonehavens Dreaming — 28.6
Emily Young-Jamieson – La Vita 44 — 29.1
Tom Jackson – K. La Belle Story De Rock 1 Z — 29.1
Tom Jackson – Mullins Mill Cooley — 29.4
Louise Bradley – Happy Time — 30.0
Harry Dzenis – Arkadium — 30.3
Tom Rowland – Youll Never Walk Alone — 30.8
Safia Woodward – Kilbunny Cyclone — 30.8
Louise Bradley – Ardeo Gold — 31.1
With further dressage still to come, the leaderboard remains far from settled. Just 4.3 penalties cover the top 10, ensuring plenty remains to play for as the championship progresses.
Phillip Cheetham, Event Director, said: “We’ve seen some fantastic sport today, with the competition in all of our leading classes incredibly close. Emily has retained the advantage in the British Open, while we have strong leaders across the other classes too. We’re looking forward to an exciting weekend of show jumping and cross country and welcoming spectators to Hartpury."
Looking ahead to Saturday
Saturday sees the NAF CCI4*S/British Open reach its decisive stages, with show jumping followed by cross country for the four-star combinations.
Cross country for the NAF CCI2*L gets underway at 9am, with Ingham and Club Class carrying the advantage into the phase.
The British National Championships continue on Saturday with dressage and show jumping, before the championships conclude with cross country on Sunday.
Tickets are still on sale, with spectators able to come along and watch the action unfold at Hartpury throughout the weekend.
