Catch up with all the latest news from the world of horse trials in our weekly column from Eventing magazine editor Kate Green
The recent run of poor weather, prior to the weekend’s glorious sunshine, caused the advanced events at Brightling and Eglinton to be cancelled. This has thrown the qualification process for this autumn’s three-day events into chaos with several riders well short of the required number of advanced runs.
The weekend’s action focused instead on open intermediates at Stockland Lovell, Storeton Hall and Great Witchingham.
Sisters Nini and Piggy French enjoyed a clean sweep at Great Witchingham in Norfolk, while JohnMarsden, Claire Phillips and Ruth Friend were in winning form at Storeton Hall in Cheshire.
At Stockland Lovell in Somerset, Bettina Hoy was delighted to have WEG hope Woodsides Ashby back in form after a run of stops.
To check out the full results visit British Eventing: www.britisheventing.com
Eventers v show jumpers at Hickstead
Next week’s principal competition for leading eventers is the Mitsubishi Eventers’ Grand Prix at Hickstead on Friday (26 July) at 2.30pm where eventer riders and show jumpers go head-to-head to win a Pinin Shogun.
Pippa Funnell, a record three-times winner on The Tourmaline Rose (pictured), heads the eventers’ side in this hybrid show jumping/cross-country event.
Gary Parsonage, the only other rider to have won (in 1999) is entered with Magic Rogue, plus Blyth Tait and Ready Teddy, previously third, Andrew Nicholson (Mallards Treat), Heelan Tompkins (Glengarrick), Matt Ryan (Bonza Puzzle), Lucinda Fredericks (Headley Britannia), Brook Staples (Master Monarch), Eddy Stibbe (Bobbitt/Prime Contender), Heidi Antikatzides (Fairfax), Austin O’Connor (Whiskey Mac), William Fox-Pitt (River Dragon), Leslie Law (Premonition), Jeanette Brakewell (The Busker) and Polly Stockton (All Black ll).
Michael Whitaker, last year’s runner-up and historically the most successful show jumper in this contest, will head the show jumpers. Michael will be competing once again on the eventer Evening Masquerade.
Germany’s Olympic gold medallist Lars Nieberg is also entered, plus former European champion Peter Charles who broke his ankle in a previous running of this class.
Other show jumpers braving the course are Guy Williams, John Renwick, Andrew Davies, jackson Reed-Stephenson, Cian O’Connor, Dermot Lennon, Ludovic Leygue, Toni Hassmann and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
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