Bettina Hoy led from the start with a foot-perfect run on Ringwood Cockatoo to win a competitive advanced intermediate section at Highclere on Bank Holiday Monday (27 August).
New Zealander Bruce Haskell thought he had the section nailed with a double clear on Sky Sport, but although Bettina added a show jump down to her leading score of 26.5, she flew around Eric Winter’s inviting cross-country to stay ahead by 1.8pen.
Sweden’s Dag Albert was third on Whos Blitz, ahead of William Fox-Pitt with Monarch’s Aristocrat.
Tina Cook took the other advanced intermediate victory on the classy Miners Frolic. British squad members Georgie Davies (Fachoudette) and Rodney Powell (Langarth Darcy) looked terrific across country, finishing second and third, with Rodney also fourth on Zinzan ll.
Zara led the dressage on Toytown, who put in arguably his best performance this year. They had a show jump down and, in a steady cross-country, whacked the second rolltop element of the water complex to finish 11th.
Andrew Nicholson had a brilliant open intermediate win on Avebury and finished second on Mr Cruise Control to clinch top spot in the Stately Homes Challenge, which covers Longleat, Wilton and Highclere, to receive a year’s use of a Mitsubishi.
Read this report in full in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (6 September, ’07)
