The scoreboard changed once more at the top of the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI*** at Bramham International Horse Trials when the overnight leader, Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra, had a fence down on Brave Heart.
This allowed the 2008 European young rider champion, Emily Llewellyn, to rise from third to first with a cool clear round on Pardon Me II.
Eleventh after dressage on 52.8, a fast clear across country added just 1.2pen, and this faultless show jumping round — one of just five in the section — left Emily the winner.
“He tried his heart out for me. I think the atmosphere lifted him and made him careful,” said Emily.
She will aim Pardon Me II at the young rider team.
Georgie Spence, second going into the show jumping phase on the 10-year-old mare Skylight, knocked three down to drop to fifth.
Duarte, 21, followed his Blair Castle CCI*** win last year with second place — and, he hopes, a place at the European championships later this summer.
Sarah Stretton finished on her dressage score of 58.6 to climb from 16th after dressage to eventual third on Lazy Acres Skip On.
Ben Hobday also show jumped clear on Uptons Who to finish fourth, while Gemma Tattersall and Ollie Artois were sixth.
CIC***
Neil Spratt pulled off the biggest win of his career in the CIC*** on Upleadon. Second after cross-country behind Andrew Nicholson and Epic on 47.4, Neil show jumped clear and capitalised on Epic’s eight faults.
“I’m thrilled with how he coped with the atmosphere all week,” said Neil.
The pair will now aim for CIC***s at Barbury and Hartpury, and the CCI*** at Blenheim.
Epic stayed second, while Sharon Hunt could afford one rail down for third place on Tankers Town.
Harry Meade jumped clear on Dunauger but seven time-faults dropped them a place to fourth. Declan Cullen (Glenhill Gold) and Alice Pearson (Beau Bear) were fifth and sixth.
CCI*** under-25
1. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (54)
2. Duarte Seabra on Brave Heart (57)
3. Sarah Stretton on Lazy Acres Skip On (58.6)
4. Ben Hobday on Uptons Who (59.8)
5. Georgie Spence on Skylight (65.6)
6. Gemma Tattersall on Ollie Artois (67.4)
CIC***
1. Neil Spratt on Upleadon (47.4)
2. Andrew Nicholson on Epic (52.8)
3. Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town (54)
4. Harry Meade on Dunauger (54.8)
5. Declan Cullen on Glenhill Gold (58.2)
6. Alice Pearson on Beau Bear (60.8)
Don’t miss Thursday’s Horse & Hound for full reports from Bramham and Luhmuhlen Horse Trials
