Terry Boon and Foreign Exchange continued their unbeaten record as a partnership this season, taking first place at the Guardian Collections Bramham International Horse Trials.
Terry had been just 0.2pen behind William Fox-Pitt and Moon Man going into the cross-country, before the latter pulled himself up in exactly the same fashion as he had done four fences from home at Badminton.
This disappointment only hardened Williams resolve with his second ride, the Philip Atkins-owned Parkmore Ed, and he produced one of only three faultless cross-country performances followed by a clear show-jumping round to leave Terry no margin for error. However, a flawless round saw the 30-year-old rider finish a narrow 1.8pen ahead of William.
I am absolutely thrilled with his performances all round, says Terry. The pressure was really on in the show jumping, but it all worked out.”
Terry had not even intended to run cross-country because of the firmness of the ground, but the work done on the course took the sting out of it, he explained afterwards.
Marie Ryan enjoyed the best success of her eventing career to date. This is the first time that she has finished in the top 10 in any three-day event, and she consolidated that success by achieving both third and fourth with Sparrow Hall and Penny Royal II.
Marie, who is married to Olympic Gold medallist Matt Ryan, was absolutely delighted by her success, saying that Matt, whose Bonza Puzzle had had to be withdrawn on account of a corn, had been her rock all week. Now the intention is to take both horses to Burghley, she added.
Piggy French dominated the Elite Under 25 Championship. Although well clear of the rest of the field after the dressage with Which Way II, time penalties on the cross-country lost her the top spot. However, a single, unfortunate error by Cressida Clague Reading and Volnay in the show jumping enabled her to claw back her lead to finish in front.
Piggy also produced one of the few faultless show jumping rounds climbing from fifth to take third place with Done to Order, on whom she finished sixth here last year.
Guardian Collections Bramham International Horse Trials final results
1. Foreign Exchange (Terry Boon) 47.6
2. Parkmore Ed (William Fox-Pitt) 49.4
3. Sparrow Hall (Marie Ryan) 52.8
4. Penny Royal II (Marie Ryan) 57.8
5. Kinsey Control (Caroline Pratt) 67.2
6. Karl DCymbeline (Lucy Kemplay) 68.2
Elite Under 25 Championship
1. Which Way II (Piggy French) 53.4
2. Volnay (Cressida Clague Reading) 54.8
3. Done To Order (Piggy French) 63.2
4. Welton Select (Georgie Davies) 67.2
5. Twinkle Bee (Anna Warnecke) GER 70.6
6. Rock Model (Vittoria Panizzon) ITA 70.8
