Sunshine, top horses and the start of the international eventing season in Britain… it’s time to check out our gallery of Thoresby pictures.
The Eventing Spring Carnival ran over the Easter weekend and the organising team made a huge effort to offer combinations a run in the face of difficult weather in the build-up. The flagship class is the Lycetts Grantham Cup, plus there was a second CCI4*-S section, which ran under the sponsorship of organisers BEDE Events, and an advanced, as well as lower level national and international classes.
Thoresby pictures
Rosalind Canter riding LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
Alice Casburn riding TOPSPIN in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Five-star stalwarts: Alice Casburn and her mother Caroline’s home-bred Topspin land eighth in the Grantham Cup, a warm-up for another tilt at Badminton.
Austin O'Connor riding COLORADO BLUE in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Austin O’Connor and The Salty Syndicate’s Colorado Blue, last year’s Maryland 5 Star winners, finish as runners up in the Grantham Cup.
Emily King riding VALMY BIATS in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Emily King and Valmy Biats – owned by his rider, his breeder Philippe Brivois and a syndicate – win the Grantham Cup for the second year running. The pair are Badminton-bound.
Gemma Stevens riding CHILLI KNIGHT in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Christopher Stone’s Chilli Knight, the Bicton Horse Trials one-off five-star winner in 2021, returns to four-star level after the best part of two years off injured. He and Gemma Stevens had a quiet run in the Grantham Cup and will head to Badminton
Jonelle Price riding GRAPPA NERA in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Jonelle Price and The Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera, the 2022 Pau Horse Trials winner, are another pair with Badminton in their sights
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Laura Collett riding LONDON 52 in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Laura Collett and London 52 put in a professional performance as they continue their Olympic selection campaign, taking fifth in the Grantham Cup. The three-time five-star winner belongs to his rider, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott
Harry Meade riding AWAY CRUISING in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Harry Meade’s experienced five-star horse Away Cruising, owned by Jane Dear and Charlotte Opperman, has an easy pre-Badminton run in the Grantham Cup
Pippa Funnell riding MCS MAVERICK in the A section G during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Pippa Funnell and Nick and Sarah Ross’s MCS Maverick claim second in the advanced section. The Bramham Horse Trials winner is entered for his five-star debut at Badminton
Libby Seed riding HEARTBREAKER STAR QUALITY in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Libby Seed, a rare amateur rider at the top level, and Heartbreaker Star Quality, jump a double clear in the Grantham Cup in the build-up to Badminton. The mare belongs to her rider and Libby’s parents Lesley and Jonathon
Rosalind Canter riding IZILOT DHI in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Ros Canter steers Izilot DHI, owned by his rider and Alex Moody, to sixth place. Izilot DHI, last year’s Pau winner, holds an entry for both Badminton and Kentucky Three-Day Event
Tim Price riding VITALI in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Tim Price and Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali finish fourth in the Grantham Cup. They head back to Badminton after seventh there last year
William Fox-Pitt riding GRAFENNACHT in the A section G during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William Fox-Pitt pilots Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht to fourth in the advanced. The pair were second at Maryland 5 Star last year and are Badminton-bound
Zara Tindall riding CLASS AFFAIR in the A section G during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Zara Tindall and Class Affair, owned by Gleadhill House Stud, jump a double clear in the advanced. They are entered for Badminton
Yasmin Ingham riding REHY DJ in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, claim 11th in the Grantham Cup. He is likely to go back to Luhmühlen Horse Trials in June, where he finished third last year
Tim Price riding HAPPY BOY in the CCI-S 4* section H during the cross country phase of the THORESBY PARK INTERNATIONAL EVENTING SPRING CARNIVAL held in Thoresby Park near Newark in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom on the 20 March 2024
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Tim Price and the 2022 Boekelo winner Happy Boy, owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, take ninth in the Grantham Cup
Thoresby pictures by Peter Nixon
Full report from Thoresby in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 4 April).
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
