GFS Saddles 8/9 Year Old at Agria Blenheim Palace International cross country videos
While German riders took the top two spots in the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship during Thursday’s dressage, it was Britain that claimed the top two spots in the GFS Saddles 8/9 Year Old class.
The Churchill Arena at Blenheim Palace saw Australia take an early lead in the class with Kevin McNab riding Wilfred Lancer holding the top spot at the lunch break but their score of 29.4 left them in fifth place at the end of the day when Britain’s Gemma Stevens blew the competition away riding Cooley Park Muze with a score of 22.9.
Cooley Park Muze, the recent winner at the Hickstead Eventers Challenge, certainly put his best foot forward in the arena today, producing a personal best score and giving Gemma several penalties in hand over second placed Fiona Kashel (GBR) riding Monbeg Cazador on a score of 25. Ireland’s Sian Coleman is third on Kilroe Frolic (26.8), George Hilton-Jones is fourth riding Feardorcha Diamond MH (29.3) and New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington rounds out the top six riding Lucas Stone (29.5).
Gemma, who opened the day’s dressage riding Chilli’s Jester, will be back in the arena on Thursday with another hot contender for the title, the 2024 Seven-Year-Old WBFSH FEI World Young Horse Champion at Le Lion d’Angers, Kevin McNab will also be back with the in-form Faro Imp and Sarah Bullimore’s homebred Corimiro, with two 4*-S podiums under his belt this year, will certainly be one to watch in this phase.
An Eventful Life is filming all combinations on cross country at the 2025 Agria FEI Eventing European Championships and Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st September – find out more about ordering your full cross country videos here.
