An Eventful Life is filming all competitors at Hartpury International - order or view cross country videos here
The championship picture has been transformed across the NAF Hartpury International Celebration of Eventing and British Eventing National Championships, with influential cross-country and show jumping phases leaving several titles finely balanced ahead of tomorrow’s final action.
With final show jumping and cross-country phases still to come, there is plenty at stake as competitors return to Hartpury for the concluding day of championship competition.
Samantha Brown leads NAF CCI3*L
Samantha Brown and Spirit LSS remain at the head of the NAF CCI3*L leaderboard following dressage and cross country, but behind them the standings have been significantly reshaped ahead of tomorrow’s horse inspection and final show jumping phase.
Samantha is the only combination to retain the same position following cross country, holding the overnight lead on 29.6 after an impressive performance across the country, adding just 0.4 time penalties to her dressage score.
There was a major reshuffle behind the leader, with Lottie Royle and Cooley Django moving into second on 32.7 after a clear round inside the optimum time.
One of the biggest movers was Lucy Standish and Global H, who climbed from outside the top 10 to third. Starting cross country on 29.9, they added just 3.6 time penalties to finish on 33.5.
Freya Partridge and Candy Flight also produced a fault-free round inside the time to move into fourth on 34.6, while Tim Cheffings and CFH Dakar Hill are fifth on 36.6.
Time penalties proved significant throughout the class, with several combinations paying a heavy price for exceeding the optimum time. The combination that had been second after dressage dropped to ninth following 3.6 time penalties and a further nine penalties for a missed flag, underlining the influence of the cross-country phase on the leaderboard.
Finn Healy and Intentie W are sixth on 37.8, followed by Simon Grieve and Best Escapade on 39.3. Fiona Kashel and Nutcracker Monbeg sit eighth on 41.3, with India Wishart and BP Quinnton ninth on 41.4.
Completing the top 10 are Sophie Van Der Merwe and Thornhill OB Lux, who added 9.2 time penalties to finish on 45.0.
NAF CCI3*L – Top 10
1. Samantha Brown & Spirit LSS - 29.6
2. Lottie Royle & Cooley Django - 32.7
3. Lucy Standish & Global H - 33.5
4. Freya Partridge & Candy Flight - 34.6
5. Tim Cheffings & CFH Dakar Hill - 36.6
6. Finn Healy & Intentie W - 37.8
7. Simon Grieve & Best Escapade - 39.3
8. Fiona Kashel & Nutcracker Monbeg - 41.3
9. India Wishart & BP Quinnton - 41.4
10. Sophie Van Der Merwe & Thornhill OB Lux - 45.0
With just over 15 penalties separating the top 10, tomorrow’s show jumping will provide the final test. Samantha and Spirit LSS head into the final phase with the advantage, but the cross-country has demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change, leaving the NAF CCI3*L title firmly up for grabs.
Yasmin Ingham leads NAF CCI2*L
Yasmin Ingham and Club Class head the NAF CCI2*L following a competitive cross-country phase, with the final show jumping round set to decide the destination of the title.
Yasmin produced one of the standout performances of the day, adding nothing to her dressage score of 25.6 with a clear cross-country round inside the optimum time. She therefore heads into the final phase with a valuable advantage.
Tom Rowland holds second and fourth with Darkley Against The Oddz and Calcourt Diamond respectively. Both completed the cross-country course clear inside the time, finishing on 28.1 and 28.6.
Tarka Abraham and Ace Figaro are third on 28.2, also adding nothing to their dressage score across country. Emma Carmichael and Qualitys Snap are fifth on 29.3, while John Westmore and Calcourt Bolt complete the top six on 30.8, with both combinations producing clear rounds inside the time.
Alexander Whewall and Billy Nutella are seventh on 32.0 after adding just 0.4 time penalties, while Melissa Joannides and Graf Leopold share the position after completing the course clear inside the time.
Katie Magee and Newton IB are ninth on 32.7, with Gemma Gurvidi and Oban completing the top 10 on 33.2. Both combinations produced clear rounds within the time.
The cross-country phase proved considerably more costly for some combinations further down the order. Ibble Watson and GFS Moonlight Echo, who had been eighth after dressage, incurred two stops and 10.4 time penalties, adding 20 jumping penalties and dropping to 35th.
NAF CCI2*-L – Top 10
1. Yasmin Ingham & Club Class - 25.6
2. Tom Rowland & Darkley Against The Oddz - 28.1
3. Tarka Abraham & Ace Figaro - 28.2
4. Tom Rowland & Calcourt Diamond - 28.6
5. Emma Carmichael & Qualitys Snap - 29.3
6. John Westmore & Calcourt Bolt - 30.8
7. Alexander Whewall & Billy Nutella - 32.0
8. Melissa Joannides & Graf Leopold - 32.0
9. Katie Magee & Newton IB - 32.7
10. Gemma Gurvidi & Oban - 33.2
With the leaderboard tightly packed at the top, the NAF CCI2*L goes forward to its final show jumping phase with plenty still to play for. Ingham will be looking to convert her advantage, while those immediately behind will be aiming to produce the clear rounds needed to challenge for the title.
Tom Jackson leads British Intermediate Championship
Tom Jackson and My Star Turn lead the Hartpury University & Hartpury College British Intermediate Championship heading into tomorrow’s decisive cross-country phase, following a show jumping round that produced significant changes at the top of the leaderboard.
Tom and the Sarah and Richard Jewson-owned My Star Turn remain at the head of the championship on 24 penalties after producing a clear round. The pair will go into cross country with the advantage, as Tom bids to add another strong Hartpury result to a successful season.
Kitty King and DSH Mr D move into second on 27 after a faultless show jumping round, while Bubby Upton and Sancerre De Tiji sit third on 27.4, also having kept a clean sheet.
Kitty has a second ride inside the top four with Renkum Jitterbug, who produced another clear round to sit fourth on 27.6.
The biggest change among the leading combinations came for Dani Stewart-Richardson and Londonlook TN. Second after dressage, the pair added four jumping penalties from one fence down and slipped to fifth on 28.5. Their competitive score, however, leaves them firmly within striking distance with cross country still to come.
Emily King and Angell's Choice are sixth on 31.7, with another clear round moving them ahead of Katie Magee and Springhead Jupiter, who are seventh on 33.1 after four jumping penalties.
Tom Jackson has three horses inside the top nine, with Brookfield William eighth on 33.5 and BLS Absolutely ninth on 33.9. Brookfield William added four penalties, while BLS Absolutely had eight.
Emma Thomas and May Day Van Stal Romano complete the top 10 on 34.0 after a clear round.
British Intermediate Championship – Top 10
1. Tom Jackson & My Star Turn - 24.0
2. Kitty King & DSH Mr D - 27.0
3. Bubby Upton & Sancerre De Tiji - 27.4
4. Kitty King & Renkum Jitterbug - 27.6
5. Dani Stewart-Richardson & Londonlook TN - 28.5
6. Emily King & Angell's Choice - 31.7
7. Katie Magee & Springhead Jupiter - 33.1
8. Tom Jackson & Brookfield William - 33.5
9. Tom Jackson & BLS Absolutely - 33.9
10. Emma Thomas & May Day Van Stal Romano - 34.0
With just 10 penalties covering the top 10, the British Intermediate Championship is finely poised. The show jumping has already demonstrated how quickly the leaderboard can change, and tomorrow’s cross-country will provide the ultimate test as the combinations battle for the Hartpury title.
Henry Dove leads Fairfax Saddles NRC Championship
Henry Dove and Godsend Du Givre lead the Fairfax Saddles NRC Championship following dressage and show jumping, with cross country set to provide the final test tomorrow.
Henry heads the leaderboard on 26.3, with Olivia Roberts and Fintra CJ just 0.1 penalties behind on 26.4. Laura Cocking and Anderida Askadora are third on 27.3.
The importance of a strong dressage performance has been underlined in this year’s championship, with the top seven combinations remaining in exactly the same order following show jumping. All seven also produced clear rounds, meaning their opening-phase scores have proved crucial in shaping the leaderboard.
Louise Doherty and Playing It Cooley and Ella Zatouroff and Billy Black Cat share fourth and fifth on 29.4, while Torie Sleep and Oxford are sixth on 30.3. Katie Prowse and Ahare Aristocrat complete the top seven on 30.5.
There was greater movement just outside the leading group, with Amy Harris and Sula's Midnight Spirit moving into eighth on 32.6 after adding four show jumping penalties. Mel Way and Secret Affair II are ninth on 33.5, also having added four faults, while Katy Mousdale and Templepatrick Jet complete the top 10 on the same score.
Fairfax Saddles NRC Championship - Top 10
1. Henry Dove & Godsend Du Givre - 26.3
2. Olivia Roberts & Fintra CJ - 26.4
3. Laura Cocking & Anderida Askadora - 27.3
4. Louise Doherty & Playing It Cooley - 29.4
5. Ella Zatouroff & Billy Black Cat - 29.4
6. Torie Sleep & Oxford - 30.3
7. Katie Prowse & Ahare Aristocrat - 30.5
8. Amy Harris & Sula's Midnight Spirit - 32.6
9. Mel Way & Secret Affair II - 33.5
10. Katy Mousdale & Templepatrick Jet - 33.5
The Fairfax Saddles NRC Championship provides a unique opportunity for riders at the grassroots end of the sport to compete for a national title at Hartpury.
The competition is aimed at riders who have not finished in the top 25% of an Intermediate competition during the current year or the preceding five years, and who have not competed at Advanced level during the current year or the preceding 10 years.
These eligibility criteria ensure the championship remains a genuine celebration of grassroots competition, providing riders with the opportunity to experience championship competition on one of British Eventing’s most prestigious stages.
With just over four penalties separating the top seven, the championship is finely poised ahead of cross country. Tomorrow’s course will provide the ultimate test of horse and rider and could dramatically change the standings.
Kitty King out in front in Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championship
The Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championships leaderboard has undergone a significant shake-up following the completion of two days of dressage, with seven of the current top 10 combinations having completed their dressage on the second day.
Of yesterday’s top 10, just four combinations have retained their place in the leading 10, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of this year’s championship.
At the top of the leaderboard are Kitty King and Kilcoltrim Cooley and Bubby Upton and Diamantus 3, who are tied on 25.5.
Max Warburton and Earl Dorado hold third on 26.5, while Therese Viklund and Mr Wilder are fourth on 26.8. Hector Payne and Bueno complete the top five on 27.2.
Warburton also occupies sixth with Monbeg Condor on 27.4. Jeanette Brakewell and Swhiskey are seventh on 28.3, followed by Kirsty Chabert and Tykillen Shindig on 28.4.
Katie Magee and Stonehavens Dreaming sit ninth on 28.6, while Tom Jackson and K La Belle Story De Rock 1 Z and Emily Young-Jamieson and La Vita 44 share 10th on 29.1.
Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championships - Top 10 after dressage
1. Kitty King & Kilcoltrim Cooley - 25.5
2. Bubby Upton & Diamantus 3 - 25.5
3. Max Warburton & Earl Dorado - 26.5
4. Therese Viklund & Mr Wilder - 26.8
5. Hector Payne & Bueno - 27.2
6. Max Warburton & Monbeg Condor - 27.4
7. Jeanette Brakewell & Swhiskey - 28.3
8. Kirsty Chabert & Tykillen Shindig - 28.4
9. Katie Magee & Stonehavens Dreaming - 28.6
10. Tom Jackson & K La Belle Story De Rock 1 Z - 29.1
11. Emily Young-Jamieson & La Vita 44 - 29.1
With national titles still to be decided, tomorrow’s final phases promise a fitting conclusion to an action-packed championship.
