William Fox-Pitt scored a double of advanced wins in the six-day event at Aston-le-Walls, sponsored by Corton Management Services.
The advanced classes were originally scheduled to run with dressage on Friday, 20 July and the jumping phases the next day. But after the competitors completed their dressage in torrential rain, the show jumping and cross-country were postponed until the following Wednesday (25 July).
William Fox-Pitt had one fence down on Moon Man, but their speedy cross-country round for just 8.8 time-penalties secured victory. Clear rounds in the show jumping helped Oliver Townend and Hannah Bate finish second and third respectively with Golden Hue and Valdemar.
William went on to win section I with Ballincoola. They led the dressage by four marks on a score of 29 and added a further 10.8 time-penalties cross-country to score a clear win from Swedens Dag Albert and Whos Blitz.
Caroline Powell and Lenamore thwarted a trio of wins for William. Despite leading the dressage, this time with Parkmore Ed, a slower cross-country round meant William had to settle for second place.
Piggy French won advanced section K with her new ride, Paris, while Chris King and The Secret Weapon enjoyed a convincing victory in section L.
The final section was made up of those competitors who withdrew before the dressage on the Friday. Francis Whittington won by a margin of nearly 10 points on Spin Doctor, ahead of Chris King on his new ride, Silver Machine.
www.aston-le-walls.co.uk
Read the report from Aston-le-Walls in full with photos in this Thursdays Horse & Hound (2 August, 07)
