Thrills and spills at the Festival of British Eventing 2015 *PICTURES*
The Festival of British Eventing 2015 at Gatcombe (7-9 August) enjoyed the best of the British summer as the national eventing championships brought the crowds out in force to watch the top-class action in Princess Anne’s back garden.
The British Open championship was won by Australia’s Christopher Burton and TS Jamaimo (pictured above), while Nicola Wilson took the national title with the popular coloured mare Beltane Queen, as best of the Brits in third.
Oliver Townend scored a notable double in Saturday’s intermediate and novice championships, taking the intermediate with Note Worthy (pictured below) and the novice on Sonic De Sermentol.
The cross-country tracks took their fair share of scalps across the classes, with Andrew Nicholson currently recovering in hospital from a neck injury after falling from Cilnabradden Evo at the last fence on the CIC3* track.
Other top names to come a cropper during the day included William Fox-Pitt, who took a dunking from Dynasty in the novice championships (pictured below) and Sam Griffiths, who fell from his Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh late on the cross-country course when leading the British Open.
The new novice restricted championship for the Corinthian Cup was won by Noah Brook riding Deo Volente III. Unfortunately some of his fellow riders had a less successful time…
Elena Palmer parted company from Queue Jumper Z when they had a difference of opinion at the fence into the pond…
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and Charlotte Jeffes competition came to an end after she took a tumble from Willows Patriarch.
Bronia Hill’s hopes for restricted novice glory ended when she took a ducking from Daisy XIV.
But the canine spectators couldn’t wait to enjoy the water after the competition came to a close.
Flora Harris survived a scary moment when jumping the wall on Cooley Lord Lux in the intermediate championships.
In the main arena, the crowds were treated to displays of speed with the scurry driving…
and the crowd-pleasingly popular Shetland Pony Grand National…
while Alice Plunkett grilled Mike Tindall on the highs and lows of racehorse ownership.
Don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine’s in-depth analysis of all the action from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, on sale Thursday 13 August 2015
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.