Emily Baldwin laid her Badminton ghosts to rest when winning the CIC*** FEI World Cup class at Chatsworth International Horse Trials on Drivetime at the weekend.
Adding only cross-country time-penalties to her leading dressage score of 35.6pen, she finished on 54.8, ahead of Ruth Edge with Applejack II (61.7) and Sarah Cohen with Treason (69.4). Ruth had overtaken Emily after the cross-country by virtue of a faster round, but had two rails down in the final showjumping phase.
Emily Baldwin said: “When he [Drivetime] is on-form he’s fantastic — his dressage test on Friday was really impressive, plus he was keen through the water across country which was great as I felt we had a point to prove!”
Following the recent dry spell, organisers had worked hard on the ground to ensuring good going across country, and with the benefit of some rain, riders were able to enjoy for near-perfect going.
Ian Stark’s World Cup course claimed a number of notable scalps, including “Mr Stickability” Andrew Nicholson, who parted company with Armada at the sunken road (fences 7/8). This wasn’t the only fence to catch riders out, with faults being spread around the course.
“Ian Stark’s course was really tough — it made riders think and caused a lot of problems,” said Emily, who enjoyed a perfect in the showjumping round to claim the World Cup points. “Drivetime will be totally unbearable for the next few weeks as he knows when he has done well.”
Oliver Townend won one of the non-World Cup CIC*** sections with Neo Du Breuil, while Lucy Wiegersma took the other on Shaabrak.
Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Chatsworth, on sale Thursday 19 May.
