PrintAustralian, British and U.S. riders try to look their best at this pre-Olympic outing.
GREAT Britain and Australia signaled they were the teams to beat in Hong Kong following a near Olympic “dress rehearsal” at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire, England, on July 3-6.
Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia headed the 114-starter CIC***, with husband Clayton third on Ben Along Time, both for Australia.
William Fox-Pitt filled second, fourth and fifth with Parkmore Ed, Ballincoola and Tamarillo, while British teammates Mary King and the recently called-up Daisy Dick finished seventh and eighth, with the remaining British riders and equine reserves all in the top 20.
Headley Britannia had been controversially scratched from the Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany) due to the rider’s concerns about the ground, but there was no question that she would run on the good footing, made softer by rain that was heavy even by the standards of a British summer.
This beautifully presented venue, not far from Gatcombe Park, is where the U.S. event team will complete their seven-day pre-export quarantine before flying to Hong Kong on July 30. The site is owned by Nigel Bunter, who is developing one of the few integrated horse racing and equestrian facilities in the United Kingdom, a country notorious for its reluctance to make mixed use of racing facilities.
Barbury’s cross-country—designed by Mark Phillips—utilizes old turf gallops, and the well-drained chalkland retains plenty of spring and turf cover even in a dry summer.
Lucinda led from start to finish, with a dressage mark of 30.8, a clear show jumping round and 17.2 time penalties after a feisty cross-country, to finish on a mere 48 penalties.
“We knew we had to do well here, so I went as fast as I could, albeit with handbrake on. She was going but not in an impetuous or crazy way as she sometimes can,” said Lucinda. “She produced a couple of fliers, but in a safe way, and I had a great, fun ride—and she was still pulling at the finish.”
Ben Along Time’s dressage was “rock solid” for Clayton. “He got a bit fiery during the cross-country, but he went fantastically and is fitter than he has ever been,” he said.
GREAT Britain and Australia signaled they were the teams to beat in Hong Kong following a near Olympic “dress rehearsal” at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire, England, on July 3-6.
Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia headed the 114-starter CIC***, with husband Clayton third on Ben Along Time, both for Australia.
William Fox-Pitt filled second, fourth and fifth with Parkmore Ed, Ballincoola and Tamarillo, while British teammates Mary King and the recently called-up Daisy Dick finished seventh and eighth, with the remaining British riders and equine reserves all in the top 20.Headley Britannia had been controversially scratched from the Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany) due to the rider’s concerns about the ground, but there was no question that she would run on the good footing, made softer by rain that was heavy even by the standards of a British summer.
This beautifully presented venue, not far from Gatcombe Park, is where the U.S. event team will complete their seven-day pre-export quarantine before flying to Hong Kong on July 30. The site is owned by Nigel Bunter, who is developing one of the few integrated horse racing and equestrian facilities in the United Kingdom, a country notorious for its reluctance to make mixed use of racing facilities.
Barbury’s cross-country—designed by Mark Phillips—utilizes old turf gallops, and the well-drained chalkland retains plenty of spring and turf cover even in a dry summer.
Lucinda led from start to finish, with a dressage mark of 30.8, a clear show jumping round and 17.2 time penalties after a feisty cross-country, to finish on a mere 48 penalties.
“We knew we had to do well here, so I went as fast as I could, albeit with handbrake on. She was going but not in an impetuous or crazy way as she sometimes can,” said Lucinda. “She produced a couple of fliers, but in a safe way, and I had a great, fun ride—and she was still pulling at the finish.”
Ben Along Time’s dressage was “rock solid” for Clayton. “He got a bit fiery during the cross-country, but he went fantastically and is fitter than he has ever been,” he said.
| Barbury Tidbits • Mark Todd, who has come out of retirement to head the New Zealand team, was riding in his first high-profile U.K. event since 2000. He dropped 50.6 penalties in dressage and was clear in show jumping. But the gray Gandalf stopped at the “skinny” coming out of the sunken road complex, a fence that also caught out Mary King and Imperial Cavalier (who many feel is better than her Olympic partner, his sibling Call Again Cavalier), and British team member Sharon Hunt, who fell from her second string, Good Sport II. |
