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Britain’s Aaron Millar riding KEC Deakon hold the top spot in Belsay’s inaugural RBC Brewin Dolphin-sponsored CCI4*-S and Bubby Upton leads the CCI2* after the first day of dressage at Belsay Castle in Northumberland.
Aaron Miller on top in CCI4*
Cirencester-based Aaron, who is making his first trip north to Belsay, scored 25 on Heidi Bates’ 15-year-old, a son of Chacoa who is aimed at Luhmuhlen in a few weeks’ time.
“He was really good. He’s an older horse; he’s used to working at these big events, and we are hoping to use this as a final prep for the CCI5* at Luhmühlen in Germany next month. I always think that in their calendar running up to CCI5* they need one significant run, and this is it”
“He’s quite a character. He loves an atmosphere; he’s a real showman. Out of all the horses on the yard, he’s the one that watches the lorry go out and wants to be on it and to go to events. He genuinely lives for it. He’s a real businessman - he comes in and gets the job done”
“This is the first time I have been to Belsay, and I love it. It has got atmosphere, but there’s also a really nice vibe about it - I think it’s amazing. The cross-country is a proper track, a proper test.”
Second in the CCI4*-S on a score of 27.5 are Izzy Taylor and SBS Big Wall, while Hayden Hankey is in third with 28 penalties on Fools In Love.
Several Australian and New Zealand riders are competing here with Tim Price riding CHIO 20 leading the way for the Antipodes, currently in sixth place while Lissa Green is the best placed Australian, in 16th riding Igor B.
Dressage resumes tomorrow with Bubby Upton riding Cannavaro first into the arena followed by Australia’s Bella English riding Cil Dara Dallas.
Bubby Upton leads CCI2*
Bubby and Bella are also going head-to-head in the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S with Bubby currently holds the lead after day one in the a dressage mark of 27.5 on her own Auckland 7, an eight-year-old by A La Carte. Bella is currently second on 28.6 with Cil Dara Dynamic, while John Westmore is third on Oughterard Quality with a score of 29.1.
Dressage for both international classes continues on Saturday and the showjumping and cross-country phases of the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S also take place. Showjumping and cross-country for the feature RBC Brewin Dolphin CCI4*-S will take place on Sunday 18th May.
The Advanced class kicks off on Saturday morning with New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone first down the centreline and concludes on Sunday while two Novice sections start and finish all phases on Saturday. Entry lists and scores can be found here
An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at Belsay (1) and you can order your full cross country videos here.
Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier
Two qualifiers for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals at Defender Burghley Horse Trials took place today at Belsay.
Local rider Jack Mantel, fresh from a successful CCI5* debut at Badminton Horse Trials last week, won the five-year-old class on Krista Brown’s Adonis Couture, a son of Joris Couture.
“I had him last year as a four-year-old and he won the Burghley Young Event Horse class at Bramham and went to the final at Burghley,” said Jack. “He’s been back with his owner over the winter and only came back to me two days ago. But he hasn’t forgotten much, and he was brilliant. He’s got such good movement, is a real showman and I think he’s an exciting horse for the future.
“It was a very good track today and it’s a great series. It’s great to get these young horses out and about without putting too much pressure on them.”
North Yorkshire-based Storm Straker won the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier for four-year-olds on her own Temeraire, who is by Timolin.
“I’ve had ‘Thor’ since he was a two-year-old, and have produced him myself’ said Storm “I really like bringing young horses to Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers; I think it is a great introduction to their competitive career. This is his first competition, and it has been such a great atmosphere for young horses. I’m delighted to have brought him here. To have such a great result was unexpected, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him.”
Belsay International (1) Horse Trials start lists and results here
