Latest from Horse & Hound in Gatcombe-horse-trials

Farewell to ‘eccentric genius’ and five-star winner who put rider ‘on the map’

Becky Murray — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:13:00 +0000

Two Thyme, the five-star winner who Ruth Edge credits for “putting her on the map”, has been put down in retirement aged 29.

Today (10 January) Ruth announced that during the Christmas period they had “sadly let Two Thyme (Jasper) go run wild in the field in the sky”.

“He was the grand old age of 29 and had been retired with his bessie mate Nick of Thyme,” said Ruth.

Ruth took on the ride of Maureen and Phil Smith’s Jasper as a seven-year-old in 2001. The next year they won the British intermediate championship at Gatcombe, and in 2004 and 2009 were crowned the British open champions.

The pair made their five-star debut at Badminton in 2007, where they jumped clear across country and finished 11th. The following year they won Luhmühlen five-star, and were named reserves for the Beijing Olympic Games.

“I had ridden Phil and Maureen’s other horse Big Time, so it was decided that I would have a go at Jasper and see if I could persuade him that he wanted to be an event horse. We knew all along how talented he was, but he was quite quirky,” Ruth told H&H.

“He was a very kind horse, and he loved people and other horses, but I would describe him as an eccentric genius. You had to persuade him to do things, you couldn’t tell him. We spent a lot of time trying to improve his confidence and it wasn’t always easy, but it was the making of him, and he learned to trust me.

“We had a real partnership together and he really believed that he could do these amazing things that he did. He certainly taught me a lot about horsemanship, because he was a tricky character, but on his day he could beat the best in the world. He was a horse that really put me on the map.”

Jasper retired sound in 2012, aged 18 and had a long and happy retirement.

“He was never ridden again because we felt he really settled into being out in the field with his friends. He wasn’t great at hacking, and he certainly wasn’t a schoolmaster, even in his older age he was still cheeky,” said Ruth.

“He stayed with me and Nick of Time until 2019 when I moved, and then the two of them went to Phil and Maureen’s. They had a fantastic retirement place for them with lots of friends, and he had a terrific time.”

Ruth thanked Jasper for “all the great times with Phil and Maureen Smith at events all over Europe”.

“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities you brought to me. Fly high up there doing whatever you please. RIP dear boy,” she added.

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(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Ruth Edge retires Two Thyme from eventing

Ruth Edge has decided it's time to retire double British open champion and four-star winner Two Thyme from competition

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Ruth Edge takes British open championship at Gatcombe

Ruth Edge’s decision to ride Two Thyme cross-country despite feeling sore after a fall yesterday paid off when she won

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

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Mark Phillips: ‘British Eventing faces a huge dilemma as costs spiral’

Mark Phillips — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:16:15 +0000

Rising costs and bad weather are tough for all involved in the sport, says Mark Phillips in his exclusive Horse & Hound column

I never thought I’d live to see the day that we would have to cancel cross-country on the free-draining Cotswold slopes at Gatcombe.

My son Peter, who is the event director, the British Eventing (BE) steward and the technical advisor all did everything they could to be able to put on the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, but eventually after more than an inch of rain in 24 hours from Storm Antoni, it was impossible to stage the five British championships.

On Saturday, the cross-country was cancelled as even the fleet of Land Rover Defenders struggled in the conditions. This meant the demise of the regular novice and intermediate classes, but we hoped that all the championships could run on the Sunday. A whole new ring was created on higher ground for the Pony Club so that their Mars Arena could be used for better ground in the showjumping warm-up.

Once again, those BE members not in the more prestigious divisions took the hit. This repetition of losing the regular classes must be truly galling for members just trying to get a run, in a year that seems to be unprecedentedly wet, apart from the heatwave in June.

BE, awaiting its new CEO on 18 September, faces an extraordinary dilemma. The cost of staging an event on a greenfield site has escalated by 30–40% since Covid. BE membership numbers are holding their own, but horse registrations are down, largely as people cut back on numbers because of cost-of-living issues.

BE anticipates that there will be 30,000 less “cross-country starters” this year compared to the halcyon days before Covid. That equals circa 100 cross-country days. Yes, we are losing some events as organisers find it increasingly difficult to balance their books, but not that many!

The irony is that the popular events, particularly those with infrastructure, want to put on more days as they have fewer overheads, but that puts more pressure on the greenfield and parkland sites, especially the peripheral ones, as it is harder for them to attract enough entries to balance the books.

In short it is difficult to see the solution, as all the stakeholders – owners, riders and organisers – struggle to deal with spiralling costs. If only we could find a cheaper model for affiliated eventing.

With the site at Gatcombe completely trashed, making the gut-wrenching decision to abandon the event completely quite simple for the BE steward, Peter faces months of wrangling with insurers to mitigate the amount of money he will lose.

Other organisers who have faced the same situation this year, despite their best efforts, have received unacceptable abuse, both on social media and on the phone. Hopefully, despite their frustrations, people will appreciate how hard the team tried, with the consequential financial penalty, and spare us that. I’m not holding my breath as a senior rider was abusive beyond reason with BE officials last Saturday.

Looking forward to the Europeans

I leave the chaos at Gatcombe behind me this week and drive to Haras du Pin in France for the eventing Europeans. Such is the strength of the British squad we must start red-hot favourites and could even sweep the individual medals, but that brings its own pressures.

Never underestimate Michael Jung and company – and the French are never harder to beat than when they are on home territory.

It’s going to be a fascinating, nail-biting weekend. Warm weather is forecast, so let’s hope we can leave the rain behind so our girls and boys can extend further our remarkable record of European success.

● How can eventing adapt to meet the needs of all its stakeholders? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August, 2023

Disappointment as Festival of British Eventing abandoned on 40th anniversary

Catherine Austen — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 19:44:53 +0000

The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Horse Trials has been abandoned after further rain on Saturday exacerbated bad conditions underfoot.

The cross-country phase for all five of Gatcombe’s championship classes – the Magic Millions British Open, the Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship, the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship, the RoR/NTF Retrained Racehorse Event Championship and the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup – was planned to take place tomorrow (Sunday, 6 August) after some rescheduling from Saturday.

A statement by the organisers of the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing said: “It is with deep sadness and regret that, despite great efforts from the organising team, the decision has been made to abandon the Festival of British Eventing. This is especially disappointing that it happened during the event’s 40th anniversary.

“The adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe today has made the site unsafe for the event to continue for all our competitors (human and equine) as well as the many thousands of spectators that were due on site tomorrow. Safety for all is our main priority.

“Further information on the refund process will be provided in due course.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in the event for their unwavering support and hard work over the past few days.”

These British national championships in Gatcombe Park, home of the Princess Royal, have only been cancelled because of bad weather once before – in 2012.

There will be disappointment for riders, for whom these valuable classes are an important part of the eventing calendar. Oliver Townend was in the lead in all three of the major championships – aboard Finley Du Loir in the Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship, with En Taro Des Vernier in the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship, and in the Magic Millions British Open he and Swallow Springs shared pole position with last year’s winners, Tim Price and Vitali.

Weather forces major timetable changes and class cancellations at Festival of British Eventing

Catherine Austen — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 08:39:35 +0000

The Gatcombe Horse Trials weather has forced organisers to abandon all cross-country today, including the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship and the Dodson & Horrell novice championship.

Those two championship classes were due to conclude today (Saturday, 5 August), but instead the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing organisers hope to run them tomorrow, in addition to the Magic Millions British open championship, the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation retrained racehorse event championship and the TopSpec challenge for the Corinthian Cup.

The British eventing national classes at open intermediate and open novice level have been abandoned completely.

Showjumping for the championship classes will continue to take place in Gatcombe’s main arena as planned, and will be shown on Horse & Country TV.

A revised timetable for Sunday is being prepared, and main arena attractions are expected to go ahead on Sunday.

A statement from the Festival of British Eventing on the Gatcombe Horse Trials weather said: “The safety of all of our human and equine competitors and spectators is of paramount importance to us and at the centre of this decision.”

The organisers have also said that general admission tickets for today that are not used are transferable to Sunday, but hospitality and park view picnic parking for Saturday cannot be transferred.

The Festival of British Eventing was last cancelled due to bad weather in 2012.

Oliver Townend is in first and second places in the British intermediate championship after showjumping. He leads on Sir John Peace’s Finley Du Loir on a score of 24.9, just ahead of Sir John Peace and Charlotte Cole’s Crazy Du Loir on 25.8.

Oliver has four wins to his name in the British intermediate championship to date – 2007 (Daisy Crazy), 2008 (ODT Land Vision), 2015 (Note Worthy) and 2017 (Khoi Traveller).

Jason Wood holds a healthy advantage in the British novice championship after the first day of dressage. His score of 22.7 aboard Alexandra and Charles Lloyd’s Nitor gives him 3.9 marks in hand over Oliver Townend and En Taro Des Vernier.

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(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

How to watch the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe on TV

(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Olympic medallists, Zara Tindall and comeback horses head to Gatcombe for British open

(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Planning a visit to Gatcombe for the Festival of British Eventing? Check this out…

(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Top rider stood down from competition after fall; daughter to deputise on her rides

(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

How to watch the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe on TV

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:02:09 +0000

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, which is held at Gatcombe Park, is back in 2023 between 4 and 6 August. If you can’t attend in person, here’s how to watch Gatcombe Horse Trials on TV.

*UPDATE* 5 August : The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing has been abandoned as the site was deemed unsafe by organisers following heavy rain.

With the Festival hosting championships from the Corinthian Cup for amateur riders right through to the British open championship, the weekend showcases the sport of eventing at all levels. The cross-country in Gatcombe Park is often thrilling to watch, with the course, which is designed by Captain Mark Phillips, winding its way up and down the park’s rolling hills.

All the Saturday and Sunday cross-country action from the Festival of British Eventing will be available to watch on H&C TV.

NB: If you prefer the additional online security offered by a VPN connection, check out the 30-day ExpressVPN trial and follow the instructions below.

Keep up to date with Horse & Hound

Don’t miss our full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August 2023.

How to watch Gatcombe Horse Trials on TV

Although there will be no terrestrial TV coverage available from this year’s Festival of British Eventing, you can follow all the cross-country action from the Festival of British Eventing on H&C TV. If you aren’t already signed-up to Horse & Country, either you can take out a 12-month subscription at £59.99 or £6.99 per month, or choose the pay per view/event pass option at £14.99, which gives you 30 days access to the event. While there is a seven-day free trial available, please note that this does NOT include access to live sport, so it cannot be used to watch Gatcombe.

The cross-country is scheduled to start at 11am on Saturday 5 August, when you will be able to watch both the novice and intermediate championships, plus the RoR/NTF retrained racehorse event championship and the open intermediate.

On Sunday 6 August, the cross-country is scheduled to start at 10.30am and you will be able to watch the Corinthian Cup, the open novice and the showcase British Open Championship.

How to watch Gatcombe live with a VPN

While it is not necessary to use a VPN to access Horse & Country’s live stream, if you would like to protect your online viewing from being monitored by third-parties, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you do this. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, such that the servers and services you’re accessing aren’t able to track what you’re doing. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. As a rule, we’d suggest a paid-for service such as free 30-day ExpressVPN trial which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to Horse & Country on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

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Olympic medallists, Zara Tindall and comeback horses head to Gatcombe for British open

Pippa Roome — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:30:14 +0000

British Olympic team gold medallists and the defending champion head up the Gatcombe Horse Trials entries for the British open championship at this weekend’s Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

Oliver Townend and Tom McEwen both have the horses with whom they won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Ballaghmor Class and Toledo De Kerser, lining up in the Magic Millions British open championship. Oliver also has Swallow Springs in the class, while Tom has three rides, with last year’s British intermediate champion Luna Mist and MHS Brown Jack joining Toledo on the starting blocks.

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali, last year’s British open champions, are also among the 35 Gatcombe Horse Trials entries for this flagship class, aiming to take back-to-back titles.

Zara Tindall rides her top horse Class Affair in the British open. He is among the contenders in this class who will then head to Burghley Horse Trials; some of these horses may not run across country at Gatcombe, depending on their riders’ build-up plan for the five-star.

Alice Casburn and Topspin will also contest the British open on the way to Burghley – this is the young star’s debut in this class. Topspin was not on his best form at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring, but has since been treated for ulcers and showed his fitness with a recent advanced win at Aston-le-Walls.

Billy Walk On, who was third here last year with Pippa Funnell, and Colorado Blue, third at Badminton under Ireland’s Austin O’Connor, will also be ones to watch. Piggy March’s ride, the 2021 European individual silver medallist Brookfield Inocent – who missed last year with injury but has also returned on good form with a win at Aston-le-Walls last month – is worth keeping an eye on, too.

The Dodson & Horrell British novice championship is the largest of the three main championship classes, with 67 entries. Oliver Townend had a one-two in this class last year, but has just one entry this time, En Taro Des Vernier.

There are 34 scheduled to go to post in the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship, including Oliver’s 2022 novice champion Finley Du Loir.

Planning a visit to Gatcombe for the Festival of British Eventing? Check this out…

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:32:10 +0000

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, which takes place in Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, is set to take place between 4 and 6 August. If you’re interested in getting your hands on some Gatcombe Horse Trials tickets so you can see all the action in person, then you can save money by buying them in advance. Tickets bought on the gate will cost more (see prices below in brackets).

Gatcombe Horse Trials tickets: general admission prices

Friday 4 August: £20 (£25)

Saturday 5 August: £25 (£30)

Sunday 6 August: £25 (£30)

Season admission: £65 (£75)

Free parking is included with all general admission tickets

Forward parking tickets

If you want to save your legs by parking just a short walk from the main showground, with the added benefit of a swifter entry and exit, then it may be worth booking a forward parking pass, which costs £10 for any one day on top of your admission tickets. Season forward parking costs £25. However there is limited availability and forward parking is not available to purchase on the gate, so it pays to plan ahead.

Festival Pavilion membership

Membership to the Festival of British Eventing includes a two-course buffet lunch with table reservation, complimentary tea/coffee on arrival, ringside seating, members’ only luxury toilets, closed-circuit televisions showing the cross-country action and a concierge service for your shopping.

However, membership does not include general admission to the event, so the prices below will be in addition to your general admission tickets. You could consider them an upgrade to make a great day out even better.

Saturday 5 August adult membership: £55

Saturday 5 August child (12 and under) membership: £27.50

Sunday 6 August adult membership : £55

Sunday 6 August child (12 and under) membership : £27.50

Picnic View parking

A limited number of visitors will be able to park and enjoy a tailgate picnic in the Gatcombe Park bowl, looking over the folly and lake, so you can watch the cross-country action from the comfort of your picnic.

Park View Picnic parking must be booked in advance. Park View Picnic prices do not include admission; admission tickets need to be purchased in addition to the Picnic Pitch for all occupants of the car who are aged 12 years and older.

Saturday 5 August: Sold out

Sunday 6 August: Sold out

Camping

Caravans, motorhomes, horseboxes and tents will be able to park up at Gatcombe from Thursday 3 August.

Caravan season pass: £195 (this includes your pitch and two campsite/season admission wristbands (Friday– Sunday)).

Caravan with Festival Pavilion membership: £305 (this includes your pitch, two campsite/season admission wristbands (Friday– Sunday) and two Festival Pavilion memberships (Saturday–Sunday)).

Electric hook-up: £102

Things you need to know

Gates open: 8am–6pm.
General admission for children 12 years and under free – no ticket required.
Dogs on leads welcome.

Buy tickets now

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Planning a trip to Gatcombe? Here are some places to stay…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Piggy March: ‘Horses for courses’ – why Gatcombe is an ‘acquired taste’ for riders

Piggy March — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:50:23 +0000

Piggy March, Badminton victor and the winner of six senior championship medals, on competing in the heat at Hartpury, why Gatcombe isn’t for everyone, and Britain’s dressage stars

HARTPURY was incredible, so a big well done to the team there. It’s an event that’s changed massively from 10 years ago and the organisers deserve a slot to run a future senior championship if that’s their ambition.

The effort put into the ground was the obvious positive – the going was exceptional, not just good “for this time of year” or “under the circumstances”.

I only rode the four-star track and it provided a great pre-Burghley run. My only criticism was a few too many drops, but with the ground as good as it was, it wasn’t a big problem.

In terms of coping with the extreme temperatures, the permanent stables at Hartpury are big and airy and the team made every effort to mitigate the conditions. The courses were shortened and finished under the trees with misting fans, a clever idea which worked well. I don’t believe there were any nasty incidents of horses – or people – suffering. It was a well thought out, happy, safe event.

It was great for Vanir Kamira to score a good win in the four-star short as we aim for Burghley Horse Trials. She’s an evergreen little soldier and I’m very proud of her. She’s been such a servant for my career and a family horse for her owners the Dickens, who’ve had so much enjoyment with her.

She’s 17 now and I don’t know how many more days like that we’ll have – we’re grateful for every event with her and every run is a bonus. She owes us nothing and we’ll carry on for as long as she keeps enjoying the sport as much as she always has.

An acquired taste

It’s a shame the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe had such low entries. It’s an amazing spectacle for the sport.

I do think the venue is a very personal, acquired taste for riders. I didn’t compete there this year, but have in the past. I’m definitely not one who’s afraid to ride round an event where the cross-country is the most influential phase; I’d encourage those sorts of venues.

But there are “horses for courses” and to be competitive at Gatcombe, horses do have to run fast on the camber, which is hard on them physically. It won’t suit every horse or every programme and different riders get the “feel good” factor from different places.

The riders I’ve spoken to said the ground this year was as good as it’s ever been and I hope the effort the organisers put into watering and so on will be repaid with more starters in the future.

I spent many years sitting in the bowl watching the good riders galloping around trying to win the British open when I was a kid, and it would be nice to see the event having that stature again.

Spine-tingling Lottie Fry

Well done to the British dressage superstars at their World Championships. Lottie Fry’s freestyle on Glamourdale was absolutely spine-tingling.

The development of British dressage has undoubtedly been headed by the incredible horseman that is Carl Hester. His protégée Charlotte Dujardin is an unbelievable freak of a talent, producing another younger horse to perform again, this time in Imhotep. And now we have Lottie coming up as a new face to take things to the next level.

It makes you proud to be British to see our team riding with such horsemanship and elegant harmony, even if you’re not a horse lover or a dressage lover. Our showjumpers and para dressage riders came home with medals too, so Herning was an all-round success story.

The eventing World Championships is just a few weeks away. The British squad looks very strong and must start as the favourites – it’s a solid group, with the horsepower and temperament to deliver, and while there’s a long way to go, I’d hope that with luck on their side, they can bring home the gold.

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 25 August

Andrew Nicholson: Gatcombe is a major learning opportunity that shouldn’t be skipped

Andrew Nicholson — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 10:45:37 +0000

Five-time Burghley winner Andrew Nicholson wonders why more younger riders don’t attend the Festival of British Eventing

WHY are so many of our supposedly ambitious, up-and-coming riders avoiding the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe? I imagine they might say they expected the ground to be hard, that they don’t like the terrain… They need to think again.

In all the years I was riding there, I thought that when it was dry, the going was some of the better ground that we have in those conditions, because it is old turf. The couple of fields in which the turf was newer are no longer used.

Sure enough, when I was there last weekend, I thought what the organisers had done with the ground was very good, and when I looked at it after the horses had run on it, you could see their hoofprints very nicely, even in the cross-country warm-up area. Yet the main championship classes had far fewer competitors than they deserved.

I understand that not everyone will have a horse for the open championship, but what about the novice and intermediate championships? All of my best horses would have competed in a championship class at Gatcombe at least once in their career; they might not have won them, but it was a major part of their learning – and mine.

There are a bunch of riders who I feel should have been there to gain experience, for themselves and for their horses, from riding round Gatcombe’s undulating courses in front of a good crowd. They’d have learnt more there than at half a dozen other events put together.

I remember the first time I rode there, on a horse called Spit-Teak in 1983. I was seventh, and I felt like I’d made it in life! And my owners always loved being there. Surely owners haven’t changed, so it must be the riders. And it’s interesting that a first prize of £10,000 in the open – with good money down the line – isn’t an incentive, either.

Ideal Burghley prep

I’M surprised more of the Burghley entries don’t use Gatcombe as a prep. If Pippa Funnell is doing so, isn’t that a bit of a clue? They don’t have to go flat out and try to win it, necessarily, but there are obvious comparisons between the hilly cross-country courses, and showjumping in Gatcombe’s main arena is ideal practice for Burghley, too.

It was certainly where my Burghley horses had their apprenticeship and later their preparation. Mr Smiffy, who won Burghley in 2000 and was second in 2001, always had his final prep run at Gatcombe.

It wasn’t necessarily that much fun and quite hard work for both of us, as he would be pretty wound up and would pull like a train going to the downhill fences, but when we got to Burghley, things felt much easier as a result and off he’d go, inside the time.

It’s disappointing that some – not all, but too many – of the younger set of riders aren’t supporting our national championships, which draws a great crowd and would teach them so much that they really need to absorb if they are going to get to the top of the sport.

Parental nerves

I WAS at Hartpury for the junior and young rider Europeans, and I thought the ground was unbelievably good and that Eric Winter’s cross-country tracks were excellent – up to height and technical enough without being over the top for the age groups.

It was fun to observe the individual gold and silver medallists – Mathies Rüder and Isabelle Cook – being watched by their parents, German rider Kai Rüder and Tina Cook. Both are pretty cool customers, but they were fairly nervy for once – even though the parental advice was of the sensible, “just go quietly” sort, neither could help the continuous glances at their watches… It made me smile. Once a competitor, always a competitor.

● Are you a competitive parent? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com to share your stories

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 18 August

The Horse & Hound Podcast 115: World Dressage Championships & Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe review

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 05:45:08 +0000

Our 115th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast features our full review of the team competition at the World Dressage Championships, where the British team won a brilliant silver medal and Lottie Fry won an incredible individual gold in the grand prix special aboard Glamourdale. As this podcast was recorded prior to the freestyle, we will review that in full on next week‘s episode. H&H’s Polly Bryan, who is out in Herning, where the championships are taking place, and H&H‘s Lucy Elder, who has been covering the event from the UK, share their thoughts on the amazing achievements of the British team so far. Then H&H’s Martha Terry and Gemma Redrup, who were both reporting from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe last week, ably assisted by their colleagues Pippa Roome who was covering the event remotely, give the full lowdown on all the action from the Gloucestershire event. We hope you will enjoy listening.

Episode 115 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service, which is available every Thursday morning for our H&H digital subscribers, is now live.

Each episode is available for all H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app 24hrs after its early release to our H&H digital subscribers. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode. This will allow more listeners to make The Horse & Hound Podcast an essential part of their week on Friday morning.

View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

“Lottie came in and absolutely blew it out of the water. Considering this was a Danish crowd, they went wild for her” – H&H’s Polly Bryan

Then H&H’s Martha Terry and Gemma Redrup, who were both reporting from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe last week, ably assisted by their colleagues Pippa Roome who was covering the event remotely, give the full lowdown on all the action from the Gloucestershire event.

“Tim was delighted and Tim‘s ride aboard Vitali was very much him trying to gear this horse up for a crack at Burghley next month” – H&H’s Gemma Redrup

We would love to hear your feedback on our new podcast series, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 115

Listen now to other recent episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast…

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 113: Lottie Fry | Herning World Championships preview | Festival of Hunting review

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 112: Hickstead Derby review with Shane Breen, plus Royal International preview

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 111: Gareth Hughes | Hartpury dressage | Hoof cracks | News round-up

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Mark Phillips: ‘Riders must be able to react to what’s happening during cross-country’

Mark Phillips — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:28:53 +0000

Festival of British Eventing course designer Mark Phillips on where riders go wrong in modern cross-country riding

I come up for air this week with the Festival of British Eventing behind us and also – unbelievably in the second week of August – harvest behind us too, such has been the heat and lack of rain this summer.

This week I move on to set new courses at Kelsall Hill and then join Derek di Grazia at Burghley to help put the final touches to his course there.

At Gatcombe, we ran two of the British Eventing aerovators from Thursday onwards and for the first time my son Peter, as the event director, decided to take the massive step of adding water out of the “mains” supply. They did the same thing at Jardy using city water in July, but this of course comes with a price tag. Such are the demands of the modern riders and owners on organisers.

I believe that everyone needs to make the most of being able to do this, even those with access to rivers, reservoirs, canals and so on, as water is increasingly becoming a valuable commodity. I hear the Government is already thinking of banning water extraction for all sporting events, including golf and racing.

In the end, competitors were happy with the footing and, as often previously at Gatcombe, we heard, “The going is much better than we expected.” It even got the thumbs up from Mark Lucey, with his machine that measures the hardness or softness of the ground. It was, therefore, disappointing only to have 20-odd runners in the open and intermediate championships.

Going to plan B

There were a couple of turns I didn’t like on the intermediate championship track, but otherwise the courses were pretty straightforward.

The terrain at Gatcombe is different from most venues, so competitors have to ride from start to finish, whereas on the more normal “flat tracks”, riders can cruise between the fences. The terrain also makes the time a critical factor.

At most combinations, I deliberately offered a forward distance or the opportunity to bend a little more for an extra stride or two. The latter not only takes more time, but is obviously more tiring for the horse as they have to get up to speed again after the fence. Sadly, the vast majority of riders opted to go to the hand and add!

Hugh Thomas reminded me at the weekend of something Noel Palmer, an eventing diehard, said many years ago: “The more you lower the standard, the less people will ride!”

It made me think how much more difficult the dressage test and showjumping tracks are today compared to yesteryear and how proficient most riders now are in these two tests. Sadly, we have not been allowed to follow suit with the cross-country – the fence dimensions and speeds have not changed in over 50 years. Yes, there are more skinnies, but is that all that cross-country is about in the modern sport?

Too many people walk cross-country courses and are counting strides instead of simply riding the horse underneath them. All combinations are related to how you jump the first element – if you have a forward “shot” in, you have one distance; if you get planted at the first element, you get another.

It’s common sense, but we are seeing fewer and fewer people with the ability to go to plan B when required. We’ve seen some appalling falls this summer as a result of riders not reacting to their circumstance.

I’m involved in a lot of work to try to reduce the risks of riding across the country, but if riders don’t react, I’m not sure how we prevent serious accidents, because if you keep trying, eventually you will get unlucky.

The Festival was something of a Townend and McEwen benefit as they shared the lion’s share of the prize money in all the championships, with only the genius of Tim Price with Vitali spoiling their party in the open.

Let’s hope that next year, with a more normal qualifying period, we will see more of our younger stars at this unique venue with its very special atmosphere and the experience it offers their horses.

• Should sporting events be allowed to use water on the ground? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com to let us know your thoughts

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 11 August

An Olympic ride franks his class, a tiny grassroots champion and the battle of two racehorses – find out what happened on the final day at Gatcombe

Martha Terry — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:57:13 +0000

Four more champions were crowned at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (Sunday, 7 August) with a Kiwi topping the British Open. So, who featured in the Gatcombe Horse Trials results?

Tim Price took today’s headline class, the Magic Millions British open championship, riding his Tokyo mount Vitali.

Find out Tim’s view on why the optimum time is so hard to achieve at Gatcombe

As Tim is a New Zealander, the national title went to runner-up Oliver Townend on Dreamliner, one of his three rides in this championship

Learn what Oliver and other placed riders had to say

Bur first, there was a shake-up in the dressage order, with Pippa Funnell moving up to take the lead after showjumping clear

What made the track so clever, according to Pippa?

Feisty 15.1hh Iwan landed the Corinthian Cup thanks to impeccable jumping displays

Find out from his rider Amy Barlow why she persevered with Iwan despite multiple involuntary dismounts

A classy ex-racehorse moved up in the fourth and final phase of the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation championship for retrained racehorses to take the title

Learn what winner Andrew Downes had to say about his talented winner’s second career

There were also two open novice sections on this final day of the festival, won by Nicholas Lucey (Ta Kalo Arlo) and Caroline Martin (Galway Bay Redfield HSH Conner). That completes the Sunday round-up of the Gatcombe Horse Trials results.

Yesterday, the Dodson & Horrell British Novice and Evelyn Partners Intermediate Championships were decided, with Oliver Townend and Tom McEwen running out respective winners.

Top rider takes Gatcombe open title for the first time while Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell rue low entries

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:06:25 +0000

Tim Price took his first Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship title at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (7 August). Riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, Tim cruised around the Captain Mark Phillips-designed cross-country track, clocking just four time-faults.

New Zealander Tim led the dressage on a score of 23, but three time-faults in the showjumping then dropped them to second prior to the cross-country. But two-phase leader Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On incurred 8.4 cross-country time-faults, which dropped them to eventual third in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship.

“I saw a few waiting distances and with everything being so busy and when the stride gets longer, things [distances] get a bit closer, so it was quite difficult to give him a smooth run everywhere,” said Tim afterwards. “But it was a good round and he came home very well.

“It’s always challenging when you’re going fast here and it’s always influential – the two corners at fence six were what caught some out today. But you just have to ride in a balance to make a lot of tight turns and then climb a few hills and come home with a healthy horse.”

Oliver Townend was crowned British National champion, as he was the highest-placed Brit, finishing second on Mark and Angela Chamberlayne’s Dreamliner.

Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship: riders’ thoughts on low entries

Entries into the Magic Millions-sponsored British open championship were low this year, with just 19 combinations starting the competition.

“I love it here – you learn a lot about your horses and they come on for being here,” explained Oliver Townend. “You learn exactly what you’ve got from a stamina point of view and I think it’s a huge part of my horses’ progression to come here every year.

“It’s a special and unique venue. You look at the amount of five-star winners who have been novice or intermediate champion, for example, Land Vision, ODT Mouse, Navigator, Seacookie, Tamarillo, it’s endless which horses came here as young horses and turned out to be superstars.”

Although the country has been shrouded in hot weather recently, the going was good at Gatcombe this weekend.

“It’s very safe ground, I know it’s difficult when the place looks like a desert, but you can see where the horses have been down the hill, and touch wood, the horses have pulled up very, very well,“ said Oliver. “I’m a big fan of this place – it’s a shame that a lot of riders aren’t supporting it, but I think that’s more fashion driven than statistically driven.

“I think there should be British young rider championships here. I feel like I leave this place, the horses come on for it and I ride better after I’ve been here because you have to sit on your backside and react. It’s good for the horses – William Fox-Pitt used to say it’s the only place you can actually put every horse in your yard that’s established at a level against their peers. And now that I’ve won the novice championship here this year, we know we have the best novice horse in the country.”

Pippa Funnell agreed with Oliver that it’s a shame more riders weren’t here to support the big class at Gatcombe.

“It’s just so sad, but in the old days, there used to be 50, 60, 70 starters. I think a lot of it is people like to protect their form – they don’t want to run risk with having 20 penalties and with the hills it’s quite a tough track stamina-wise,” she explained.

Classy Nugget seizes last-gasp victory to take retrained racehorse crown at Gatcombe

Martha Terry — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 14:40:50 +0000

Gold Nugget, a racehorse which failed to fire on the track in three runs, is excelling in his new career, landing Gatcombe Horse Trials’ retrained racehorse championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

“He’s just been a really good little fella,” said Andrew. “He’s a game horse who just wants to do his job.”

The format of this RoR/NTF-sponsored class is a regular horse trials of dressage, showjumping and cross-country at intermediate novice level, to give a top-10 which showjump again in reverse order for the title. It’s quite a demanding format for any horse to showjump twice, but perhaps particularly for an ex-racer who is naturally more predisposed to jump flat after going cross-country. Today (Sunday, 7 August), was the final showjumping round.

Gatcombe Horse Trials retrained racehorse championship: placings

Tom McEwen was bidding for his second championship of the weekend, having already taken the intermediate title, with his ride Magdalena Gut’s Dream Big leading throughout the first three phases on his dressage score of 31.1. However, Andrew Downes and Golden Nugget were breathing down their necks 0.6 of a penalty behind coming into the showjumping final. When “Nugget” jumped clear, the pressure was on and Dream Big lowered one rail to slip to second.

Hector Payne and Tom Dillinger were third, adding just 0.4 of a time-fault across country to their dressage of 35.6.

Nick and Jane Moss’s Gold Nugget finished last on two of his three racing runs, but switched to eventing at five with Andrew. He was already advanced by the age of seven, and is established now at four-star aged 12. But Andrew said that this didn’t mean today’s task was straightforward.

“He’s a thoroughbred, and so he can go in and jump a clear round at four-star, or he can have two down at novice,” he said.

It was due recompense for Andrew after suffering a broken cheekpiece during one of his rounds in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship yesterday (Saturday, 6 August) and being forced to pull up.

‘All I did was fall off him!’: former wild child puts best foot forward to take Gatcombe’s Corinthian Cup

Martha Terry — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 13:45:14 +0000

A feisty 15.1hh out-jumped his rivals to land the Gatcombe Horse Trials Corinthian Cup at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing, on his dressage mark. Iwan, ridden by Amy Barlow, scored 29.8 to lie close-up in fourth after dressage. When the trio ahead, led by Holly Allan and Ray Of Light W on 26.6, lowered rails, the eventual winners took the lead before the final-phase cross-country in this TopSpec national restricted novice championship for grassroots riders.

Amy, who events full-time, had hoped to get into the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship, but when hard ground curtailed her intermediate outings, she diverted to this class. She hopes that Iwan will be the horse to take her up the levels, but it was a rocky start.

“I bought him as an unbroken four-year-old for £2,000, and all I did was fall off,” she says. “He would spin and buck and everyone said, ‘why are you persevering when he’s so naughty? All you do is get concussion’. But I loved him – he’s my pet.

“He is so talented, he has all the jump in the world and he’s just a really cool little horse. I’m hoping he’ll now go up the grades easily. I just have to keep my weight down – he never grew into his big knees and feet!”

Gatcombe Horse Trials: Corinthian Cup placings

Ellie Healy, who rode at the European Pony Championships in 2018, filled both second and sixth spots in the Corinthian Cup. Her runner-up, Balladeer Just For Kicks, produced super jumping rounds to move up from 11th after dressage to finish on a clean sheet of 31.6.

It was tight at the top, with the third and fourth just 0.8 adrift. Will Crawley (Nadiva E) and Holly Allan both finished on 31.8, with Will sneaking into third by virtue of his faster cross-country time. Holly added a rail and 1.2 time-faults to her leading dressage, but was ecstatic about her result having not competed since the Badminton grassroots championship in May.

“I keep saying I’m too old for this!” said Holly, 49, who is a full-time “Pony Club mum with two kids and lots of ponies”. “I’ve been really busy this summer but with the kids’ ponies not my own. So I thought she would be really spooky, but as I was leading after the dressage I had to go for it.”

Holly bought Ray Of Light at the Verden auction and the mare has an embryo transfer foal, with Holly thinking of breeding her 12-year-old son’s future event horse.

“I thought if I don’t do it now, they won’t be ready – my son is already doing 90s,” she said.

Just 0.1 of a penalty behind in fifth was Victoria Gregg. She was second after dressage on the 18hh Langson Governor on 27.9, finishing eventual fifth after adding just four faults for a rail to their first-phase score.

‘It was a really clever course’: leaderboard shake up following Gatcombe open championship showjumping

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 13:39:21 +0000

Pippa Funnell has claimed the lead in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing ahead of the cross-country later today (7 August).

Riding Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s Billy Walk On, Pippa jumped an immaculate clear round to remain on their 24.4 dressage, which meant they moved up from second place after the first phase.

“It was a clever track because the time was tight but the distances were very waiting,“ explained Pippa after her round in the Magic Millions-sponsored class. “So you could try to ride for the time but at the end of the day you had to sit quiet because of the distances. So it was a really clever course because you had to land and really move through the turns to give yourself enough time to sit quiet.”

Pippa is also third on her own and Marek Sebestak’s Majas Hope having jumped a super clear round to remain on their 29.2 dressage.

New Zealand’s Tim Price has dropped from the top spot into second having jumped a clear round but incurring three time-faults aboard Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali.

“He is a good jumper, but isn’t always the best technician in the showjumping,” Tim explained after his round with the 12-year-old. “He loses concentration because he’s a very highly strung horse in his own way, so his mind is going everywhere often. If he loses concentration he loses his jump a little bit.

“I was very pleased with his round today. I kept him very calm and then he went in and he concentrated. Because I had a couple down at Luhmühlen and he’s hopefully going to Burghley, the theme of the round today was more important so that we can build on it for Burghley.”

Oliver Townend holds both fourth and fifth place with Lukas and Dreamliner respectively.

In total, just four combinations jumped clear inside the time allowed from the 19 starters in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship.

The cross-country will get underway at 3.10pm, with competitors running in reverse order of merit.

A tale of two men – and a broken bridle: six stories you need to read from Gatcombe today

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 17:23:42 +0000

The first 2022 winners were crowned at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing today (Saturday, 6 August) – and two British Olympic riders took a clean sweep of the placings on the British intermediate and novice championship podiums. So, who topped the Gatcombe Horse Trials results?

Tom McEwen took today’s headline class, the Evelyn Partners British intermediate championship, riding Luna Mist.

Where is Luna Mist headed next?

A new face, student Henrietta Ewell, made her mark by leading the intermediate championship after two phases on her own Zaino.

Find out what Henrietta has worked on to improve her showjumping

Tom’s fellow British Olympic team gold medallist Oliver Townend scored a one-two in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship.

What did Oliver say about his winner, Finley Du Loir?

Oliver led throughout the class, but there was plenty of movement in the rest of the leaderboard, with a Hungarian rider having a moment in the spotlight when she sat second after the first two phases.

Learn more about Noémi Doerfer and her ride Serengethi

One rider suffered a tack malfunction in this class…

What happened to Andrew Downes’ bridle as he was riding across country?

Tim Price holds the lead in the Magic Millions British open championship after dressage, riding his Tokyo Olympic horse Vitali.

Find out what Tim said and what pleased Pippa Funnell, who lies second and third, about her horses’ performances

The British open concludes with the showjumping and cross-country phases tomorrow, when the TopSpec Challenge for The Corinthian Cup and the Retraining of Racehorses/National Trainers Federation Retrained Racehorse Event Championship also wrap up – check back for more Gatcombe Horse Trials results on horseandhound.co.uk

Tim Price and Pippa Funnell vie for British open lead after Gatcombe dressage

Martha Terry — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 17:19:54 +0000

Tim Price steered his Olympic ride Vitali into the lead of the Gatcombe Horse Trials British open championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

They scored 23 (79.58%) to nudge Pippa Funnell into second, in the Magic Millions-sponsored class. Always smart in the first phase, this wasn’t quite a personal best for Vitali at international level – he posted 21.2 at Houghton in May.

“He’s a super athlete, but we’ve still got to get the full package,” said Tim, referring to the Contender gelding’s slightly inconsistent record showjumping. “Because his dressage is so smart, we’re going to be in a good position quite regularly and then we’ve got to find a way to hold on to it, but I believe in him. We just have to learn a bit more and bring it out of him. I think he’ll jump a lot of clear rounds in the future.”

Tim has been riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s 12-year-old for a year and a half and describes him as a “fabulous cross-country horse”.

“So hopefully we’ll jump round and have some fun. The ground’s good enough and I think it will be a great fitness and conditioning run ahead of Burghley Horse Trials as his second five-star.”

Gatcombe Horse Trials: Pippa Funnell in double contention

Pippa produced two excellent tests to take second and third spots, riding Billy Walk On and Majas Hope respectively. As best-placed Brit, she has put herself in line for the national title.

Billy Walk On confirmed his return to form after a lacklustre trip to Badminton Horse Trials – he has finished second at five-star but also twice retired across country at CCI5*. Today (6 August), he showed his wellbeing with a little buck in the extended canter, still posting a good score of 24.4.

“It was just him being happy,” said Pippa of the Walkinshaws’ 13-year-old. “That’s actually really nice from him because he lost a little bit of spark at Badminton. He wasn’t his normal self there from day one, and I don’t know what it was about. But I was happy enough with his test here – he had a little buck but I don’t mind that.”

Pippa was almost more pleased with third-placed Majas Hope’s performance, after scoring 29.2.

“It’s nice to do a good test on Hope because he has been my difficult one,” she said. “Not because he blows up but he finds dressage really difficult. Mentally he starts giving up on you, saying, ‘I find this hard,’ so you have to do things to make him have fun, and feel as though he’s not doing dressage. If you don’t do enough he’s too fresh, but you can’t drill him or he goes behind the leg.”

Pippa was encouraged that even at 15, the horse – owned by herself and Marek Sebastak – is still learning.

“Every time I do a test I try something different,” she said. “The difference today was that for the warm-up we just lunged him and then I cantered around off his back as if we were going cross-country. It worked really well – by his standard that was a good test. We missed one change because he was a bit too forward, but the highlight for me was that he didn’t drop behind the leg.”

McEwen and Townend press the dressage leaders at Gatcombe Horse Trials

Just one showjumping rail covers third to 13th ahead of showjumping tomorrow (Sunday, 7 August).

Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend continued their run of form at this Gloucestershire event to take fourth and fifth after their respective Evelyn Partners British Intermediate and Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship victories earlier in the day.

Tom filled fourth spot on Barbara Cooper’s Braveheart B on 29.6, while Oliver sits in fifth with the Chamberlaynes’ Dreamliner on 30.1. Helen Wilson and My Ernie round off the top six on a score of 30.6.

‘He opened his mouth and the bit fell out’: rider jumps half Gatcombe’s course with broken cheekpiece

Martha Terry — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 14:24:59 +0000

Andrew Downes conjured a masterful display to ride half the course at Gatcombe Horse Trials with a broken bridle at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

He was competing across country on his first horse in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championship, Cooley Foxtrot, when the horse’s cheekpiece snapped at fence three. He continued right up to the four-part Biowave water combination at 12, where the bit dropped out of his mouth and Andrew pulled up.

“I felt it pop after fence three – the cheekpiece just broke,” said Andrew. “I thought I should pull up immediately but it actually felt all right. So I thought I’d do one jump and once I’d cleared fence four and five, it was fine, so I decided I may as well carry on. It was like he was holding on to it!”

“It didn’t feel perfectly normal – a bit wobbly – but the horse is very straight, so it wasn’t terrifying and he jumped absolutely fine,” Andrew added. “To be honest I forgot all about it for the next few fences until the bit dropped out of his mouth at the water, and then I did have to pull up. He must have opened his mouth and it fell out.”

It’s surprising the bit didn’t fall out earlier given how much ground the horse covered without opening his mouth.

“It’s a sort of hackamore combination, so there was nothing really keeping it in place, he just kept his mouth shut!” said Andrew after his Gatcombe Horse Trials broken bridle experience.

The eight-year-old Cooley Foxtrot, owned by his rider and Jane Moss, had been jumping beautifully until the round unravelled in the water, but Andrew had better luck with his second ride, Ringfort Reve Du Moulin, also owned by Jane. The seven-year-old jumped clear with 15.2 time-faults to complete.

Oliver Townend scores a one-two in Gatcombe British novice on pair of promising seven-year-olds

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 13:11:51 +0000

Oliver Townend scored a one-two in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing this afternoon.

The British Olympic gold medallist won the class on Sir John Peace’s Finley Du Loir, who held his two-phase lead despite 3.6 time-faults across country, and finished second on Chris Gould’s Samiro Cruze MC, who made the time.

Speaking about the seven-year-old winner Finley Du Loir, Oliver said: “I said he was green [after the showjumping], so that was a big bonus. He’s a high-class horse – we’ve only had him this year but he’s been high-class all the way through. He’s very green, at times a little bit naughty, but if all he did was dressage he could be a very good dressage horse, if all he did was showjump he could become a jumper. He is very, very good.

“He’s new to the sport but he was quick enough today to win the novice championships and his form all the way through is very good. He’s just learning the ropes on the cross-country so with him being careful sometimes he goes a little bit high, but at the same time it’s all looking very positive.”

Tom McEwen’s 3.2 time-faults on Falaise De Riverland, owned by Magdalena Gut, Vicky Bates and David Myers, meant he moved up one spot from fourth after showjumping to finish third.

“She was super. I wouldn’t say it was an unlucky rail in the showjumping, but it’s a shame to have the rail because she jumped a lovely round,” said Tom. “This was a bit of a test to see for the future to see if she’d dig in, if she’d enjoy it and she absolutely loved it. She got a little bit tired, but at no point did she should lose her jump. She’ll have learnt an awful lot.”

As usual at Gatcombe, the time proved tight in this class. Only five pairs made the 5min 16sec target over Mark Phillips’ Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship course.

Hungarian rider Noémi Doerfer was second going into the final phase with her own Serengethi, but the Festival of British Eventing debutante had 9.6 time-faults to drop out of the top placings.

Talented mare mimics other Tom McEwen stars by taking Gatcombe British intermediate title

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:05:03 +0000

Tom McEwen won his third Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship in a row this morning at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

The British double Olympic medallist was second after dressage and showjumping on Luna Mist and headed out early onto the cross-country in the Evelyn Partners-sponsored class. He was initially shown on the scoreboard as having been penalised for being too far under the 5min 53sec optimum time, but his time was then amended to 5min 50sec, giving him a penalty-free round.

“I’d only just scraped in inside the time – as everyone knows, no one makes the time here, so it would have been a bit freaky if I’d been too fast,” said Tom.

Of Martin Belsham’s nine-year-old mare Luna Mist, Tom said: “She had a lovely showjumping round and then was faultless across country. She cruised really well and even cantered all the way up the hill home. She’s made it feel relatively simple – she’s got huge amount of potential and a very exciting future.”

Luna Mist was ridden by Italy’s Paulo Torlonia, who is based in the yard next to Tom’s at Gatcombe, last year.

“He did a great job and she’s just really elevated this year and been really good. Next for her is the four-star long at Blair so there’s no better way to do fitness than round the Gatcombe hills,” said Tom.

The rider also paid tribute to the Gatcombe team for their work in producing good ground during this dry summer.

“If you walk from the start to fence one or from one to two, which are the only bits I’ve really been slow enough to see a footprint, you can see such a clear print and the horses just feel super comfortable the whole way around,” said Tom, who is based elsewhere on the Gatcombe estate and said there had been some rain earlier this week, which has also helped the going.

Tom won this class in 2019 on Dreamaway II, who has since been placed at four-star, and in 2018 on CHF Cooliser, who is now competing at five-star and was the runner-up at Pau Horse Trials last year.

The leaders after two phases, student Henrietta Ewell and her own Zaino, had 20 penalties at the Evelyn Partners Corners at 6abc, when Zaino seemed not to read the initial question of an angled hedge and ran along it. They retired later on Mark Phillips’ course.

There were only three clears in the time – for Tom, runner-up Oliver Townend, and eighth-placed Josie Proctor on Imogen Coughlan’s Bee Naround. Oliver was second riding John Peace and Charlotte Cole’s Crazy Du Loir, who moved up from third after showjumping, and also took third on Sir John Peace’s Caunton First Class, whose two time-faults allowed him to rise from sixth going into the last phase.

Georgie Campbell landed fourth on Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest, New Zealand’s Tim Price was fifth on Viscount Viktor (owned by Barbara Cooper, Ginny Rusher and Glynn Norcutt) and Daisy Berkeley finished sixth on Diese Du Figuier, owned by his rider, her mother Caroline Dick, Camilla Case, Martha Ivory and Penelope Makins.

Australia’s Bill Levett was fourth after showjumping in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship on his wife Jenny’s RNH Tom Tom R, but was eliminated after cross-country for jumping the wrong fence at number nine, the TopSpec Log Pile.

Oliver Townend leads British novice championship after jumping on ‘top class but green as grass’ seven-year-old

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:19:36 +0000

Oliver Townend holds pole position in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing heading into the final cross-country phase.

The British Olympic gold medallist took an early lead with Finley Du Loir on a dressage score of 22.4 and then showjumped clear in the Dodson & Horrell-sponsored class. Oliver’s leading ride is a French-bred seven-year-old, by Quartz Du Chanu, owned by Sir John Peace.

“He’s top, top class, but he’s green as grass – he’s probably the greenest horse in the field by a country mile,” said Oliver. “He only started his eventing campaign this year. He’s never seen people, he’s never seen crowds, he’s only seen one intermediate. He’s come here for the experience and whatever comes after that will be a big bonus.”

In his seven runs this year with Oliver, Finley Du Loir has had three wins, two in novices and one in the CCI2*-S at Floors Castle.

Noémi Doerfer, 23, also showjumped clear to move up from third after dressage to second on her own 10-year-old Serengethi.

“He was really good yesterday, really good today – so now it’s fingers crossed we can do the same out on the cross-country,” said Noémi, who is half German, half Hungarian and rides for Hungary.

Serengethi is dressage-bred by Sir Donnerhall and Noémi also started out in that discipline.

“I bought him as a three-year-old and then after a year or so I decided I quite liked jumping and eventing so I started doing that,” said the rider, who moved to Britain from Germany three years ago. “We started eventing together and did everything from 90 upwards, getting better and better. I’m very happy to have him.”

Tom McEwen and Falaise De Riverland, owned by Magdalena Gut, Vicky Bates and David Myers, were second after dressage on a score of 23.1, but dropped down to fourth after having the green and white oxer at fence four down. The same fence also put paid to a clear for Coral Keen, fourth after dressage on her own and Ginnie Wellings’ Impuls V, so she has slipped to seventh ahead of the cross-country in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British novice championship.

Student leads British intermediate championship after showjumping shakes up the order

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 08:18:24 +0000

A 20-year-old student holds the lead in the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship after the showjumping phase this morning (6 August), at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing.

It was all change at the top of the Evelyn Partners-sponsored class in the second phase of the competition, over a challenging track designed by Mark McGowan.

Oliver Townend led the dressage on Charlotte Cole and Sir John Peace’s 10-year-old mare Crazy Du Loir, who is already a double three-star winner this season. She punched in a score of 26.3 in the first phase, but four faults at the bogey fence, the rustic and turquoise vertical into the treble, dropped her to third.

Oliver was also second after dressage on John Peace’s Caunton First Class, who knocked the parallel at fence two, another rustic and turqoise fence. Caunton First Class now holds sixth place.

Meanwhile Exeter University accountancy and business student Henrietta Ewell, 20, jumped a super clear on her own eight-year-old Zaino to move up from fourth after dressage to take the top spot.

“I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and he’s half Andalusian,” said Henrietta. “We’ve worked really hard his dressage with Alex Harrison, so I was very pleased to get that mark.

“We’ve been out jumping Foxhunters and some bigger tracks, a few 1.25m opens, but I’d never actually jumped a clear at advanced before.”

Work on preventing Zaino running down distances was key to Henrietta’s clear today and the pair will now be looking to restore confidence across country after a fall in the CCI4*-S at Houghton.

There were only six showjumping clears inside the time in the class. A clear from Tom McEwen and Martin Belsham’s Luna Mist elevated them from fifth after dressage to second going into the cross-country, while fault-free rounds from Australia’s Bill Levett (RNH Tom Tom R) and Ireland’s Aoife Clark (Sportsfield Freelance) mean they hold fourth and fifth places at this stage.

Ibble Watson was third after dressage on her own Aristoteles S Z on 28.3, but unsurprisingly withdrew before the jumping phases of the Gatcombe Horse Trials British intermediate championship as the pair were members of the gold medal-winning team at the young rider European Championships last week.

If you’re planning a trip to the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, you need to read this first…

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 15:32:48 +0000

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing (5-7 August 2022), and either haven’t visited before or have forgotten what delights are on offer, here is our complete guide to what should be on your Gatcombe Horse Trials’ things to-do list.

Watch top-class eventing action

You can look forward to a feast of eventing action at the Festival of British Eventing. Classes range from the Corinthian Cup, which is a restricted amateur novice championship, all the way up to the British Open Championship, which attracts world-class horses and riders each year. In addition, there will be the intermediate and novice championships, plus there will be the RoR/NTF retrained event horse championship, where you can see horses who have either raced on the Flat or over fences in the past now thriving in their new careers.

Go shopping!

You will be able to shop until you drop at the Festival of British Eventing, with over 100 trade stands to get stuck into. Whether you are in the market for something to buy your horse or yourself, there will be plenty to choose from.

Don’t miss the Shetland pony Grand National

This spectacle never ceases to amaze as tiny ponies go head-to-head with their young jockeys on board. The racing is fast and furious, and the louder the audience, the faster the ponies go, so pick your favourite and cheer them home.

See potential stars of the future in action

The Festival of British Eventing will also be holding a qualifying round for the four- and five-year-old Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse class, which has its final at the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials in September. This series is popular among riders looking to introduce their young horses to the atmosphere of big events and it is as the shop window for future stars of the sport. The horses are judged on four categories; dressage, showjumping, conformation, and quality and suitability and potential.

Give the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds a cheer

This pack of hounds are kennelled at Badminton House and are out four days a week from November to March (and even more during Autumn hunting from late August). Under the mastership of the Duke of Beaufort and Matthew Ramsden, and kennel huntsman Nick Hopkins, they are a popular and traditional part of the countryside and perform a vital service for farmers, so make sure you show them your support.

Check out Ye Olde Redtail falconry display

There is so much on the Gatcombe Horse Trials things to-do list, but Ye Olde Redtail Falconry display team will definitely be worth watching. They have been giving professional falconry displays for more than 30 years and you will be able to catch them at this year’s Festival of British Eventing to witness their skills in action.

Planning a trip to Gatcombe? Here are some places to stay…

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 13:44:51 +0000

Gatcombe Park, which is the country residence of Princess Anne in Gloucestershire, hosts The Festival of British Eventing (5–7 August 2022). Finding hotels near Gatcombe Park will help you make the most of your visit to the venue, whether you’re there to spectate, support or compete.

We’ve included a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels near Gatcombe Park, but guesthouses, B&Bs and holiday lets, too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Distances are calculated in driving distance to the estate (GL6 9AT).

Hotels near Gatcombe Park
Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Gatcombe Park
Holiday lets and apartments near Gatcombe Park

Hotels near Gatcombe Park

The Ragged Cot, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Amberley Inn, Amberley

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Burleigh Court Hotel, Burleigh

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.2 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Egypt Mill Hotel, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Wild Garlic Rooms, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Premier Inn Stroud

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.9 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at premierinn.com

Travelodge Stonehouse

Distance to Gatcombe: 9.3 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at travelodge.co.uk

Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Gatcombe Park

The Queen Matilda Country Inn, Avening

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.8 miles | Type: Inn | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at booking.com

The Old Lodge, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.7 miles | Type: Inn | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Highview B&B, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.8 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at booking.com

Vineyard Barn, South Woodchester

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.2 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

The Light House, Tetbury

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.7 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at booking.com

Oak House No.1, Tetbury

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.7 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Holiday lets and apartments near Gatcombe Park

Little Culver, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.4 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

No 35 West End, Minchinhampton

Distance to Gatcombe: 1.4 miles | Type: 1-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Hyde Tyning Cottage, Stroud

Distance to Gatcombe: 6.6 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at booking.com

Folly Cottage, Avening

Distance to Gatcombe: 2 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Coach House, Box

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.1 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Bluebell Cottage, Box

Distance to Gatcombe: 2.6 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Studio at No.6, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.1 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Ridings Farm, France Lynch

Distance to Gatcombe: 6.2 miles | Type: 5-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Fountain Street Apartments, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.3 miles | Type: 2-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Railway Cottages, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Weavers Cottage, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Trade Digs, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Penrith Lodge, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Garden House, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: 6-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Stone Cottages, Nailsworth

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.6 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Combe Cottage, Brimscombe

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.4 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Cotswold Stone Cottage, Brownshill

Distance to Gatcombe: 5.1 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Springfield Coach House, Chalford

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.1 miles | Type: 4-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

The Garden Cottage, Amberley

Distance to Gatcombe: 3.5 miles | Type: 1-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

October Cottage, Chalford

Distance to Gatcombe: 4.7 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Princess Anne welcomes grassroots eventers to compete at Gatcombe

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 10:49:34 +0000

The Princess Royal said she is delighted to be able to welcome grassroots eventers to her home, Gatcombe Park, for the final of a new unaffiliated eventing series.

The 2021 Cotswold Cup Championships will run at Gatcombe on 11 and 12 September, in what organisers describe as an “exciting, never seen before opportunity”. Each winner, of classes from 80 to 100cm, will take home a minimum of £1,000 in prize money.

This is the first unaffiliated event to be held at the home of the princess and Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, where the Festival of British Eventing has run since 1984.

“I am delighted that there will be horse trials over this part of the estate again, and especially to support this enterprising new grassroots competition,” the princess said.

“I hope competitors will be inspired by the setting and that it will give them something fun and challenging to aim at as sport gets going again after lockdown.”

The Cotswold Cup is a new series for this year, comprising a number of “big occasion” events across the area, and a “thrilling and prestigious championship with big money prizes”.

The main championships run from 80 to 100cm, with an under-18s’ section in each class. The youth winners will be awarded training bursaries with top eventers Laura Collett, Harry Meade and Tom McEwen, who have all signed up to train the up-and-coming riders.

Riders will accrue points throughout the series to qualify for the finals.

A 70cm class has since been added, with a separate championships at Waverton House (2) in July.

Continues below…

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

The H&H interview: The Princess Royal

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

£10,000 prize pot on offer in new unaffiliated eventing series

“Unaffiliated eventing is about to become very exciting and we cannot wait to welcome you to the series”

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

Dates and venues:

15-16 May: Waverton House, Sezincote, Gloucestershire

28-30 May: Oxstalls, Stroud, Gloucestershire

19-20 June: Great Tew, Banbury, Oxfordshire

3-4 July: Oxstalls, Stroud, Gloucestershire

17-18 July: Barbury Castle, Marlborough, Wiltshire

24-25 July: Waverton House, Sezincote, Gloucestershire

21-22 August: Crown Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire

11-12 September: Gatcombe Park championships

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe cancelled: plans to run later in 2020 also shelved

Lucy Elder — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 11:36:40 +0000

The Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe has been cancelled.

Event director Peter Phillips said the event, which was due to take place on 8-9 August, cannot go ahead this year owing to “Covid-19 restrictions and other related issues”.

Plans for an extended competition later in the year have also been shelved.

Mr Phillips thanked “everyone for their cooperation and understanding in bearing with us in what has been a challenging and uncertain time for all”.

“We were simply not able to guarantee the medical cover and other key resources to ensure the safety of our competitors, volunteers, officials and estate staff which is paramount to all of us at the festival,” he said.

“It was hoped that we could plan a five-day competition later in the year. But following lengthy discussions with British Eventing, there was still uncertainty regarding the latter part of the fixtures calendar at the time this decision had to be made.

“There was too great a risk for us that not enough would have changed in the world to plan an alternative competition.”

Article continues below…

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Refunds are available on request, otherwise tickets for this year’s event will be rolled over to 2021.

Qualifications for the 2020 novice restricted, intermediate and open British Eventing Championships will be carried over to the 2021 festival.

Combinations qualified for 2020 novice regional finals will instead be able to compete in these next year.

All qualifications being carried over will be subject to eligibility as per the rulebook.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors and partners in the festival for their continuing support and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing 6 – 8 August 2021 (subject to confirmation from British Eventing),” said Mr Phillips.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

Wallace The Great to follow in Valegro’s footsteps at Festival of British Eventing

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 13:03:28 +0000

When you’re looking for someone to do a dressage demonstration at one of the top dates in the British Eventing calendar, and you’ve got Valegro’s boots to fill, who do you go for?

For the organisers of the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe this weekend, it was an obvious choice.

Newly-registered British Dressage super-mule Wallace The Great will continue his quest for long-eared world domination by strutting his stuff in front of thousands of people.

Rider Christie Mclean and Wallace were invited by festival organisers to give the demonstration – which last year featured retired world-beater Valegro with Charlotte Dujardin – on Saturday and Sunday, 4 and 5 August.

“When I was invited, they told me that last year it was Valegro and this year it’s Wallace; I can’t believe it!” Christie told H&H.

“We’ll be part of the dressage demo; there will be another horse in the arena and I think we’ll just be asked to walk, trot and canter – then they want us to do a meet and greet afterwards so people can get selfies with Wallace. It’s the ears, you can’t resist them!”

Christie said she has been told to expect a crowd of thousands.

“I’ve never ridden him on grass, so I’ll be making some extra effort to school him on grass beforehand, and make sure I’ve got full control, and that he’s not going to disappear with me or put his head down to eat!” she added.

Christie is still almost unable to believe Wallace’s rise to fame, from being banned from British Dressage (BD) competition in June, to national and global media superstar, to winning his first BD class last month.

“I don’t know when or where or if it’s all going to end,” she said, “But I’m really excited. He’s so much fun to ride.

“I was jumping about when I found out, saying ‘Oh my god, I’m going to Gatcombe’; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and even my parents are coming from Weymouth to watch because they know they’ll never see this again.”

Christie added that the demo will prove dressage is accessible.

“It’s good that we’re at the bottom level,” she said. “My lower leg doesn’t stay in one place and I haven’t got the best core, but people will be able to see that it’s not all prancy ponies, British Dressage is also for everyday people.

“And alongside the novelty of Wallace, I hope it will show that you don’t have to have the physique of a grand prix combination; mums and people who work in offices and don’t have access to the gym can do it too.”

Continues below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Mules ARE allowed to compete after British Dressage U-turn: #JusticeForWallace

BD has released a statement this morning saying Wallace The Great and ‘his fellow mules’ may enter affiliated competitions

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Carl Hester backs Wallace The Great’s dressage career

‘I started riding on a donkey so I’m glad BD has taken this great opportunity’

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘He’s just got enormous ears’: Rider’s wish to compete her dressage mule quashed

The rider had hoped to take part in team quest affiliated competition with Wallace The Great

Event director Peter Phillips said: “We are delighted that Wallace The Great and Christie will be taking part in the dressage display, here at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing this weekend.

“We are so impressed with their achievements this year and we are very much looking forward to watching Wallace show off his moves in the main arena.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

11 reasons we enjoyed the Festival of British Eventing as much as this dog…

Madeleine Silver — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:22:26 +0000

Whoever was in charge of putting together the schedule for this year's Festival of British Eventing had a tough gig. The promise of top class eventing might have pulled in the punters, but once they'd arrived at Gatcombe Park, it was a whirlwind of Pony Club showjumping, the Shetland Grand National and dog agility. We're tired just thinking about the weekend...

Don't miss the full report from The Festival of British Eventing in this week's issue of Horse & Hound magazine (10 August 2017)

Gemma Tattersall crowned British Open champion at Gatcombe

Catherine Austen — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 16:08:10 +0000

Gemma Tattersall is the new British Open champion – and extended her lead at the top of the Event Rider Masters series leaderboard – after winning the CIC3* at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe aboard Arctic Soul.

It came down to cross-country speed, and the 14-year-old ex-racehorse Arctic Soul has to be one of the fastest event horses in the world. He raced round Gatcombe’s tight contours for just 1.2 time-faults and leapt from 11th after showjumping – where he knocked down two fences – to take the prestigious title and the £16,000 Event Rider Masters winner’s cheque.

“That horse is simply mental!” said Gemma after cross-country. “He’s so fast and brave. I dared myself at every fence and he answered every question, as normal. He really deserves this win.”

Gemma, who won the first leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters series at Chatsworth, is now 13 points ahead of Sarah Cohen – fifth here on Treason – in the series. Sir Mark Todd, who took fourth at Gatcombe aboard Kiltubrid Rhapsody, is in third spot in the table.

Continued below…

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Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal achieved his best Gatcombe result with second on Balham Mist. The pair had risen from 17th after dressage to seventh with one of just three showjumping clear rounds, and a fast cross-country round for 6.8 time-faults meant they rose to the runners-up spot.

“He’s never been placed in a three-star before, so to be second here is super,” said Ludwig. “I felt as though I was riding as quickly as I could [across country], but he was very honest and rideable.”

This year’s British sensation Alexander Bragg took third on Zagreb, who tired a little towards the end of Mark Phillips’ track.

Brazilian duo Marcio Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer, leaders going into the final cross-country phase, collected 21.6 time-faults and finished seventh.

Both Bill Levett (Shannondale Titan) and Oliver Townend (Note Worthy), fourth and fifth after showjumping, fell across country.

Corinthian Cup winner

Quorn hunt stud groom Lorna Collins won the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, the amateur novice class.

She led from start to finish on the six-year-old Blackrock Ricardo and, despite 6.8 cross-country time-faults, just held off Katie Hancock and Coddstown Pet.

“He was super across country – he was just a bit strong early on and then went a little green at the water fences, so we lost a bit of time,” said Lorna, who was supported by her husband, Quorn huntsman Peter Collins, all weekend.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 10 August.

Oliver Townend on top form at Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe

Catherine Austen — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 18:30:11 +0000

Oliver Townend riding Noteworthy. (Image credit: Louise Siggers-Solheim/Event Rider Masters)

Oliver Townend is in the lead in the Event Rider Masters’ class at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, and is on course to repeat his 2016 victory.

Riding Andrew Cawthray’s Note Worthy, Oliver scored 38.7 to take pole position in the CIC3*.

Bill Levett is second on 39.2 with Shannondale Titan, and Brazilian rider Marcio Jorge is third on Lissy Mac Wayer with a mark of 40.

“He did a clear round in his test, but I still think there’s more to come from him,” said Oliver, who won the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championships on the horse in 2015.

Intermediate championships

Oliver scored a fourth victory in the intermediate championships today with Angela Hislop’s Khoi Traveller, an American ex-racehorse.

Oliver Townend on Khoi Traveller. (Image credit: Stephen Sparkes www.focusonhorses.com)

The pair were only 29th after dressage with a score of 33.3, but the jumping phases were particularly influential today and, despite a pole down in the showjumping, they rose 11 places to start the cross-country in 18th place.

The time round Mark Phillips’ cross-country track is always tight, and Oliver was the fastest of the class with just 4.4 time-faults to secure the victory.

“Speed’s a big thing at Gatcombe and he’s got plenty of that,” Oliver observed. “It didn’t feel as though we were going ridiculously quick and he stayed very well – I was impressed with him in all three phases today.”

Matt Heath was second on Hazel Livesey’s Sportsfield Lord Livesey, having led going into cross-country.

“I’m over the moon with him – he just got tired on very soft ground,” said Matt.

Tom McEwen took third on the mare Royal Roxey.

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Novice championships

Ben Hobday won his first Gatcombe title – the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championships – with his own Shadow Man II, having led from start to finish.

“He’s perfect – everything you could want,” said a delighted Ben. “He’s athletic, intelligent and kind; I do very little on him because everything’s easy.”

Ben Hobday riding Shadow Man II. (Image credit: Stephen Sparkes www.focusonhorses.com)

William Fox-Pitt took second place with Catherine Witt’s The Graduate, while Hayden Hankey made a welcome return to the eventing ranks with third place on You’ve Got The Lux. Hayden was the fastest of the class across the country with just 3.6 time-faults.

“I didn’t have a single sticky jump – all I have to do on her is see a forward stride,” said Hayden.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August

Valegro to delight fans at Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:06:48 +0000

Dressage superstar Valegro is to appear at the Festival of British Eventing next month (4-6 August) – in a solo parade.

The multiple Olympic medallist, who holds the world record scores for all three grand prix tests, will appear in Gatcombe Park’s main arena on the Sunday, 6 August, from 1.30-2pm.

“The world’s greatest ever dressage horse will be making a ‘star’ appearance at the Festival of British Eventing,” said a spokesman for the event.

“Valegro, who has risen to a celebrity status far beyond any other horse in recent history, will be parading in hand to give his fans an opportunity to soak up his electrifying presence.

“He officially retired in an emotional send-off at Olympia in December 2016 and since then has been making special appearances at events around the country – which he loves!”

Visitors to Gatcombe on 6 August will be able to meet Valegro in his stable, by the main arena.

“So don’t miss out on the perfect opportunity to pat the dressage superstar and even pose for a selfie with him,” the spokesman added.

The culmination of the three-day festival also features the CIC3* British Open Championship and the fifth leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters series.

Among the entries received for the three-star are Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul, Izzy Taylor on Perfect Stranger, Mark Todd on NZB Campino, Chris Burton on TS Jamaimo, Ben Hobday on Ciletto H and Emily King on Dargun.

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‘It’s not acceptable’: four-star rider chased by dog at Gatcombe

Olivia Wilmot was riding in the advanced section

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The event also features the British novice, intermediate and amateur championships, a Burghley young event horse series competition, Pony Club showjumping and arena eventing.

On the Sunday, visitors will also be able to enjoy the Shetland Pony Grand National, mounted games, dressage to music and displays by the Riding for the Disabled Association and Atkinsons Action Horses.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

‘It’s not acceptable’: four-star rider chased by dog at Gatcombe

Rachael Turner — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:55:28 +0000

A four-star event rider has expressed her frustration after being chased by a dog on the cross-country at Gatcombe (see video, above, by Harveywetdog).

Olivia Wilmot was riding Zebedee De Foja in the advanced section at the Festival of British Eventing on Friday (5 August) when the incident occurred.

The pair had reached the end of a galloping stretch and were approaching fence 17 when a dog ran under the string.

The loose animal ran up to Zebedee, biting his tail.

Olivia managed to pull up her horse and the dog was eventually caught.

“Something didn’t feel quite right,” Olivia told H&H.

“As I was approaching the fence I could hear people shouting and saw this dog trying to jump up at me — he still had his lead attached.”

After the dog was caught, Olivia was able to complete her round and went on to finish seventh.

“Luckily my horse was very well behaved, he didn’t kick out or do anything,” she said.

“But he lost his concentration and I had to jump the long route of the next fences.

“It’s not acceptable at that level, as a rider it’s something you shouldn’t have to deal with.

“There are enough things for riders to focus on eventing, without having loose dogs to deal with as well.”

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Tim Henson, Festival of British Eventing event director, reminded visitors, officials and competitors that dogs should be kept securely on a lead at all times.

“We state this on every admission ticket, on various signs located around the event and our commentators reinforce this advice during the day,” he said.

“It is most unfortunate that on this occasion a dog became loose on the cross country course.

“We immediately asked our commentators to emphasise the message more strongly as it is extremely important to us that horse and rider combinations are safe.”

A BE spokesman added: “It is the responsibility of the owner to keep their dog on a lead and under control at all times and in addition some events have implemented additional policies, for example fining owners should dogs be found off a lead.”

Going, going…! Marvel at the thrills and spills from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe

Gemma Redrup — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:25:16 +0000

The Festival of British Eventing (5-7 August), held virtually in the back garden of the Princess Royal at Gatcombe, was full of action, surprises and for some, disappointment.

Oliver Townend claimed his first British Open Championship title aboard Cillnabradden Evo. Spectators held their breaths as the tiring horse approached the final cross-country fence where he fell with Andrew Nicholson last year, but Oliver nursed the 10-year-old home.

Oliver also won the fourth leg of the Event Rider Masters competition which was held in conjunction with the British Open, taking home a cheque for a healthy £16,000 as a result.

The intermediate championship was won by Alexander Whewall riding Chakris Star, who has only finished outside the top 10 once this season.

Francis Whittington won the novice championship aboard Evento by the narrowest of margins thanks to a speedy clear across country.

The Corinthian Cup, a national restricted novice championship was won by crane hire manager Andrea Clark and Murphy’s Bonanza.

But the weekend wasn’t just about eventing; there was plenty of other exciting action unfolding bathed in glorious sunshine. Here’s some thrills and spills you can’t afford to miss…

Don’t miss the full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Friday 12 March. H&H is on sale Friday next week to allow for a full report on the Olympic eventing to be included.

Mini marvel aims for BE intermediate championships

Rachael Turner — Wed, 04 May 2016 06:25:15 +0000

A 14.1hh event pony has defied her size and qualified for the intermediate championships at the Festival of British Eventing 2016.

Sara Chittleburgh is aiming her mare Sari de Lobelle at Gatcombe (5-7 August).

The Mérens (French pack horse) cross thoroughbred mare was bred for endurance riding across the Alps but her previous owners decided she was too small.

Sara bought her as a five-year-old in 2005 with the aim of bringing her on for pony teams, hoping to sell if she showed promise.

“I decided to keep her to see where she could go and she showed me more and more scope,” Sara told H&H. “It has surprised me how far she came on.”

5’2” tall Sara said “Sari” rides like a horse.

“She is a horse in a small body,” she said.

“All of her strides are big. In cross-country you look where you’re going and she knows what you want her to jump — there’s no doubt in her mind.

“In dressage and showjumping she fills you with confidence. She is very powerful.”

Sara described Sari as a “quirky” character in the stable.

“She is special and I think she knows it,” Sara added.

Related articles:

Last year the pair were placed second in the Corinthian Cup at the Festival of British Eventing (7 August).

Later that season Sari completed a clear in her first intermediate cross-country at Oasby (17 October).

Since then the pair have enjoyed three top-ten placings at intermediate level.

Andrew Nicholson reveals he could have been paralysed by neck injury

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:09:24 +0000

Andrew Nicholson has said he has been “incredibly lucky” after being released from hospital to continue his recovery following neck surgery at home.

The Kiwi rider suffered a serious neck injury during a heavy fall at the Festival of British Eventing on Sunday (9 August).

“My surgeon, Mr Jeremy Reynolds, told me that the injury I sustained to my neck would have caused paralysis at the time of injury, in 98% of cases,” he said today (Thursday, 20 August).

“I was extremely fortunate this did not happen.”

Andrew fell with Cillnabradden Evo in the CIC3* at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire earlier this month (9 August). The horse was not hurt in the fall.

The six-times Olympic rider was taken to hospital in Swindon immediately. However, he was then transferred to the John Radcliffe in Oxfordshire, where he underwent surgery on 10 August.

“I underwent an eight-hour operation where they repaired the fractures and stabilised my cervical spine,” he said.

“This procedure in itself was not without risk, and I cannot thank the team of spinal surgeons at the John Radcliffe hospital enough for what they have done.”

Andrew is now walking unaided and has a full range of movement. But he has withdrawn all his horses from Burghley and does not know when he will return to the saddle. He had been preparing for a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in the Lincolnshire event.

“Obviously I won’t be riding again this season as it will take some time to fully recover,” he added.

“ While I have to take things easy, I am up and about and fully mobile, and look forward to getting back to full fitness in due course.

“Thank you in advance for allowing my family and I some privacy and time to rest and recover.

“I am very pleased to be back at home and wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone myself for their kind messages and support, which have meant a lot to me and my family.”

Andrew Nicholson has neck surgery after Gatcombe fall

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:48:22 +0000

Andrew Nicholson has “full range of movement” after undergoing neck surgery on Monday following a serious cross-country fall at the weekend.

The top New Zealand event rider fell with Cillnabradden Evo in the CIC3* at the Festival of British Eventing on Sunday (9 August).

A statement from Andrew’s family today (Tuesday 12 August) said: “Andrew underwent surgery yesterday (Monday 10 August) to repair the injury to his neck.

“The surgery went well and his condition is stable. Andrew is comfortable and has full range of movement.

“His family would like to thank the many well-wishers.”

Andrew fell from the nine-year-old gelding at the final fence at the Gloucestershire event.

The six-times Olympic event rider was taken to hospital in Swindon immediately. However, he was then transferred to the John Radcliffe in Oxfordshire for surgery.

Andrew has been competing Cillnabradden Evo, who is by Creeevagh Ferro Ex Siebe and out of Willow Garden, since March 2014.

With Andrew, the gelding won the advanced at Weston Park in April and most recently finished fifth in the open intermediate at Cholmondeley Castle.

The pair also won the Amlin Plus eventers’ challenge at Hickstead, where the rider remarked that the gelding is “a horse that has come up through the grades very quickly, but will be a top horse”.

The horse was not injured in the fall.

Andrew took on the ride from Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy, who has recently been selected to represent his country at the FEI European Eventing Championships. The ride previously belonged to Padraig’s fiancee Lucy Wiegersma. The horse has 247 British Eventing points.

Eventing in numbers: a new 2015 record dressage score and Townend’s double

Cathy Comerford — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:25:56 +0000

Dates: 7–9 August, 23rd week of the 2015 season

The basics

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Number of British Eventing (BE) fixtures: four (The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, Hendersyde Park, Chilham Castle (2), Skipton (2))

Number of BE sections run this week: 49

Number of FEI sections run in Britain this week: two

Event with most sections: Chilham Castle and Skipton — 16 sections

Number of BE sections run so far this year: 1711

Number of combined BE and FEI sections run so far this year: 1755

Number of BE fixtures run so far this year: 114

Best dressage scores

Gatcombe: 22.5, for Noah Brook and Deo Volente III in the new novice restricted championship, the Corinthian Cup

Hendersyde Park: 20.9, for Wills Oakden riding Blackcol Lotte, who won the intermediate novice section N, despite eight showjumping faults

Chilham Castle: 21.5, scored by Sophie Forbes and Tricky Johnie, finishing second in the BE100 section M with four showjumping faults

Skipton: 17, for Eliza Stoddart on two rides (Future Gravitas who won the five-year-old section D and Future Illicit Heights who finished second in the BE100 section N)

Speedy gonzales

1: number of pairs who beat the 6min 28sec CIC3* optimum time at Gatcombe — Oliver Townend and Armada finished fourth

0: number of pairs who beat the 5min 51sec optimum time at Gatcombe over the intermediate course. Oliver Townend and Note Worthy were fastest, winning section B with 1.2 time-faults

2: number of pairs inside the 5min 8sec BE100 optimum time at Hendersyde; the fastest were Henry Cooper riding Soprano D L Henbage and Katy Thomson riding Mohawk

And also…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

31.5: the best FEI dressage score this year, scored by Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen in the CIC3* at Gatcombe. However the pair were eliminated after a fall across country

4: the number of pairs who finished the four-year-old section D1 at Chilham Castle

84: percentage of starters in the British Open Championship who scored below 50 in the dressage

2: the number of wins claimed by Oliver Townend at Gatcombe (British Novice and Intermediate Championships), matching William Fox-Pitt’s 2014 achievement. It was Oliver’s third victory in the intermediate championship and his fourth in the novice championship, but the first time he has won both in the same year

100: percentage of starters who completed the BE100 section J at Hendersyde Park

2: the number of Antipodean riders taking the top two places in the British Open Championship at Gatcombe

12: the number of marks by which Oliver Townend and Note Worthy won Gatcombe’s British Intermediate Championship

100: percentage of starters who finished the BE100 section B at Skipton

7: the number of British riders finishing within the top 10 in the British Open Championship at Gatcombe

2: the number of Oliver Townend’s rides to finish within the top two in Gatcombe’s British Novice Championship

19: the age of Noah Brook, who won the Corinthian Cup at Gatcombe by 10 marks

Further afield

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

28: the age of Kerry Millikin’s 1996 Olympic partner Out and About before he sadly passed last week due to old age

15.9: the margin by which Britain’s pony European riders won the team gold last week in Sweden

Full reports from Gatcombe and the pony European Championships in H&H this week, out Thursday, 13 August 2015.

Thrills and spills at the Festival of British Eventing 2015 PICTURES

Carol Phillips — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:52:15 +0000

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.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

william fox pit falls from dynasty in the british novece at gatcombe park 8-8-15 (Image credit: stephen sparkes)

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…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Elena Palmer parted company from Queue Jumper Z when they had a difference of opinion at the fence into the pond…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

and Charlotte Jeffes competition came to an end after she took a tumble from Willows Patriarch.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Bronia Hill’s hopes for restricted novice glory ended when she took a ducking from Daisy XIV.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

But the canine spectators couldn’t wait to enjoy the water after the competition came to a close.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Flora Harris survived a scary moment when jumping the wall on Cooley Lord Lux in the intermediate championships.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

In the main arena, the crowds were treated to displays of speed with the scurry driving…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

and the crowd-pleasingly popular Shetland Pony Grand National…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

Andrew Nicholson in hospital after cross-country fall at Gatcombe

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:02:29 +0000

Top New Zealand event rider Andrew Nicholson is in hospital after suffering a neck injury at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe.

Andrew fell from nine-year-old Cillnabradden Evo during the CIC3* at the Gloucestershire event yesterday (Sunday 9 August).

A spokesman for the family told H&H today (Monday 10 August): “Andrew has a neck injury and is currently undergoing treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.”

Andrew fell at the final fence on the cross-country course. The six-time Olympian was taken to hospital in Swindon immediately. He was then transferred to the John Radcliffe.

Fans of “Mr Stickability” were greatly concerned on seeing the accident, with several contacting H&H.

Darryl Dawson from Connexion PR told H&H: “Three ambulances rushed in. It was very worrying. We’re all massive fans of Andrew so were very shocked and wish him all the best.”

Andrew has been competing Cillnabradden Evo, who is by Creeevagh Ferro Ex Siebe and out of Willow Garden since March 2014. The pair won the advanced at Weston Park in April and finished fifth in the open intermediate at Cholmondeley Castle.

The pair also won the Amlin Plus eventers’ challenge at Hickstead (pictured). The rider remarked that the gelding is “a horse that has come up through the grades very quickly, but will be a top horse”.

He took on the ride from Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy, who has recently been selected to represent his country at the FEI European Eventing Championships. The ride previously belonged to Padraig’s fiancee Lucy Wiegersma. The horse has 247 British Eventing points.

The horse was not injured in the fall.

The flagship class at Gatcombe, the British Open championship, went to Australia’s Christopher Burton and TS Jamaimo.

Nicola Wilson was best of the Brits in third, landing the national title with the popular coloured mare Beltane Queen.

Oliver Townend scored a notable double in Saturday’s intermediate and novice championships, taking the intermediate with Note Worthy and the novice on Sonic De Sermentol.

The new novice restricted championship, the Corinthian Cup, was won by Noah Brook riding Deo Volente III.

Georgie Spence determined to compete at Burghley despite injury

Rachael Turner — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 10:55:28 +0000

Eventer Georgie Spence will be out of action for the next fortnight after fracturing her hand in a riding accident.

However, she is still determined to compete at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials next month (3-6 September).

The British four-star event rider was schooling at her Wiltshire base on Tuesday (4 August) when the horse she was riding snatched the reins and injured her hand.

Georgie thought she was just badly bruised, but two days later the swelling had not gone down so she went to hospital (6 August).

She found out she had fractured a bone in her hand and chipped a bone in her wrist.

“I assumed by the way it happened, that it was just a bruise, so I was surprised when I heard it was fractured,” Georgie told H&H.

“I am still aiming for Burghley — I am going regardless. I will rest it for two weeks and then I will start gradually riding.

“It’s not too painful if I don’t do anything with it that makes it sore.

“I am still pottering around on hacks riding with one hand as I don’t want to lose fitness.

“It’s lucky it’s just a fracture so it’s not in a cast.”

Georgie has entered 12-year-old gelding Wii Limbo for this year’s Burghley.

“I’m sure I will be fine for Burghley, it’s just one of those things,” she added.

“I am in a good place and the horses are going really well.

“It is a shame to miss Gatcombe but I know him [Wii Limbo] inside out so it’s not the end of the world not to have this one last run [before Burghley].”

Calling Gatcombe geeks! Test your knowledge with our Festival of British Eventing quiz

Pippa Roome — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 08:00:27 +0000

Are you a true Gatcombe geek? With this year’s Festival of British Eventing underway, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test with our fun 10-question quiz. Good luck!

How did you score?

0-3: Let me guess, eventing isn’t really your thing?

4-6: Not bad, but time to do a bit more swotting up

7-9: Good work, you’ve nearly reached geek status

10: Congratulations, you’re officially a Gatcombe geek!

Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe

The Festival of British Eventing takes place at Gatcombe Park every summer and hosts the British open, intermediate and novice championships, as well as the new restricted novice championships for amateur riders, which will take place over a brand new cross-country track. As well as a weekend of top class eventing, spectators can look forward to spending their hard-earned cash in the shopping village, while the rest of the family will be entertained by the main arena attractions that include world record-breaking stunt rider ‘The Kangaroo Kid’.

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson will be defending his British Eventing open championship crown and has five horses entered including former winners Avebury and Nereo. The Kiwi challenge will be bolstered by Andrew’s compatriots, Sir Mark Todd, (NZB Campino), and the on-form Jonelle Price, who will ride the nippy little mare Classic Moet. The 2013 British Open Champions, Jonathan Paget and Clifton Lush, are entered again and will be looking to add to their laurels.

Seven of the 12 riders selected for the British squad at the upcoming Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle in September have rides in the British Eventing Open Championship, including Izzy Taylor, who will ride her reserve horse, KBIS Briarlands Matilda, and Pippa Funnell, who has Mirage D’Elle and Second Supreme. The popular combination of Nicola Wilson and the coloured mare Beltane Queen are sure to get a rousing reception, while British squad debutants Francis Whittington, who rides Fernhill Highlight, and Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul, will also be looking to put in a solid performance ahead of Blair

Australia has a strong hand with former Badminton Horse Trials winners Sam Griffiths (Paulank Brockagh and Happy Times) and Paul Tapner (Kilronan and Vanir Kamira) lining up.

12 reasons to go to the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe this weekend

Pippa Roome — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 11:25:28 +0000

Are you going to the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe this week (7-9 August)? Read on to find out why you should.

1. Spot British European Championship squad members in action. Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul and William Fox-Pitt on Bay My Hero are entered for the British open championship.

2. You can have your hat and body protector checked for fit and that they are up to standard for free at the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) stand overlooking the main arena. You will also receive a 10% off voucher to spend with a BETA member retailer on a new hat or body protector. BETA are celebrating 10 years as presenting sponsor at this year’s Festival.

3. Australian quad bike stunt rider The Kangaroo Kid — aka Matt Coulter — is giving a demo for the first time in the main arena on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

4. Other main arena attractions include the Shetland pony Grand National, scurry driving and dressage to music.

5. The Royal Agricultural University beagles will parade on Saturday and the Duke of Beaufort hounds on Sunday.

6. Watch the first running of the Topspec-sponsored national restricted novice championship for The Corinthian Cup, aimed at true amateur riders — competitors, who have qualified over the past year, cannot have completed an intermediate in the current or preceding five years or an advanced in the current or preceding 10 years.

7. Grand National winner Many Clouds will be parading at the Festival on Sunday.

8. The British intermediate and novice championships offer the opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow in action today. Former intermediate class winners include Tamarillo — who went on to win Badminton and Burghley with William Fox-Pitt — and Land Vision — who triumphed at Gatcombe with Oliver Townend and later picked up the Badminton title with Mark Todd. William Fox-Pitt’s four-star performers Cool Mountain and Navigator both took the novice championship in their time.

9. A new second arena will thrill canine fans with flyball and “have a go” dog agility, as well as Pony Club mounted games.

10. There are over 100 tradestands, so whatever your shopping desires, you should be able to find something to satisfy them here.

11. Andrew Nicholson has five horses entered in the British open championships, including former winners Avebury and Nereo. If you’re more “Team William”, Mr Fox-Pitt has seven horses entered across the classes.

12. A fresh look is promised for the cross-country courses this year, with a new route planned through the park bowl and running much closer to Gatcombe House than previously, and the track no longer going up into the car park.

Gatcombe Horse Trials (2): what riders need to know H&H VIP

Horse & Hound — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:25:30 +0000

Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics

Date: Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September 2015

Organiser: Pattie Biden

Contact: 07836 644818; pattie-anne@madasafish.com; www.gatcombe-events.co.uk

Location: Gloucestershire

Entries open: 6 August

Ballot date: 20 August at 12 noon

Entries close: 1 September

Link to Gatcombe (2) entries: www.britisheventing.com/gatcombe-2

How to get there

Gatcombe Park is on the Avening to Minchinhampton road. Grid reference ST882992.

What the organisers say

We are known to have a relaxed friendly horse trials.

The dressage and showjumping areas are the same as usual, on flat ground close to the horsebox park. The showjumping warm-up is sited differently in March and September to ensure the best going.

The cross-country courses have a number of portable fences to ensure that the ground is not overused and different questions are asked. All classes have water jumps. The CIC2* course is on a different track to the intermediate. The CIC* also has different fences and tracks to the novice course.

This fixture is sponsored by Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa.

What the riders say

Dressage & showjumping — “The dressage is quiet for an international event.” “The ground is flat, although the warm-up is on a slight hill.” “It can be a little bit firm in the dressage if it hasn’t rained.” “The showjumping warm-up is on quite a steep hill and is tricky because it’s right next to the cross-country.” “The arena is quite electric and I wouldn’t suggest it as a first international track because it’s really up to height.” “Quite a high level of difficulty, but a great track and on a bit of a camber.”

Cross-country — “The course is decent enough, hilly and quite twisty, so better suited to a nippy horse.” “Quite a few turning questions and skinnies and an educational track if you’re moving up a level.” “Need a fit horse because they incorporate hills.” “They always try hard with the going as it can get a bit firm, but that’s more the time of the year than bad ground.” “There’s not a huge warm-up but they always have plenty of practice fences and there’s enough space for a decent canter.”

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

CIC2*: 43%

OI: 81%

I: 73%

CIC*: 79%

ON: 90%

N: 78%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two

9 horsey ways to keep your children entertained this summer

Madeleine Silver — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 16:25:18 +0000

Life as a horsey parent might mean traipsing around the country or to and fro from the yard, with a hefty credit card bill in tow. But when it comes to entertainment during the long summer holidays, you have it covered.

1. Pony Club camp

A no brainer. Not only does camp mean a week with your feet up (aside from the odd evening of washing up or panic phone calls when the pony has lost a shoe), but there’s the build-up entertainment too — weeks of list making, cleaning, polishing, practising…

Visit: www.pcuk.org

2. Spring (summer) cleaning

Weeks off without a textbook in sight means plenty of time for the kids to get their sleeves rolled up and start giving the stable a deep clean, the tack a well deserved oil and clear out of dregs of lotions and potions.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Kit Houghton)

10 reasons we wish we were off to Pony Club camp this summer

3. Course building

Bring out the budding Bob Ellis in your child and spend a day building courses in the school. Re-painting tired looking poles is also suitably time consuming…

4. Pick up a polo stick

While the sun is shining and the Gold Cup tournament is in full swing, seize the moment to give polo a try. Contact your local Pony Club to find out about taster days that they are running.

Vist: www.pcuk.org

5. Picnic rides

Unearth your inner Enid Blyton (and domestic goddess) and pack up a picnic for a long hack. Anything that can be eaten with one hand while your child’s pony is dragging you off in the other is a bonus…

6. Hit the racetrack

Get in touch with the Pony Racing Authority to find out about taster days for pony racing. You may have the next AP McCoy on your hands.

Visit: www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk

7. Gatcombe

Spot horsey heroes at the Festival of British Eventing (7-9 August) at Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. On top of the eventing, enjoy dressage to music, the Shetland Grand National and dog agility. Tickets from £10.

Visit: www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk

8. Longines Global Champions Tour of London

Combine a sightseeing trip to the captial with top class showjumping at this year’s Longines Global Champions Tour of London, being held at Syon Park by the River Thames (24-26 July). Tickets from £24 for under-16s and £35 for adults.

Visit: www.globalchampionstour.com

9. Equestrian autobiographies

Your children tucking into one of the equestrian greats’ autobiographies should (might) give you peace and quiet for hours — as well as giving them a dose of horsey inspiration. Pippa Funnell’s is a winner.

The Festival of British Eventing: what riders need to know [H&H VIP]

Horse & Hound — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:25:46 +0000

Get the lowdown on this fixture from Eventing magazine's horse trials guide — including what riders say about the event, plus vital statistics

Date: Friday 7 – Sunday 9 August 2015

Director: Tim Henson

Organiser: Equiland BOHT Ltd

Chairmen: Mark Phillips and Peter Phillips

Contact: 01423 339423; info@gatcombe-horse.co.uk; www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk

Location: Gloucestershire

Entries open: 3 July

Ballot date: 17 July at 12 noon

Entries close: 28 July

Link to the Festival of British Eventing entries: www.britisheventing.com/festival-of-british-eventing

How to get there

From the M4 take junction 15, or from the M5 take junction 14. Head for Stroud and follow event signs.

What the organisers say

2015 is the dawning of a new era for the Festival of British Eventing. While the team behind the Festival remains unchanged, nearly everything else in 2015 is new, different and exciting.

There will only be the four championship classes, British Open, British Intermediate, British Novice and the new Corinthian Cup for “amateurs” only.

There are four completely new cross-country courses with no loop up in the “car park” and through the barn, plus we will use previously uncharted territory in the Park Bowl, with the course going much closer to the house. There are also exciting new features on the cross-country course.

There are also changes to the layout in the tradestand area with additional attractions, demonstrations and activities.

What the riders say

Dressage & showjumping — “Good arenas with plenty of working-in space.” “For a big

event the atmosphere for the dressage is less than one might expect as it takes place away from the main venue near the lorries and stabling.” “The showjumping takes place in the main bowl and, be warned, both the warm-up and main arena are surprisingly undulating so you need to be ‘on your game’.”

Cross-country — “The cross-country at Gatcombe is always full of variety and for those that ride bravely and with feel and don’t overthink, the tracks always ride well and provide a good spectacle for spectators and experience for horse and rider.” “Heavily undulating, decent track with plenty of questions, but not for a first-timer.” “The terrain does not suit every horse and the ground can be firm but will be well prepared.”

Percentage of cross-country clears 2014

BCO: 83%

BCI: 73%

BCN: 66%

A: 52%

Download part two of the horse trials guide for just £1.49: Eventing horse trials guide part two

Fresh challenges for riders at Gatcombe unveiled

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 06:25:39 +0000

This year’s Festival of British Eventing is to be the “dawning of a new era” for the event, according to organisers.

The event, which is held at Gatcombe Park, Glos, is going to be “new, different and exciting” for 2015 (7-9 August).

“The 2015 Festival of British Eventing will feature many exciting new elements, which we are sure will make it better than ever,” said Tim Henson, event director.

“We are not going to give too many stories away, but suffice to say there are major changes afoot for the cross-country course and other areas — watch this space.”

There will be four championship classes — open, intermediate, novice, and the new “Corinthian Cup” for amateurs only.

To complement this, there will be four “completely new” cross-country courses with no loop up in the car park and through the barn, plus “previously unchartered territory” in the park bowl used.

The course will also run much closer to the house than previously.

H&H spoke to course-designer Mark Phillips, who revealed that the cross-country will have different challenges this year.

“The biggest change is that we are not going up into the car park this year, which should hopefully have logistical benefits,” he told H&H.

“The one thing that I can never change about Gatcombe is the terrain. I am conscious of trying to take out some of it [steep hills] but it is very hard to do.”

There will also be changes to the layout in the trade stand area with additional attractions, demonstrations and activities.

The new restricted novice championship, the “Corinthian Cup”, is an addition to the British Eventing (BE) calendar for this year.

BE said it will be a “true novice test”.

Riders must not have completed an intermediate class this year or in the past five years, and must not have completed an advanced class in the past 10 years.

“BE is pleased that amateur riders’ aspirations will now include the opportunity to compete at a prestigious championship venue following feedback from BE members about the lack of a novice level championship on the existing calendar,” added a spokesman.

➤ For more information visit: www.gatcombe-horse.co.uk and www.britisheventing.com

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 April

Andrew Nicholson wins British Open title

Pippa Roome — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:58:02 +0000

Andrew Nicholson won the British Eventing Open Championships at Gatcombe this afternoon with Rosemary and Mark Barlow’s Avebury. He sped round the cross-country at the Festival of British Eventing presented by BETA to finish just 1sec over the optimum time.

“He’s the tops, isn’t he?” said Andrew. “He’s very consistent — although I never trust him 100% as he is cheeky. You just have to have your wits about you.”

Francis Whittington led going into the cross-country, but his 4.4 time-faults dropped him to second on Catherine Witt’s Easy Target. They still claim the title of national champions, while Andrew is the British open champion.

“I’m hugely disappointed — not by his performance, but by the decisions I made which cost us a few seconds,” said Francis.

Louise Harwood kept up her great form by finishing third with Roy Baker and Emma Baker-Jones’ Whitson, another who had just 0.4 of a time-penalty.

Three pairs made the optimum time — Paul Tapner on Indian Mill (fourth), Nicola Wilson with Opposition Buzz (sixth) and Gemma Tattersall riding Arctic Soul (eighth).

Gemma and Louise are reserves for the British team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and will have done their chances no harm with the replacements for Izzy Taylor (Allercombe Ellie) and Pippa Funnell (Billy Beware) due to be released this week.

Beanie Sturgis had a nasty fall with Wizard From Aus in this class and was taken to hospital for further examination.

Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championships

Pictures by Stephen Sparkes (Image credit: creditUnknown)

William Fox-Pitt followed success yesterday in the British Novice Championship with a win in the intermediate equivalent today.

Riding Catherine Witt’s eight-year-old Luxury FH (pictured right) he lay second after dressage, but moved up to first with a showjumping clear and cruised across country for 5.6 time-faults, which he could afford.

“This was his first advanced, so it was a step up, but he was ready for it,” said William. “Catherine Witt has been patient and understanding that I’ve needed to take time with him.”

Ian Wills took second on Diana Brodie’s Say I Do, with Tim Price collecting third riding Bango, who belongs to the Numero Uno Syndicate.

View Gatcombe results

Don’t miss our full report from Gatcombe in H&H magazine this week, out Thursday (7 August).

William Fox-Pitt and Top Biats top British Novice Championship at Gatcombe

Pippa Roome — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 16:29:07 +0000

William Fox-Pitt added yet another Gatcombe title to his impressive collection when he won the Martin Collins British Novice Championships this afternoon at the Festival of British Eventing, presented by BETA.

His mount was Top Biats, a seven-year-old owned by Judith and Jeremy Skinner and David and Margie Hall. The pair led the dressage on 23.3 and added just six time-penalties across country.

“I knew I had a cushion and didn’t need to push him for the time,” said William.

Dutch rider Andrew Heffernan took second on Wendy Penny’s Lawless Lil.

“I’m not surprised to be in top three, but I certainly didn’t come here expecting it as she has only just qualified and has only done one intermediate,” said Andrew.

Sharon Hunt claimed third with Loughnatousa Fabio, owned by her parents Janice and Terry, as well as David and Sue Howard.

“He’s really competitive — he moves, jumps and is scopey. I can’t fault the horse,” said Sharon.

Advanced section

Aoife Clark took the Equex China advanced section on PJ Hegarty’s Fenyas Elegance. The 10-year-old chestnut mare won last year’s Blenheim and this year’s Bramham CCI3*s and heads to the World Equestrian Games (WEG) with the Irish team.

“She was eighth here last year in the British Open, so I know it suits her, which is why I came as a prep run,” said Aoife. “And the timing is good — it’s close enough to WEG to keep their minds on the job but there is time for them to recover as the hills can be quite taxing.”

Nicola Wilson rode Jo and James Lambert’s Watermill Vision into second, with Tina Cook third on her World Equestrian Games horse, Jim Chromiak’s De Novo News.

Australia’s Sam Griffiths leads the British Intermediate Championships after dressage on Favorit Z. Francis Whittington holds top spot in the Open with Easy Target. These classes conclude tomorrow with the showjumping and cross-country phases.

Gatcombe results

Log back on tomorrow for a report on the British Open and Intermediate Championships and buy H&H on Thursday (7 August) for a full report.

Picture by Stephen Sparkes

New BE championships give amateur riders “something to aim for”

Sophia Heath — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 08:00:48 +0000

Amateur riders competing at British Eventing (BE) novice level now have a chance to compete at a championship venue, with the introduction of a national restricted novice championships.

The championships — for which riders can qualify by finishing in the top 10% at any novice, open novice, intermediate novice, CIC1* or CCI1* by 30 June 2015 — will be held as part of the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in August 2015.

The new competition has been created to bridge the gap between the grassroots championships at Badminton and the national novice championships — which are run at intermediate level.

A new novice cross-country course will be designed by H&H columnist Mark Phillips and built by the Willis brothers.

Many amateur riders have welcomed the addition.

“It is great that BE are listening to the majority of riders who event who actually are amateurs rather than professionals,” said Clare Stringer, who has competed at novice level.

“This gives people like me something to aim for and it is now on my mental checklist as something I want to achieve.”

The competition will only be open to riders who have not completed an intermediate class in the current or past five years, and not completed an advanced class within the past 10 years. Some riders feel this is too tough.

“I understand that it is always hard to decided where to draw the line,” said amateur rider Sarah-Jane Brown. “But I think it’s a shame that the current criteria will exclude some out-and-out amateurs who might have just done one to two intermediates badly.”

Another member added: “I think it should just be if you have ridden at advanced as plenty of amateurs have a dabble at intermediate.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 July, 2014)

Latest from Horse & Hound in Gatcombe-horse-trials

Farewell to ‘eccentric genius’ and five-star winner who put rider ‘on the map’

“He was the grand old age of 29 and had been retired with his bessie mate Nick of Thyme,” said Ruth.

“I had ridden Phil and Maureen’s other horse Big Time, so it was decided that I would have a go at Jasper and see if I could persuade him that he wanted to be an event horse. We knew all along how talented he was, but he was quite quirky,” Ruth told H&H.

“We had a real partnership together and he really believed that he could do these amazing things that he did. He certainly taught me a lot about horsemanship, because he was a tricky character, but on his day he could beat the best in the world. He was a horse that really put me on the map.”

Jasper retired sound in 2012, aged 18 and had a long and happy retirement.

“He was never ridden again because we felt he really settled into being out in the field with his friends. He wasn’t great at hacking, and he certainly wasn’t a schoolmaster, even in his older age he was still cheeky,” said Ruth.

“He stayed with me and Nick of Time until 2019 when I moved, and then the two of them went to Phil and Maureen’s. They had a fantastic retirement place for them with lots of friends, and he had a terrific time.”

Ruth thanked Jasper for “all the great times with Phil and Maureen Smith at events all over Europe”.

“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities you brought to me. Fly high up there doing whatever you please. RIP dear boy,” she added.

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“The adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe today has made the site unsafe for the event to continue for all our competitors (human and equine) as well as the many thousands of spectators that were due on site tomorrow. Safety for all is our main priority.

“Further information on the refund process will be provided in due course.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in the event for their unwavering support and hard work over the past few days.”

These British national championships in Gatcombe Park, home of the Princess Royal, have only been cancelled because of bad weather once before – in 2012.

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Weather forces major timetable changes and class cancellations at Festival of British Eventing

The British eventing national classes at open intermediate and open novice level have been abandoned completely.

Showjumping for the championship classes will continue to take place in Gatcombe’s main arena as planned, and will be shown on Horse & Country TV.

A revised timetable for Sunday is being prepared, and main arena attractions are expected to go ahead on Sunday.

A statement from the Festival of British Eventing on the Gatcombe Horse Trials weather said: “The safety of all of our human and equine competitors and spectators is of paramount importance to us and at the centre of this decision.”

The organisers have also said that general admission tickets for today that are not used are transferable to Sunday, but hospitality and park view picnic parking for Saturday cannot be transferred.

The Festival of British Eventing was last cancelled due to bad weather in 2012.

Oliver has four wins to his name in the British intermediate championship to date – 2007 (Daisy Crazy), 2008 (ODT Land Vision), 2015 (Note Worthy) and 2017 (Khoi Traveller).

Jason Wood holds a healthy advantage in the British novice championship after the first day of dressage. His score of 22.7 aboard Alexandra and Charles Lloyd’s Nitor gives him 3.9 marks in hand over Oliver Townend and En Taro Des Vernier.

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There were also two open novice sections on this final day of the festival, won by Nicholas Lucey (Ta Kalo Arlo) and Caroline Martin (Galway Bay Redfield HSH Conner). That completes the Sunday round-up of the Gatcombe Horse Trials results.

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Entries into the Magic Millions-sponsored British open championship were low this year, with just 19 combinations starting the competition.

“I love it here – you learn a lot about your horses and they come on for being here,” explained Oliver Townend. “You learn exactly what you’ve got from a stamina point of view and I think it’s a huge part of my horses’ progression to come here every year.

“It’s a special and unique venue. You look at the amount of five-star winners who have been novice or intermediate champion, for example, Land Vision, ODT Mouse, Navigator, Seacookie, Tamarillo, it’s endless which horses came here as young horses and turned out to be superstars.”

Although the country has been shrouded in hot weather recently, the going was good at Gatcombe this weekend.

Pippa Funnell agreed with Oliver that it’s a shame more riders weren’t here to support the big class at Gatcombe.

“It’s just so sad, but in the old days, there used to be 50, 60, 70 starters. I think a lot of it is people like to protect their form – they don’t want to run risk with having 20 penalties and with the hills it’s quite a tough track stamina-wise,” she explained.

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Hector Payne and Tom Dillinger were third, adding just 0.4 of a time-fault across country to their dressage of 35.6.

Nick and Jane Moss’s Gold Nugget finished last on two of his three racing runs, but switched to eventing at five with Andrew. He was already advanced by the age of seven, and is established now at four-star aged 12. But Andrew said that this didn’t mean today’s task was straightforward.

“He’s a thoroughbred, and so he can go in and jump a clear round at four-star, or he can have two down at novice,” he said.

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Ellie Healy, who rode at the European Pony Championships in 2018, filled both second and sixth spots in the Corinthian Cup. Her runner-up, Balladeer Just For Kicks, produced super jumping rounds to move up from 11th after dressage to finish on a clean sheet of 31.6.