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Zara Tindall produced a superb performance across today's show jumping and cross country to claim the NAF CCI4*-S and British Open Championship at Hartpury.
Following dressage, Emily King and Valmy Biats held the lead on 26.4, ahead of Jesse Campbell and Speedwell on 27.9 and Bubby Upton and K on 29.0. Yasmin Ingham held fourth and fifth with Gypsie Du Loir and Kinda Corvette, while James Avery, Sarah Bullimore, Bubby Upton and Izzy Taylor also occupied the top 10.
But with the championship still wide open, the jumping phases proved decisive.
Around Paul Connor's show jumping track, Yasmin Ingham's Gypsie Du Loir picked up eight faults, while dressage leader Emily King and Valmy Biats added four faults, putting pressure on the combinations chasing the title.
Then came Eric Winter's cross-country course, which provided a significant test of accuracy, fitness and time.
The course proved particularly challenging in terms of the optimum time, with combinations having to balance an attacking pace with the technical questions presented throughout the track – a fair test at championship level.
While no one fence proved particularly problematic, the NAF All You Need Corners at 12AB and C proved relatively influential, testing riders and horses with a demanding combination that required precision and commitment on the Gloucestershire undulations.
Jesse Campbell and Speedwell, who had put in strong performances in the first two phases, parted ways at fence 16, the NAF Triple Brush, ending their challenge for the title this time.
Zara and Class Affair, meanwhile, produced exactly the performance they needed. The experienced – but sometimes challenging – 17-year-old gelding jumped superbly and tackled the cross country with confidence, adding just 0.4 time penalties to finish on a winning score of 33.3.
Zara was thrilled with the performance of her veteran partner. “I'm very happy to have won, especially as I never managed to win it at Gatcombe! He was super jumping in both disciplines. Hartpury has done such a good job considering the weather we have had. I walked the course on Thursday and thought the ground was great and he felt happy all the way round.’’
“I am happy for the horse, the owner Catherine Rivett, who has been with me for years, and the entire team at home.”
Class Affair has been a long-standing member of Zara's top-level eventing string and his experience was invaluable around a challenging Hartpury cross-country track.
The result also marks a particularly notable improvement from last year's British Open, when Class Affair finished seventh. The defending champions from 2025, Katie Magee and Treworra, put in another strong performance to finish seventh this year.
Behind Zara, Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry produced an excellent performance to finish second on 34.0. The combination added just 1.2 time penalties across the cross country and showed impressive consistency throughout the competition.
Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall completed the podium in third on 35.1, following a particularly impressive return to this level of competition after recently being sidelined with injury. Izzy's strong performance was a welcome sight for supporters and underlined her competitive determination.
With the British Open and CCI4*-S combined this year, Zara's performance earned her an exceptional collection of honours alongside boosted prize money including the NAF CCI4*-S Trophy, British Open Championship Trophy, Highest-placed British Rider Trophy and NAF Closest to Optimum Time Prize
The result provides a thrilling highlight to a hugely competitive day of eventing at Hartpury, with Zara's victory demonstrating the experience and partnership she has built with Class Affair over many years.
