Georgie Davies held her lead to become the new under-25 national eventing champion at Bramham Horse Trials this morning.
Georgie, who led throughout the competition on her mare Fachoudette, had two show jumps down, but still finished more than 10 penalties ahead of second-placed Dominic Ruane and Hunters Legend.
“We know each other pretty well,” said Georgie, who has ridden Nicola Spence’s 13-year-old Fachoudette for six years. “It was a good show jumping track – the distances were quite moving, the time was tight and the heat meant the horses were more tired than normal.”
Despite two poles down and two time-penalties Amy Young rose from fifth place going into the final phase to finish third on Highville.
“I was surprised to move up,” said Young, the under-21 national champion at Weston Park last year. “He was fantastic yesterday on the cross-country and I was really pleased with him.”
Cressida Clague Reading took fourth on Carousel Quest, despite 20 penalties across country, while 2005 young rider team gold medallist Olivia Haddow finished fifth on the coloured horse Patris Filius – formerly ridden by Vicky Tuffs (placed third in the senior three-star).
Matthew Wright marred an otherwise good show jumping round by blundering through one fence, but still rose four places to finish sixth on the mare L’Air Du Jour.
European Champion Zara Phillips finished 10th on Ardfield Magic Star. She jumped clear across country but had four show jumps down and two time-faults.
FINAL RESULTS
Under-25 CCI***
1. Georgie Davies on Fachoudette (GBR) 58.3
2. Dominic Ruane on Hunters Legend (GBR) 69.8
3. Amy Young on Highville (GBR) 82.7
4. Cressida Clague Reading on Carousel Quest (GBR) 83.1
5. Olivia Haddow on Patris Filius (GBR) 83.3
