Latest from Horse & Hound in Lucy-wiegersma

Former British team rider takes over at Pontispool from Badminton’s course-designer

Becky Murray — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 11:23:25 +0000

British Eventing fixture Pontispool has welcomed former international rider Lucy McCarthy as its new course-designer.

Lucy takes over from Badminton course-designer Eric Winter ahead of the first 2022 event at the Somerset venue on 27-29 May.

Lucy (nee Wiegersma) is the only British rider to have won all three national eventing titles; junior in 1995, young rider in 1998 and senior in 2006. She was second at Badminton in 2008 with Shaabrak, and represented Team GB at the 2009 and 2013 European Championships at senior level, as well as five Europeans at under-21 level.

“I’m very excited and pleased to have been asked to design the courses at Pontispool this year, although stepping into Eric Winter’s shoes will be a very tough act to follow,” she said.

“It’s a place I know very well as a rider and I feel it has a great deal to offer for the education and development of horses and riders. From my riding experience at Pontispool, I know how it feels, and instinctively, which parts are difficult to ride and which ride well.”

Lucy will be focusing on developing tracks that are encouraging for greener horses and riders, educational for more established combinations and “above all fun to ride”.

“We will make full use of Pontispool’s wonderful parkland setting, and there will be purpose and flow and my aim is to make it a positive experience, educational and enjoyable for the horses and the riders so that, hopefully, the majority come back with a smile on their faces,” said Lucy.

“At the same time, the basic elements of crossing the country will be there. Every level will have a ditch, and they will all go through at least one water complex. Where fences might be a bit challenging, we’ll provide easier alternatives as we very much want competitors to think Pontispool is okay for the first-timer, with the education of both the horse and rider in mind.”

Pontispool owner Richard Mitford-Slade thanked Eric Winter, who has been “instrumental” in putting the venue on the map, designing “brilliant” courses over the last two decades.

“We’re delighted to welcome Lucy on board. Her vast experience will be a valuable addition to Pontispool, as we take the venue in a slightly new direction, to cater for the changing demands of those who event. It’s an exciting time,” he said.

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H&H Interview: Padraig McCarthy — ‘If we were focused on making money, we’d get a proper job’

Lucy Higginson — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:24:14 +0000

The showjumper-turned-eventer talks to Lucy Higginson about teamwork with his wife Lucy, and obsessive stallion researching in a quest to make a living

Padraig McCarthy’s eighth place at Badminton with Mr Chunky in May and double silver medals at September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) were not accolades that many would have predicted at the start of the season.

Though the pair were seventh at Blenheim last year, it was the first Badminton for both and the horse’s first four-star since 2015. True, Padraig was on the Irish teams for the Rio Olympics and Blair Castle Europeans riding Simon Porloe — both testing tracks — but he didn’t make the finish line at either.

But Padraig and his wife Lucy (née Wiegersma), who produced this horse, have always had boundless belief in him.

“I bought him as a four-year-old and always thought he was one of the best horses I’d ever had because he had so much quality. For a big horse he’s so light in his movement,” explains Lucy at her family’s Devon farm, from which the couple run their business.

“But he’s big and strong — I could see myself at a four-star in the last two minutes and not having quite the strength to get the best out of him.”

Lucy was keen for Padraig to take on the ride and his owners, Huw Lloyd, Christopher and Sarita Perkins, gamely agreed, despite his lack of four-star experience — a leap of faith that’s been richly rewarded.

If Mr Chunky’s name does not suggest speed, don’t be fooled, says Padraig (pronounced “Porig”).

“It was an unfortunate joke because he was hairy and big-boned as a youngster — but he’s a proper galloping machine, and I don’t think a fence has been built that he can’t jump.”

Few places were as cold and wet as the edge of Dartmoor last, long winter, but Lucy still made full use of it to get the horse fit.

“We’ve five or six places we go to on the moors with various gradients and types of going for canter work,” Lucy says. “I’m a great believer in a bit of variety. Though at one  point it got so wet we had to give up and go  to the gallops.”

Much has been made of Padraig’s 10 years or so in showjumping, which helped him turn a fast cross-country clear into a rare double clear at Badminton, albeit with three time-faults, which cost him fifth place. At WEG, his showjumping clear moved him up from seventh after cross-country to individual second. He has worked for various jumping dealers and has tackled even 1.60m tracks.

“If you’re not used to jumping at the bigger level, the last day at Badminton looks big — pile on the pressure and it looks bigger again,” agrees Padraig. “But you’re well within your comfort zone if you’ve jumped higher.”

Eventing is a sport that boasts many really bright competitors, but few can match Padraig’s first-class degree (in economics and finance with German) and PhD.

“If we were focused on making money, we’d get a proper job,” he smiles, reading my thoughts. “But we both love the horses.”

His appetite for learning endures, however, and he sought all the advice he could at his  first Badminton.

“I’m a terrible one for asking questions of anyone I see,” he says.

Besides walking the Badminton course with Lucy  and with Yogi Breisner, he picked the brains  of Christopher Bartle and Dirk Schrade, among others.

“You can’t beat experience — in showjumping all we do is walk a distance  on a flat surface,” Padraig says. “I don’t have that experience yet about what effect the terrain has.”

Padraig may have kicked himself for  “all the money those three showjumping  time-penalties cost me”, but they cracked  open the champagne when they got back to south Devon. Eighth place is worth £13,000.

“It’s great to win a good chunk of money like that,” he grins. “We have over 60 horses here so there’s always somewhere it’s needed.”

In four years since they founded dealing and breeding business MGH Sport Horses at Warren Farm, Lucy and Padraig have sold some very talented eventers, including Kitty King’s Vendredi Biats and Cillnabradden Evo, who was instrumental in helping Oliver Townend become Event Rider Masters (ERM) champion in 2016.

“But nobody associates them with us,” laments Lucy.

Their MGH prefix — a nod to Padraig’s home village of Mullenaglogh in Ireland — is reserved mainly for the home-breds, the oldest of which are about five now, with another 10 foals due this year.

“It’s quite a long-term project,” says Lucy, “but we can add value to them at four and five where a purely breeding stud can’t.”

That “adding value” is what Padraig spends much of his time doing, competing intensively at the lower levels. Chunky is his only ride at advanced level, though he says: “I’d love to have a couple more at his level so I could do more ERMs and so on.”

“Padraig’s very talented at producing young horses for other talented young riders to bring to fruition, but equally it would be great to keep a few for ourselves,” adds Lucy, herself  a former British team member.

That said, she’s not sure she sees herself rejoining her husband at the top levels.

“Right now we don’t have enough high-level horses to support both,” she says. “But I  don’t want to go back to rushing round  the countryside every weekend with two children — I want to be a mum as well.”

Mindful of where the big money lies, Lucy and Padraig are breeding potential jumpers as well as eventers and are taking embryos from  a couple of their best mares.

“I’m a long-term thinker,” says Lucy, “I like to plan how we are going to make a living out of this in our 50s and 60s.”

Continued below…

(Image credit: Future)

August to October finds Padraig “obsessively” researching stallions on YouTube each evening in bed, Lucy reveals with an  eye roll.

“It’s amazing that we’ve managed to produce any children at all!” she laughs.

This article first appeared in Horse & Hound magazine 17 May 2018

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Blenheim-winning ‘horse of a lifetime’ put down after injury

Pippa Roome — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:05:54 +0000

Tributes have been paid to Granntevka Prince, who won Blenheim CCI3*, competed at four-star level and was a young rider medallist, after he was put down on Monday (28 May).

David and Gerry Mills’ 18-year-old had suffered a severely dislocated fetlock, which was irreparable.

Prince won the British Eventing six-year-old championship with Lucy McCarthy (née Wiegersma) in 2006 and at the end of 2007 finished 10th in the prestigious seven-year-old World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers. In 2008 he moved up to three-star, finishing second in a CIC3* at Burnham Market.

His most successful year with Lucy came in 2009 when he won the CCI3* at Blenheim and finished fourth on his CCI4* debut at Pau. At four-star, he was also ninth at Luhmühlen in 2010 and 23rd at Burghley in 2011.

Lucy Wiegersma and Granntevka Prince. Picture by trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

In 2014 Prince joined Devon-based teenager Janou (Nui) Bleekman, who rides for The Netherlands. The pair formed a strong partnership and won the CCIJ* at Tattersalls that year and a CIC2* at Bicton Arena in 2016.

They also finished 10th in the junior European Championships in 2014 and contested three young rider European Championships, taking team silver and individual bronze at Millstreet last year.

“We would like to thank Prince’s owners David and Gerry Mills for trusting us and giving us the honour of having such a legend in our yard,” said Nui’s sister Althea. “He and Janou developed the most amazing partnership. Not only were they a formidable pair in competition, but they really did become best friends.

“Prince adored Nui, she was his person, he was her horse of a lifetime. The love and trust they had in each other shone through. She knew him better than she knows herself.

“He is missed so much already, but by none more so than David, Gerry and Nui.”

Welcome to a new arrival

The Bleekmans also welcomed new life into the world on Monday with the arrival of a filly foal who is “exactly the same colour as Prince, even down to the little star,” said Nui and Althea’ mother Clissy.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The foal is out of Grannalyn, who was bred by the Bleekmans by Prince’s sire Grannex. Grannalyn is also the granddam of a mare called Dasj, who is competing with Althea in the CCI3* at Tattersalls this week. She is also the dam of Oralyn, the mother of Laura Renwick’s showjumper Bintang.

This is the Bleekmans’ first foal by Jenson, who they are standing. He is a four-year-old Anglo European Studbook-licensed stallion by El Salvador.

“The Dutch experts really rate him, so let’s hope a star has been born to follow Prince — she is such a close relative and certainly looks his spitting image,” said Clissy.

Althea added: “We can only hope that a small part of Prince’s brilliance is now shining down on the next generation for us. If they can only be half as good as Prince, they will be legends in their own right.”

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

Former Badminton runner-up put down

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 10:41:57 +0000

Event rider Lucy McCarthy (nee Wiegersma) has paid tribute to her 2008 Badminton runner-up Shaabrak, who was put down last night (27 September).

The 22-year-old gelding, who had been with Lucy since he was a four-year-old, suffered a bout of colic yesterday.

“Physically he’d been deteriorating and we were aware it was inevitable in the not-too-distant future,” Lucy told H&H.

“Bless him, he never wanted to be any trouble; he took that decision out of our hands.”

Shaabrak (“Ross”) and Lucy won Chatsworth CIC3* in 2011, which was their last cross-country run in a career that also included winning Blair CCI3* in 2004.

“I took him to Tattersalls that year too but didn’t do the cross-country as the ground was too firm and he’d never enjoyed hard ground,” Lucy said. “So his last proper cross-country run, he won.”

They were selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but were moved to first reserve as Shaabrak had suffered an abscess some weeks before the Games.

Having competed at riding club events with a member of Lucy’s staff, he became less sound, so had spent his retirement “occasionally going out for a little ride and mooching around in the field”.

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“He was a very kind, sweet horse,” Lucy said.

“He was very domesticated; He would have lived with us in the house if he could.

“He had to be kept shod, and stabled overnight through the winter – he would just about cope with staying out at night in summer if it was nice weather, but otherwise no, and he was a hypochondriac at times!

“It’s hard, he was such a sweet person.”

Tales from Rio: ‘You don’t need money; you need to work for it and get results’

Alice Collins — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 16:13:06 +0000

Not many riders can boast the sort of intellectual CV this quietly-spoken Irishman does. After a decade as a professional showjumper on the continental circuit, Padraig (pronounced Paw-rigg) McCarthy wanted a change of scene.

“I thought there must be more to life than that,” he says.

So he did a degree in German and economics. He spent time in Switzerland and Germany while studying and carried on dealing horses to fund his continued education.

“Lucy [Wiegersma] came to look at one of the horses, and that’s how he met,” he recalls.

The two of them are now parents of Tomas, born last year.

So how did Padraig go from jumping dealer to Olympic eventer riding Lucy’s former top horse? He’s clearly got talent, that intangible Irish way with horses.

He and Lucy moved in together and set up a business.

“She must have seen something in me,” he says modestly of how he came to pick up the ride on this talented son of Sofix, now 16. “She rode Simon [Porloe, Padraig’s Rio horse] at Malmo and they upturned at the boat.

“It really knocked the horse’s confidence and we weren’t sure he’d ever come back from it. Lucy also had this other really good horse, Mr Chunky, so she suggested I take Simon.

“I had no experience so had to start from novice and decided to go as far as the horse would go.”

I almost laugh. We’re standing in the mix zone, with Padraig having just completed a really smart test on Simon (barring one naughty spook at a pesky photographer) for 46.8 penalties (about 68.8%).

At lunch time on dressage day one, he lies in fourth place.

“He’s like a bumblebee — he shouldn’t be able to fly but he can,” says Padraig.

Soothed by a toddler

How did he change his mindset to start galloping at solid fences, rather than knock-down poles?

“Irish youngsters are used to hunting,” he reasons. “It’s dressage that’s the biggest challenge.”

Padraig counts his biggest personal strength as his ability to put mistakes behind him and move on.

He had a crunching cross-country fall at a corner fence in the arena at the Blair Europeans last year.

That, as with other mistakes is now “old news”.

On the day he was frustrated.

“I was shellshocked and I went back to the lorry,” he says. “And there was this toddler smiling at me and I realised it really wasn’t so important.”

Padraig has not reassessed his priorities, but his attitude has shifted.

He thinks some younger riders could also do with a change in attitude.

“They should learn their trade,” he councils. “In England there are so many privileged youngsters on great horses. But to become a real horseman you need to ride all different types.

“You don’t need money; you need to work for it and get results. Build a good foundation and don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Use them to learn and get better.”

Learn how to ride perfect corners with this simple exercise

Rebecca Haywood — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 08:45:48 +0000

Lucy McCarthy (née Wiegersma) takes eventer Abbie Hughes through a step-by-step exercise aimed at helping to improve your horse’s balance and acceptance of the aids through corners and on straight lines

“This exercise works on the acceptance of the aids and the connection on straight lines and through turns or corners,” says Lucy McCarthy (née Wiegersma). “It develops the rider’s awareness of the positioning of the horse beneath them, including how to ride a corner”

The exercise: how to ride a corner

1. Find an area where you can ride a square of at least 20 metres. You don’t have to mark out the corners with poles and cones, but it will help with the discipline of the shape of the square and riding proper corners if you do.

2. The cones need to be two to three metres in from the point of the corner — keep them on the generous side for green horses that will inevitably find tighter turns more difficult.

3. Lucy advises to start this exercise in trot. “It’s so easy for the horse to drop behind the hand and leg at walk,” says Lucy. “I think it’s easier for people to develop the feel in a higher gear. When established in trot then move up to canter and make sure you work on both reins.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4. Ride four straight lines and four corners. As you come into each corner ask for a half halt — use both legs to create impulsion from behind.

5. “Be careful not to clamp your leg on as this will make you and the horse stiffen in the back,” adds Lucy. “Close your fingers around both reins but don’t pull your hand back to your body as you will just shorten the horse’s neck rather than achieving connection. With the outside rein create an ‘honest’ contact, while being careful not to block with your hand. Create inside bend by applying a little more pressure with the inside leg, while supporting with the outside leg to stop the horse swinging its hind quarters.”

6. Use ‘sponge fingers’ — squeeze and release as though you were squeezing water out of a sponge — with the inside hand to keep the neck soft. “Hold the half halt for the two or three seconds that you’re travelling through the turn, and then release the pressure of the half halt and ride the horse forward onto the straight line,” says Lucy.

7. Whether you’re on a turn or a straight line, remain aware of the horse’s position beneath you. The horse’s shoulders should remain square in front of the rider’s shoulders at all times.

“Common mistakes are for the horse to fall out through his outside shoulder on the turn, or swing his quarters,” says Lucy. “Keep things simple by remembering that each hand and leg controls its respective quarter of the horse. If he falls out through the shoulder create more weight in the outside rein and if he swings his quarters out use the outside leg slightly further back to stop that.

“Remember that this is quite hard work for the horse so take a break from the exercise before he gets tired,” adds Lucy. “Let him stretch and relax in between. I would normally do no more than five or six corners in a row on a young horse. Also, remember to reward him with a scratch on the withers and the use of your voice when he achieves what you want.”

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‘Irreplaceable’ trainer and event rider dies aged 56

Rachael Turner — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 15:55:06 +0000

Popular trainer and event rider Caroline Creighton has died aged 56.

Caroline died in hospital on Wednesday (14 October) after a long battle with cancer.

She had been based with Lucy Wiegersma and her family at Warren Farm in Beaworthy, Devon, for many years.

“We have all been humbled by her bravery in her fight against cancer over the past two and half years, but her illness at the end was aggressive and very sudden,” said Lucy.

“She is now out of pain and at peace. We all love you so much Caroline and you will leave a big hole in our lives.”

Caroline helped shape the career of event rider Austin O’Connor.

“Caroline was a huge part of my career and her loss is very hard for me to accept,” he told H&H.

“She had an incredible way of training and helping riders at every level and her opinion was one I hugely respected, back when I was just starting and now. She had a vast depth of knowledge and was such a talented rider, yet as a person she was so unassuming — one of the many reasons Caroline was loved by so many people.

“I will miss being able to call her for advice, when things are going both good and bad, but I will never forget everything Caroline has taught me — both on and off the horse. I’m so grateful that I got to spend much of this year with her and that she had been well enough to enjoy the season — she wouldn’t of wanted it any other way!”

Caroline helped many young riders and juniors on their way to European championship successes and played a key role in increasing involvement with British Eventing (BE) in the South West.

She taught all levels of rider and coached for the Pony Club and riding clubs.

“Caroline is a great example to us all,” said Lizzel Winter FBHS who advises BE on coaching development.

“She was an incredibly talented coach, rider and mentor; she was utterly professional at all times and is irreplaceable. She was a great friend and will be greatly missed by so many.”

Caroline was a much-valued member of the equestrian coaching workforce in her role as coach educator and UKCC Assessor.

She had also completed the coaching development programme and was one of the first to complete the eventing specific UKCC Level 3.

Horse & Hound showing, vet and point-to-point editor Aimi Clark was taught by Caroline.

“Some of my fondest Pony Club memories are of lessons with Caroline, and the two camps I went on with her teaching my group are the most fun I’ve ever had on a horse,” she said.

“I continued to train with her for many years after — as have all of my old Pony Club friends — because she had this brilliant way of getting amateur riders to challenge ourselves without ever feeling out of our comfort zones.

“If you ask anyone where to go for help in the West Country, Caroline’s name would be the first mentioned. She was one of those all-round brilliant people who will be sorely missed by the hundreds of riders that she helped in Devon and Cornwall alone.”

Ruth Edge & Lucy Wiegersma: Reflecting on Burghley H&H VIP

Horse & Hound — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:25:31 +0000

Ruth Edge: five judges required

Over the past five or 10 years, the standard of eventing dressage has risen enormously.

You rarely see a poor halt now and the balance, flow and presentation is professional. I think now that the riders have upped their game, the facilities and rules need to catch up with them.

There’s a good case for saying that at four-stars and championships, there ought to be five dressage judges whose only job is to judge the dressage. The three-member ground jury would still have all their other current responsibilities, but the actual judging of the tests would be handed over to people for whom that is their sole job.

I also think that eventing ought to consider using a Judges’ Supervisory Panel like in pure dressage. Everybody is human and sometimes if you blink you miss something, but riders are so professional now and every tiny thing counts. It is not fair for a judge’s mistake — which is understandable and even inevitable — to influence the final result.

We were very fortunate this year that the ground conditions remained the same for all competitors, thanks in part to the excellent preparation by the Burghley team, but also to the luck that the weather was good. But this is becoming a rarity; bad weather can create an unlevel playing field for the dressage.

Again, because the standard of horse and rider is so much higher we would see an improvement at the very top events if they could perform on a surface. There is only so much you can produce on a grass arena, which may not be perfectly level and doesn’t give the horses the same security underfoot. It has been well proven that organisers can put an excellent temporary all-weather arena in — perhaps this is something to look into for the future.

The introduction of half-marks has been highly beneficial, as it gives judges so much more range.

Jung’s balance and flow

The best test I saw was from Michael Jung on FischerRocana FST. I liked the balance and the flow. It was beautifully presented and from start to finish it showed an elegance and lightness that I feel no one else achieved.

Rosalind Canter produced a mature test for her first four-star, as proved by her being the only Brit in the top 10 after dressage apart from William Fox-Pitt and Fernhill Pimms, and she is one to watch for the future.

The Australians, coached by Gareth Hughes, are all starting to produce personal bests, and you can see that in their presentation and the horses’ way of going. I enjoyed watching Paul Tapner and Kilronan; I felt Paul got every mark he could.

Happy Times looked fantastic for his age (16) and seemed to enjoy himself, which is a credit to Sam Griffiths.

Common faults included the extended walk to medium walk transition — it is obvious who manages to stay connected from the leg to the bit in the extended walk as this then follows through into the medium walk and in turn the halt and rein-back.

And the final halt — there were very few still in front of the leg at this point, which resulted in some rather abrupt, on-the-hand transitions.

Lucy Wiegersma: Vintage Burghley

For me this was vintage Burghley: a stellar field (albeit missing hot favourites Andrew Nicholson and Avebury), a retro feel cross-country with some big, mean-looking fences, and worthy champions in Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

Reversing the course gave riders a completely different outlook on the track. Gone was the 2min 30sec of “free-wheeling” from the Cottesmore Leap back down to the water, and instead we had that long, uphill pull on what was also ground-wise the wettest part of the course.

No one expected to be up on their markers in the first four minutes, but I was surprised how difficult it was to claw back time towards the end of the track.

Burghley is always renowned as a big-jumping track, but this year the sheer size of some of the fences had riders squirming, which is exactly how it should be at four-star level.

I loved the idea of the hanging gate on to the mound at the DairyFarm — a proper hunting fence — although like most of the riders I was less in love with the idea when it came to actually running down to it!

Michael Jung went up even more in my estimation, riding with such class while nursing a clearly painful ankle from his fall on FischerRocana FST. As for Sam, well, surely there has never been a performer quite like him. What a horse.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 September 2015

Dege & Skinner celebrating 50 years at Burghley

Caroline Bankes — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:00:27 +0000

British bespoke tailors Dege & Skinner is celebrating 50 years of exhibiting at Burghley Horse Trials this year (4-7 September).

As part of this the company will continue to award the highest placed British rider under-25 with a Dege & Skinner bespoke riding coat.

Previous winners of the riding coat include Nicola Wilson, Zara Phillips, and Lucy Wiegersma.

Harry Meade won one three years’ running from 2005-2007.

The riding coat has been given every year since 1993, apart from 1997.

“We are so proud that so many former winners of the D&S bespoke riding coat have since gained international honours,” said chairman Michael Skinner.

More information on Dege & Skinner

Entry boost for Blair Castle Horse Trials

Sophia Heath — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 07:55:43 +0000

There will be a stellar turnout for the Atholl Estates Blair Castle Horse Trials later this month (21-24 August) as riders look to familiarise themselves with the venue ahead of next year’s European championships.

Among the competitors who will be vying for one of the 12 British places at next year’s Europeans are Jodie Amos, Nicky Roncoroni, Rosalind Canter, Laura Collett and Lucy Wiegersma.

Lucy is taking her Ballindenisk Nations Cup ride Mr Chunky, who is being aimed at his first four-star at Pau (22-26 October).

“I was left with a toss-up between taking him to Blenheim or Blair,” Lucy told H&H. “Next year’s Europeans being held there tipped the balance.”

Ian Stark takes over as cross-country course-designer at Blair this year. His changes include reversing the direction of the track, softening the climb up the renowned Blair hill and digging out new water complexes.

“Obviously I would like to have made more changes this year but, budget restrictions being what they are, we are holding back for 2015,” said Ian. “It is a huge honour for me to design my first championship course on home soil — I was born in Galashiels and have been coming to Blair for more years than I can remember.

“Blair Castle is a stunning championship venue. I hope that my first course, this year, is met with approval from the riders, and look forward to surprising some of them a little if they are lucky enough to return to compete here in 2015!”

The foreign challengers will be led by young Claas Romeike (Cato), son of 2008 Olympic champion Hinrich Romeike. Claas was a member of the German team which finished second in the Nations Cup at Houghton this year.

The CIC3* has a big entry with over 70 expected to start, but the undoubted frontrunner is Opposition Buzz. Now retired from the top level, Nicola Wilson’s ride has taken this class — which brings with it the title of Scottish open champion — twice before and he relishes the hills and tight cross-country time at Blair.

Another horse who favours this unique venue is Matthew Wright’s ride Hugginstown, who will be looking for his third win in the CCI2* this year.

Blair entries

Blair website

New international venue added to eventing calendar

Ellie Hughes — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 12:00:43 +0000

Eventers in the southwest will benefit from having an international eventing venue in the region, as Bicton Arena is to host CIC1* and CIC2* classes for the first time in 2015.

Event rider Helen West, who became equestrian event manager at Bicton last year, is behind the move.

“We canvassed support from riders and the backing we received was overwhelming,” she said. “[The classes] will be welcomed by west country riders, who will be able to gain FEI qualifications without having to travel hundreds of miles.”

Devon-based eventer Lucy Wiegersma told H&H: “I’ve been competing at Bicton since my Pony Club days and it is a firm favourite. This is fabulous news; there is definitely demand for lower level CICs in the area — the date will be going in next year’s diary.”

The venue, between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, already attracts around 10,000 competing horses a year and hosts affiliated showjumping, dressage and eventing, as well as myriad camps and training days. It has two, large, all-weather arenas and more than 100 cross-country fences.

The venue ran classes up to BE advanced level until 2006. There was then a break of four years until it returned to the calendar as a novice event in 2010.

Helen added: “Bicton Arena has so much potential. It is a stunning venue and everything is here to create a leading competition centre in the southwest. I am very excited about moving plans forward, designing the cross-country tracks and getting local firms on board to help make it the success I want it to be.”

The first international competition will take place in August 2015.

First published in Horse & Hound magazine on 7 August 2014

Event riders win cross-country course design scholarship

Sophia Heath — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 10:00:23 +0000

Riders Lucy Wiegersma and Angus Smales have both been awarded British Eventing’s (BE) first ever cross-country course design scholarship.

The Course Design Scholarship — which has been supported by the Bill Thompson Bursary — has been created to help potential course designers who might not have the support or financial backing to develop the skills required.

Senior British squad member Lucy has previously been involved in organising Hatherleigh Horse Trials alongside her parents. However, it was recently announced that the event will no longer be run.

“I’m thrilled,” said Lucy. “I know I’ve got lots to learn and I’m really looking forward to getting expert guidance to help me progress.

“Having recently lost our own event to the BE calendar I have really missed having an outlet for the many course design ideas that I want to put into practice.

“It will be so nice to have a blank canvas on which to once again try new plans.”

The scholarship will mean that both riders will receive financial support, free access to training sessions and mentoring during 2014.

“I’m so happy and pleased that I was one of the winning pair,” Angus said.

“Course design has been a side-line of mine for a long time, and now I can finally start to think about it more seriously.

“Everything that the scholarship offers will be such a massive help, but what makes it special for me is the chance to enjoy mentorship from the best course designers in the country — I feel like a kid in a sweet shop!”

The fund was created in memory of designer Bill Thomson who was famous for his work at Burghley Horse Trials.

A shortlist of 4 candidates were assed by H&H columnist Captain Mark Phillips and Jane Holderness-Roddam.

“It became clear that that the more experienced riders had a real feel for what is required, were able to think of a combination of fences from a design perspective and had a flair for being able to see how the design of an obstacle would affect the way it would ‘ride’,” said Jane, who is chair of the Bill Thomson Bursary Committee.

“Being the first time we have run this scholarship we were hugely pleased with the calibre of those who applied.”

William Fox-Pitt wins bronze as Germans dominate again at Eventing Europeans

Lucy Higginson — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:53:51 +0000

Germany retained their European team and individual titles at the HSBC FEI Malmö European Eventing Championships today. Sweden celebrated hosting their first senior European eventing championship with team silver – their first team medal for 20 years – and France took bronze.

Michael Jung (above) retained the European crown he won first two years ago in Luhmuhlen, Germany, which means he remains, concurrently, the reigning European, world and Olympic champion. But this time he rode a new horse instead of his legendary partner La Bisothetique-Sam FBW, the 9-year-old Halunke FBW. Although he knocked down the fence, he could have afforded 2 and still won the title, such was his dressage lead on Halunke FBW.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

William Fox-Pitt (right), who had been in the silver medal position overnight, slipped to bronze when Lisa Stone’s handsome stallion Chilli Morning knocked out the fourth fence. As a consequence, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, who had showjumped clear, moved up to silver.

Britain’s team hopes were extinguished on cross-country day when Pippa Funnell had a stop and Lucy Wiegersma a fall. This is the first time Britain has returned without a team medal from a European Eventing Championship since 1993.

“Things have not gone our way,” said Britain’s Tina Cook. “Obviously we are disappointed – we came here with hopes of a team medal. We have lots of super younger riders coming through, and we have great young horses being produced at home. People might think that the Germans are miles ahead of us but we are really not that far away.”

William commented on his bronze: “I’m delighted to get a medal. Chilli jumped so well, I thought he wasn’t going to touch a fence but that’s how it goes, and I am lucky to get a bronze. I am thrilled with him.”

Team medals

Gold: Germany, 116.2pen

Silver: Sweden, 134pen

Bronze: France, 151.6pen

Great Britain: sixth

Ireland: Seventh

Individual medals

Gold: Michael Jung (GER), Halnuke FBW, 32.6pen

Silver: Ingrid Klimke (GER), 39.4pen

Bronze: William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Chilli Morning, 40.6pen

13^th Tina Cook (GBR), Miners Frolic, 47.4pen

35^th Izzy Taylor (GBR), KBIS Briarland Matilda, 74.6pen

40^th Pippa Funnell (GBR), Mirage D’Elle, 92.6pen

Don’t miss Thursday’s H&H for our full 10-page special report, including full analysis and comments from ground jury member Christian Landolt, British team rider Tina Cook and former European champion Ian Stark.

British horses sail through European eventing final trot up

Lucy Higginson — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:10:14 +0000

There have been no major dramas in the trot up prefacing the final day of sport at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Malmo, Sweden. The British horses sailed through looking fit and fabulous. The British team is now without Lucy Wiegersma, however, who was eliminated after a fall yesterday on course with Simon Porloe. The horse is fine but Lucy is reportedly pretty bruised after the horse rolled on her on landing.

The Germans currently lie in the gold medal position with more than 2 fences in hand over the second placed Swedes. The French are 3rd, a further 14.8pen adrift. All their horses passed the vet today.

Only 3 horses did not present at the vet’s inspection today: French individual Lionel Guyon with Nemetis de Lalou; Swedish individual Sandra Gustafsson’s lovely mare Top Select, who appeared quite lame after pulling up yesterday; and Elaine Pen’s Vira, for the Netherlands, which sadly means the Dutch will not complete as a team having already lost Althea Bleekman who fell yesterday. Italian individual Lino Paparella was allowed to continue to the final phase with Dunbeggin Imp after being examined by a vet in the holding box. But Swedish individual rider Linda Algotsson withdrew her 16 year old mare La Fair from the holding box, so 48 now go through to showjump.

The final showjumping phase starts at 10am UK time. Britain’s hopes of a team medal have all but evaporated, as we lie in sixth place after cross country. But William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning lie in the individual silver medal position behind Germany’s Michael Jung, who has two fences in hand over him.

Team positions after cross country

Germany, 112.2pen
Sweden, 120.6pen
France 135.4pen
Italy, 149.4pen
Belgium 162.2pen
Great Britain: 167.6pen
Ireland: 205.8pen

Individual placings after cross country

Michael Jung (GER), Halunke FBW, 28.6pen
William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Chilli Morning, 36.6pen
Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE), Shamwari 4, 38pen
Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Escada JS, 39.4pen
Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE). Reality 39, 40.6pen
Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh, 42pen
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA), Lesbos, 42pen
Peter Thomsen (GER), Horseware’s Cayenne, 42.6pen
Tina Cook (GBR), Miners Frolic, 43.4pen

Log back on later for a final update from the European Championships and don’t miss next week’s H&H for our full 10-page special report, including full analysis and comments from ground jury member Christian Landolt, British team rider Tina Cook and former European champion Ian Stark.

William Fox-Pitt still in silver after cross-country at European Championships

Lucy Higginson — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 15:22:04 +0000

William Fox-Pitt delivered a copybook clear round inside the time today at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Malmö to retain his silver medal position after the cross-country phase. But ahead of him by an emphatic 8 penalties is the apparently unstoppable Michael Jung from Germany (below), the reigning world, European and Olympic champion, with new championship ride Halunke FBW. He now goes into the final showjumping phase with 2 fences in hand.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Disaster for the British team effort

Superb clears inside the time from William and Tina Cook on her veteran British team ride Miners Frolic were some consolation for the other disappointments in the British camp.

Pippa Funnell suffered a run-out on Mirage D’Elle, Lucy Wiegersma suffered a horse fall with Simon Porloe when the horse left a leg at the 8th fence, and individual rider Izzy Taylor had an unfortunate run-out at the 7th in her senior championship debut, having lain ninth after dressage. Lucy suffered some bruising but is otherwise alright.

Britain’s team medal hopes have therefore all but vanished. The team languishes in 6th place, having lain in the bronze position after dressage. Meanwhile, the German and Swedish teams’ positions remain unchanged, in 1st and 2nd. Impressively, all their riders went clear and inside the time bar one — Sweden’s Ludwig Svennerstal with Shamwari 4, and he was a mere second outside it.

The cross-country course caused far less trouble than anticipated, and rode much faster than people had imagined. Roughly a 3rd of the field managed to go inside the time, even including a long route or 2.

“I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it, with all those twists and turns, but I did,” said William Fox-Pitt. “I’ve had a long time to watch the others and feel sick today before my round, but I know Chilli has it in him.”

Although Chilli Morning is a decent showjumper, William seems resigned to the idea of Michael Jung claiming yet another gold medal tomorrow. “There’s no way he’ll have two down,” he said.

Team positions after cross country

Germany, 112.2pen
Sweden, 120.6pen
France 135.4pen
Italy, 149.4pen
Belgium 162.2pen
Great Britain: 167.6pen
Ireland: 205.8pen

Individual placings after cross country

Michael Jung (GER), Halunke FBW, 28.6pen
William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Chilli Morning, 36.6pen
Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE), Shamwari 4, 38pen
Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Escada JS, 39.4pen
Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE). Reality 39, 40.6pen
Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh, 42pen
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA), Lesbos, 42pen
Peter Thomsen (GER), Horseware’s Cayenne, 42.6pen
Tina Cook (GBR), Miners Frolic, 43.4pen

British team medal hopes dashed at Europeans

Lucy Higginson — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 10:41:11 +0000

At roughly the halfway stage of the HSBC FEI Malmo European Eventing Championships cross country, British team hopes are sadly in shreds. Pippa Funnell had a runout at fence 22 on Mirage D’Elle and a cluster of time penalties with it, and second team rider Lucy Wiegersma (above at another event) had a fall when Simon Porloe left a shoulder jumping Fence 8, a boat. Horse and rider were soon back on their feet, if looking mightily disappointed.

Britain languishes in eighth position at the halfway stage. Not since 1993 has Britain failed to return from a European eventing championships without a team medal.

Hopes of an individual medal remain very much alive though, with William Fox-Pitt and Tina Cook still to go (second and 12th after dressage respectively), plus British individual Izzy Taylor on KBIS Briarland Matilda, who lie ninth after a personal best dressage test yesterday.

The Germans and the Swedes continue to battle it out for top honours, their first having both jumped clear inside the time.

Why I’m backing young British blood at Malmo European Championships

Pippa Roome — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 12:19:43 +0000

I was struggling to predict which way the selectors would jump with the British eventing team for the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Malmo, Sweden (29 August-1 September), after recent results.

Now that the squad’s been announced, it’s fantastic to see so much young blood there. This European year is an ideal opportunity for Britain to try new combinations out for the future, alongside William Fox-Pitt (Lionheart) and Tina Cook (Miners Frolic).

I’m surprised to see Mary King left out. I thought that despite her recent falls at Salperton and Barbury she would still find a space in the squad — perhaps as an individual because she and Imperial Cavalier certainly have the capability to turn in an individual medal-winning performance, even if her current form isn’t reliable enough for the team.

Of course, we will feel the lack of Zara Phillips after her recent news — what a shame not to have her and High Kingdom with the Brits in Malmo, but all the best to her for this exciting time.

The two senior squad debutants are Izzy Taylor and Tom McEwen: Izzy was certainly on my radar after her fabulous Burghley (pictured), but I wondered if her run-out in Aachen would count against her, after KBIS Briarlands Matilda was also below par at Badminton. I thought the selectors might consider her on Orlando, but she has only had him a couple of months and maybe they felt the partnership was still too new.

I thought Tom had a chance of a spot — but with Dry Old Party who went so well at Badminton, rather than Diesel. But Dry Old Party must have burnt his bridges with his average dressage and cross-country problems at Aachen, while Diesel impressed with his under-25 win at Bramham. He is undoubtedly a class horse and Tom knows him well having produced him from through the grades. This pair have little mileage, but it will be fascinating to see if they are ready for the championship challenge.

Piggy French’s inclusion is no surprise after her Barbury win with Tinkas Time, but it’s a long time since a British squad included a horse so inexperienced. We’ve had horses at recent championships without four-star experience — such as Pippa Funnell’s 2010 World Equestrian Games ride Redesigned and Tina Cook’s Miners Frolic at the 2008 Olympics — and of course Diesel is also in this category, but I think you have to look back to Rodney Powell’s ride Langarth Darcy in 2007 to find a horse who had had only one CCI3* run (comment below if you disagree!). But with Piggy’s brilliance, this fun little horse could be seriously top class.

Lucy Wiegersma was first reserve for last year’s Olympics with Simon Porloe, so her inclusion shouldn’t be a surprise, but I admit her costly time-faults at Badminton had made me rather forget her. But her Barbury third place was well timed and I’m delighted to see a rider who has so often been a reserve get another shot at a championship.

Apart from Mary, who has missed out? Poor Nicola Wilson had no hope after her Badminton showjumping and fall at Luhmühlen with Opposition Buzz. I thought Charlotte Agnew had an outside chance with Out Of Africa Two (fourth at Luhmühlen last year) until her showjumping nightmare at Badminton.

Gemma Tattersall has had high profile results recently with Chico Bella P but she was never in contention for selection because the mare has not yet done a CCI3*, so is not qualified for a three-star championship.

Short of fielding William Fox-Pitt on four different horses, I’m not quite sure where there was to go this year beyond the current squad.

Who will be on the British eventing team?

The next question will be who is on the team and who rides as an individual. Again, I’m finding it hard to predict. My definites for the team are Tina and William, my definite individual is Tom. Beyond that, who knows? If you asked me to choose today, my team would be Tina, William, Piggy and Lucy, with Tom and Izzy the individuals.

But much can change between now and the first horse inspection, plus selectors and team officials are privy to information which we don’t know. We must put our faith in them now and wish the whole squad best of luck. I can’t wait to cheer them on in Malmo.

Full report on Barbury, plus more on the squad and Zara Phillips’ pregnancy in H&H this week (out Thursday, 11 July).

British eventing squad named for Europeans

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:00:27 +0000

Two of Britain’s silver medal-winning Olympians will be spearheading the British squad at next month’s eventing European Championships.

Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) and William Fox-Pitt (Lionheart) are to be joined by Piggy French (Tinkas Time), Tom McEwen (Diesel), Izzy Taylor (KBIS Briarlands Matilda) and Lucy Wiegesma (Simon Porloe) at the competition in Malmö, Sweden (28 August-1 September).

The two notable omissions were Zara Phillips — who is pregnant — and Mary King, who has suffered heavy falls at Barbury (7 July) and Salperton horse trials.

“It is a wonderful privilege to be representing my country so I am thrilled to be selected again on Miners Frolic,” said Tina. “He is getting older now so every competition and selection is a fantastic bonus.”

And after the disappointment of last year (when she was ruled out of the Olympics due to injuries to Jakata and DHI Topper W) Piggy French said it was “such exciting news”.

“I am thrilled not just for myself but also for my amazingly supportive owners and team,” she said. “It is really exciting to have some new blood on the team too. Tinkas Time is a really cool little horse, having him as part of my team has been a fantastic boost.”

It will be the first time riding at a senior championship for Tom and Izzy. Tom said he was “delighted”, especially on his first year out of young riders.

“I am so pleased that I was chosen on Diesel; we have had him since he was five when we broke him in so I am really proud to be representing my country on a horse we’ve produced all the way,” he added.

All riders compete as individuals at the championships, with four riders selected out there to compete as the team.

“It is great to have Piggy and Lucy back on the squad, and it is exciting to have two such capable riders as Tom and Izzy making their debut,” said performance manager Yogi Breisner.

“With Tina and William also on board there is a wonderful balance between youth and experience.”

New faces called up for British eventing Nations Cup squad

Horse & Hound — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:29:19 +0000

Five up-and-coming event riders will ride on the British senior squad for the first time in this season’s Nations Cup series, which is at three-star level.

Newcomers Gemma Tattersall, Izzy Taylor, Sarah Bullimore, Emily Llewellyn and Tom McEwen join Laura Collett, Kitty King, Francis Whittington and Lucy Wiegersma on the squad. Four riders from this group will be selected for each of the seven CICO*** competitions — with the exception of Aachen (25-30 June), which may be used to test other riders.

“The primary objective of this squad selection is to give riders who do not have a depth of senior team experience the opportunity to compete in a team environment,” said performance manager Yogi Breisner.

Tom McEwen, the youngest in the squad at 21, said his selection was “a privilege”.

“I’ve had the results I’d been hoping for, but never thought I’d be picked. It’s great to see that all the hard work at home has paid off,” said Tom.

Team manager Philip Surl and Yogi Breisner have picked Kitty King (Zidante), Emily Llewellyn (Pardon Me II), Gemma Tattersall (Arctic Soul) and Izzy Taylor (KBIS Starchaser) for the first event, Fontainebleau (21-24 March). Laura Collett (Allora 3) is reserve.

Read more about Izzy Taylor, Gemma Tattersall and Kitty King in H&H’s eventing special issue (published 7 March, 2013).

Event rider’s father cleared of dumping tyres

Flora Watkins — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:53:22 +0000

The father of event rider Lucy Wiegersma has been cleared of depositing illegal waste after using old tyres to build new gallops and schooling facilities at his yard in Highampton, north Devon.

Hendrik Wiegersma, 62, was awarded costs after being found not guilty at the end of an eight-week trial at Exeter Crown Court (7 December). The judge said the case should never have come to court.

The court heard that Mr Wiegersma arranged for bales of old tyres to be buried on his land to improve drainage and provide a springy surface for schooling.

The system had been used at other yards and was developed by Tom Dunn, a businessman from Taunton.

Mr Wiegersma was cleared of two counts of depositing illegal waste on his land after the jury heard that he believed he was doing nothing wrong.

He had already been acquitted of running an illegal waste site, on the direction of the judge.

The prosecution — also involving the directors of the recycling firm that produced the tyre bales — was the largest ever brought by the Environment Agency, at an estimated cost of £2million.

After the verdict, the judge criticised the a gency for bringing the case, which had “cost a fortune”.

Judge Phillip Wassall also condemned the law on using waste tyres in this way, describing it as a “morass” which “needed clarifying”.

Tom Dunn, his father Nigel and fellow businessman Lawrence Poole were cleared of similar charges. The only convictions were for less serious technical offences.

The prosecution had claimed the bales were illegal waste, but the defence argued it was a legitimate form of recycling that benefited everyone involved.

Judge Wassall said: “I simply do not understand why the case was brought against Mr Wiegersma.”

Speaking to H&H after the verdict, Mr Wiegersma’s wife Pippa said it had been “a very stressful time”.

“Hendrik has been on tranquillisers and not sleeping,” she said. “He couldn’t go to Kentucky to watch Lucy this year, because he was being prosecuted.”

Mrs Wiegersma agreed that the law was unclear.

“The rules seem to be so vague. We didn’t think we had done anything wrong,” she added.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (13 December 2012)

Lucy Wiegersma’s top ride Simon Porloe for sale

Flora Watkins — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:17:52 +0000

Event rider Lucy Wiegersma’s top ride, Simon Porloe — who was the British team’s first reserve for the 2012 Olympics — is for sale for a “very substantial sum”.

Lucy told H&H she was “disappointed”. “I don’t expect to keep the ride. If I could, it would be wonderful,” she added.

Christopher and Sarita Perkins’ 12-year-old Polish-bred gelding won the CIC*** at Barroca, Portugal, in March. He was third at Barbury CIC*** in July and seventh at Pau CCI**** in 2011.

“Simon didn’t start eventing until he was eight and I think his best is yet to come,” said Lucy.

Simon is advertised as a “very easy horse to ride” and a “live contender for the 2013 Badminton title and beyond”.

Owner Sarita Perkins told H&H that the decision to sell had been a “difficult” one.

“But we like seeing our horses improve and enjoy going to many of the smaller events,” she said. “We look forward to working with Lucy with another young horse.”

Lucy said the sale of Simon meant that she was facing a “lean period”.

“I lost Woodfalls Inigo Jones this season, because he broke down very badly,” she said.

The horse damaged a tendon on the cross-country at Barbury.

Lucy added: “I still have Granntevka Prince [her 2009 Blenheim winner] but, apart from him, the next horse I have is seven and doing intermediates.”

Simon Porloe was withdrawn after the cross-country at Blenheim CCI*** in September, after sustaining a cut on his forearm that needed stitches.

He is now back in work at the Wiegersmas’ yard in Beaworthy, Devon.

For more information visit www.acquilaequestrian.com.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 November 2012)

What you didn’t know about… Simon Porloe

Horse & Hound — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:27:47 +0000

Eventer Lucy Wiegersma tells H&H about the brave horse who is so spooky at home.

Fact file

Stable name: Simon – or, when he’s done well, Super Si

Age: 12

Breed: Polish sport horse

Owners: Christopher & Sarita Perkins

Discipline: eventing

Groom: Gemma “Tiggy” Fuller

Best result: third Saumur CCI*** 2010, seventh Pau CCI**** 2011, back-to-back CIC** and CIC*** wins at Barroca in 2012

Four things you didn’t know…

1 Simon was born on Boxing Day (although, strangely, his sire and dam are unrecorded).

2 He is almost dun in colour and has a beautiful dorsal stripe running along his back.

3 Both he and his jockey thrive on early-season sunshine. Simon’s most successful event is Barroca in Portugal, where he has clocked up two wins, a second, a third and a fourth in the past four years.

4 He hates showjumps that aren’t there to jump. He refuses to go past them if they are piled up at the side of his arena at home. He was once almost eliminated for digging his toes in at a stack of coloured fences in the corner of the arena at Burnham Market.

To read the full interview with Lucy Wiegersma about Simon Porloe see 20 September 2012 issue of H&H

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Lucy Wiegersma’s Burghley Horse Trials video diary

Horse & Hound — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:35:12 +0000

British event rider Lucy Wiegersma is riding Granntevka Prince and Simon Porloe at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this week. She is keeping a daily video dairy throughout the event. Check back each day for the latest update.

Follow every phase of Burghley as it happens using H&H Live, our interactive written commentary supported by Baileys Horse Feeds. Go to www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2012live to set a reminder and join in.

Make sure you buy H&H next week (6 September) for our 10-page special Burghley report, with full analysis of every phase, comments from dressage expert Sally O’Connor and former winner Ginny Elliot and more.

Piggy French to ride DHI Topper W at the London Olympics

Pippa Roome — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:50:07 +0000

Piggy French will ride DHI Topper W on the British eventing team at the London Olympics this summer.

Piggy was selected last week, but both “Topper” and her other top ride Jakata were named as potential rides for her. However, the British Equestrian Federation confirmed today that Piggy will ride last year’s test event winner DHI Topper W and Piggy told H&H that Jakata is on the injury list. Both horses belong to Piggy’s father Wally and Michael Underwood.

“Sadly Jakata has sustained an injury which puts him out of competition for this year, but hopefully he’ll be back for Badminton next spring,” said Piggy.

“I’m very much looking forward to riding ‘Topper’ in London. Obviously he’s been there before and performed very well. We had a good feeling for the place, so that may be an advantage.”

British eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner said: “DHI Topper W may be a young horse [12], but he has already proven himself talented and suited to Greenwich, winning the London test event last summer and then going on to win the Blenheim CCIO***. Piggy is a proven championship rider and together they make an exciting partnership for the London Olympic Games.”

The BEF has today sent in full “nominated entry lists” of horses and riders in every Olympic discipline to the FEI. Only these horses can be considered to compete at the Games, so the combinations listed below form the reserves for the British eventing team.

View British eventing team picture galleries

British Olympic eventing team reserves

Sarah Cohen with the Preci Spark Ltd’s Treason
Laura Collett with Jason Houghton’s Rayef
William Fox-Pitt with Catherine Witt’s Parklane Hawk
William Fox-Pitt with David and Margie Hall and Jeremy and Judith Skinner’s Neuf Des Coeurs
Pippa Funnell with Carol Toliver’s Mirage D’Elle
Mary King with Derek Rostron Baden and the Mares Team’s Kings Temptress
Polly Stockton with Arthur Comyn’s and her own Westwood Mariner
Francis Whittington with Margrete Paget’s Sir Percival III
Lucy Wiegersma with Christopher and Sarita Perkins’ Simon Porloe
Nicola Wilson with Rosemary Search’s Opposition Buzz

William Fox-Pitt second after dressage at Rolex Kentucky

Horse & Hound — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:46:36 +0000

William Fox-Pitt couldn’t quite hold onto the lead in the dressage phase of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event yesterday.

He scored 41.3pen with Parklane Hawk to put him in second place after American Allison Springer turned in a lovely performance on Arthur little more than an hour later to edge him with a score of 39.8.

She was the only entry in the 57-horse field at the Kentucky Horse Park to break the 40-penalty barrier. Allison was third last year in dressage at America’s only four-star, but was eliminated on cross-country when her horse fell.

William was pleased with his 2011 Burghley winner, saying: “He’s a fantastic horse. He’s got great ability, he’s got good focus and he did a very nice test, but it wasn’t perfect.”

He explained: “The annoying thing was that the blips he made this year he didn’t make last year. The trot work has come on a lot, but last year, the canter work was stronger.”

While he noted the 12-year-old New Zealand thoroughbred did display “some tension” in the atmosphere provided by a good crowd in the imposing stadium, William said: “I’m quite relaxed about that. After they do a big four-star like Burghley, they do come back a little bit on their toes.”

William said he wanted a positive post-Burghley run on the horse, explaining: “I’m hoping it will be a good experience for us and another opportunity to form a better partnership.”

Only one other British rider, Lucy Wiegersma, is in the top 10. She stands eighth with 47.5pen on Granntevka Prince. Oliver Townend finished just outside the top 10 with Pepper Anne (48.8), tied for 11th with American Becky Holder on the veteran Courageous Comet.

James Alliston, the California-based British rider, is far down in the rankings, finishing 23rd on Jumbo’s Jake with 55pen and 45th with Parker (62.5).

The cross-country course, which William described as “clever,” was designed by Derek Di Grazia, who took over the duties last year from Michael Etherington-Smith. Derek, who has visited Greenwich, had an eye toward preparing competitors for the Olympic experience in London.

He noted that, especially in the Kentucky infield: “We’re running quite a few tracks close together, which is hopefully going to give a little more of an intimate effect with the spectators, which will get the riders and horses used to the crowds.”

Keep in touch with all the action from Kentucky on Horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend. Full report will be in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 3 May.

Photo by Nancy Jaffer

H&H video: Lucy Wiegersma’s London 2012 Olympic plans

Horse & Hound — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:20:50 +0000

Successful British event rider Lucy Wiegersma was selected for the British Olympic eventing squad in 2008 for the Olympics in Hong Kong, but missed out when her horse Shaabrak went lame.

Having suffered such severe disappointment, Lucy put together a plan to ensure she would not be in a similar situation four years later. Find out what that plan was, Lucy’s thoughts on Greenwich as a venue and what it would mean to her to represent her country in London, in our exclusive video.

Brits head to Kentucky, as Badminton withdrawals flood in

Pippa Roome — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:25:00 +0000

William Fox-Pitt’s Rolex Kentucky ride Parklane Hawk (pictured) leaves for the USA today.

The Burghley winner has been drawn at number 40 in a field of 69 for the American four-star, so is likely to do his dressage early on the second day (Friday, 27 April).

The other British horses flying to Kentucky are Lucy Wiegersma’s 2009 Blenheim winner Granntevka Prince (number 43) and Oliver Townend’s Pepper Anne (number 49), who recently took a CIC*** at Burnham Market.

They will be joined by California-based British rider James Alliston, who set off from his home at 2am this morning for the long drive to Kentucky. James has two rides, Jumbo’s Jake (number eight) and Parker (number 65), who finished 17th and 14th at Kentucky last year.

The 27-year-old Oxford graduate, who is originally from Gloucestershire, has been showing some good form, with Jumbo’s Jake recording three three-star wins since last October including at Galway Downs (30 March-1 April). The Telegraph reports that British performance manager Yogi Breisner has expressed an interest in him as a potential team member for the London Olympics.

Badminton final scores

British-based New Zealanders Lucy Jackson (Kilcoltrim Ambassador, number 42), Jonathan Paget (Clifton Promise, number 53) and Andrew Nicholson also make the trip. Andrew has three horses entered, but Calico Joe (number 3) and Qwanza (number 60) are likely to be the ones who board the plane.

Horses accepted from Badminton waiting list

Meanwhile, the last few days have brought a rush of withdrawals from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (3-7 May).

Pippa Funnell has pulled all three of her rides after the news of injury to her top horse Redesigned, Clayton Fredericks has withdrawn the mare Dunges Laurent Rose and Jeanette Brakewell has taken Primitive Pistol out of the reckoning.

Two Irish riders are also out, Jayne Doherty (The Only One) and Ciaran Glynn (Killossery Kruisita), while Italy’s Fabio Magnio has withdrawn Watermark Grayson. Germany’s Simone Deitermann withdrew Free Easy NRW a few weeks ago after the pair were eliminated at Fontainebleau.

Combinations down to 13th on the waiting list have now been accepted, with Laura Collett’s second ride Noble Bestman and Clare Lewis with Sidnificant the most recent pairs to gain a space.

Ireland’s Declan Cullen, first on the waiting list, has withdrawn and announced the retirement from eventing of his coloured stallion Glenhill Gold, who has been injured, but may compete in dressage when he recovers.

From the main draw, William Fox-Pitt has withdrawn his new ride Chilli Morning – which was expected because he has only had the stallion on his yard a couple of weeks and does not free up any spots to the waiting list because William will still have two rides. William plans to run Seacookie and Neuf Des Coeurs, but also still has Lionheart, Parklane Hawk and Macchiato entered.

American-based Australian Peter Atkins has not yet formally withdrawn, but is expected to do so because he has broken his leg. Unfortunately his horses, four-star ride Henry Jota Hampton and youngster Firedrake, were already on their way to England at the time of the accident. Peter may now re-route to Luhm ¼hlen (14-17 June) if he is fit in time.

H&H’s Badminton preview, including course-walk with Blyth Tait, is out next Thursday (26 April).

Hendrik Wiegersma is re-learning to walk following accident

Horse & Hound — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:38:17 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma‘s father Hendrik has “no feeling in his feet” but is starting to learn to walk again — following his accident on a ride-on mower (news 11 August).

Mr Wiegersma, a horse dealer, was trapped under the machine for nearly 10 hours when it slipped down a drop at the family’s farm in Devon last month.

His sister-in-law, Vicky Telesford, said that since being discharged from hospital on 31 August, he has been using a mobility scooter — because of the long-term nerve and muscle damage caused by his ordeal.

“But he is very determined and is tottering around on crutches.

“Walking is hard — he has no feeling in his feet — but he is managing to learn to walk again,” she said.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (15 September, 2011)

Lucy Wiegersma’s father injured in ride-on mower accident

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:50:19 +0000

Event rider Lucy Wiegersma has told H&H that her father Hendrik is improving after suffering a serious accident on his ride-on mower last week in Devon.

The Dutch-born 61-year-old, who evented in the 1970s before becoming a horse dealer, was trapped under the mower for nearly 10 hours when it slipped down a 10ft drop.

He was airlifted to Exeter hospital and transferred to Frenchay, where he is currently. He was due to move from intensive care to the burns unit today (Monday 8 August).

“He broke his hip, which has been successfully pinned and plated, punctured a lung and has some kidney damage,” said Lucy. “The worst part are the chemical burns from the petrol — he had 20% burns to his body and had to have a skin graft on his right leg.

“We’re still not sure if he’s broken his ankle and he has a chest infection. He’s very, very lucky and ultimately he will be ok.”

Hendrik will be in hospital for another two to three weeks.

“We don’t really know what happened, and we feel bad about it,” added Lucy. “He’s very independent and does his own thing and we’re used to him keeping odd hours. One of his favourite pastimes is mowing. It was the middle of the night and Mum [former Olympic groom Pippa] noticed he wasn’t in bed, or in his office, so we went out to find him.

“He was due to have his cateracts removed two days after the accident so the likelihood is he didn’t see what he was doing and rolled it. He hasn’t looked after himself well — mum says in the first 20 years of their marriage he was seldom out of plaster, and he’s chopped off three fingers in the past.”

Germany’s Michael Jung wins eventing World Cup

Pippa Roome — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:33:33 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung has won the HSBC FEI World Cup eventing title for the second year running.

Last year’s European bronze medallist achieved the maximum possible points in the accumulator series — the first time the World Cup has been run in this format with no final — by winning two events, Marbach and Strzegom.

He collects US$50,000 (£32,156) for his victory.

“This is wonderful. This [prize money] will now allow me to relax and prepare my top horse, Sam, for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next month.

“The HSBC FEI World Cup has provided great opportunities for me to prepare three horses to top level. It couldn’t have been better and I’m very pleased and grateful.”

Lucy Wiegersma finished best of the Brits in fifth, collecting US$13,000 (£8,360).

HSBC eventing podcast: looking ahead to Burghley

Horse & Hound — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:54 +0000

This month’s HSBC eventing podcast looks ahead to next week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, as well as featuring interviews with WEG reserve Lucy Wiegersma and Ireland’s rising star Sam Watson. Lucy talks about her top horses and how it feels to be on the WEG reserve list, while Sam shares his thoughts on what makes a rider who is great in all thre phases of the sport.

Click below to listen to the podcast

Pippa Funnell and Lucy Wiegersma on British eventing team at Aachen

Pippa Roome — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:09:20 +0000

The British squad for the team CIC*** at Aachen, Germany (16-17 July) is:

Ruth Edge on Hugh Lawson’s Carnaval Prince II
Emily Baldwin on Lady Pauline Harris’s Drivetime
Pippa Funnell on Carol Toliver’s Mirage D’Elle (pictured)
Lucy Wiegersma on Christopher and Sarita Perkins’s Simon Porloe
Sarah Bullimore on Christopher Gillespie’s Salerno

Four of these riders will be in the team and one will compete as an individual.

Aachen has run its team CIC*** since eventing was introduced to the venue for the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

The British squad normally consists of some younger horses and riders gaining experience and has finished a creditable second (2007 and 2009) or third (2008) every time in the team competition to Germany, which normally fields its top championship team.

This will be the first time competing at Aachen for Ruth, Pippa and Sarah, but Emily and Drivetime were 18th there in 2007 and 14th in 2008, while Lucy was 26th on Woodfalls Inigo Jones in 2009.

Sam Griffiths wins World Cup event at Chatsworth Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:04:41 +0000

Sam Griffiths (pictured) clinched his second CIC*** victory this year when he won Britain’s World Cup event at Chatsworth Horse Trials yesterday.

The Australian and Happy Times — with whom he was third at both Badminton and Burghley last year — added just eight time-penalties across country to his dressage score of 43.8. They also won Belton’s CIC***, the Grantham Cup, last month.

Lucy Wiegersma was best of the British in second with Woodfalls Inigo Jones, the horse she rode at last year’s European Championships in Fontainebleau.

“It’s great to get rid of the demons from Badminton,” she said, referring to their run-out at the troublesome double of corners.

Fiona Hobby was third on the 11-year-old mare Roma ML, with last year’s Bramham CIC*** winner Upleadon fourth under Neil Spratt.

The two CIC*** sections went to Ruth Edge on Carnaval Prince II and Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town, making amends for their glance-off at Huntsmans Close at Badminton two weeks ago.

There was a dramatic incident in the showjumping when former British junior medallist Jolyse Clancey took a fall from On A Star when her saddle slipped.

Jolyse was taken to hospital for X-rays and an MRI scan, but her mother Alyse reported this morning that she is just badly bruised and On A Star is also fine.

Two other people, who were injured when the loose mare headed to the collecting ring, were also taken to hospital. They were not seriously injured.

Full report from Chatsworth in Horse & Hound on Thursday (20 May).

British team in silver position at European Eventing Championships

Horse & Hound — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:25:24 +0000

The British squad made an excellent start at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Fontainebleau, France, today.

After the first day of dressage, the British team lies in silver medal position behind Germany, with William Fox-Pitt (pictured) third individually. German team member Frank Ostholt and individual Dirk Schrade hold the top two placings as the only riders to break the 40 barrier.

“We came here fully expecting to surrender the dressage to the Germans, and to be so close behind Frank is very exciting,” said William, who scored 41.5 on the chestnut Badminton runner-up Idalgo, a horse making his championship debut.

“He’s always had huge potential, but he’s also got a huge sense of humour and not a great work ethic — but so did Tamarillo. He’s very mentally active and like a troublesome child, but he couldn’t have gone much better today.”

German team member Frank Ostholt was also delighted with the experienced 14-year-old Air Jordan 2 (pictured left): “He arrived a little stiff from the 9hr journey, so we’ve been working on gymnastics and transitions to get him looser. He knows the basics so well we can work on the small details and he’s like red wine — as he gets older, he gets better.”

The judges suddenly seemed to find the 8 and 9 buttons this afternoon with Frank and William’s tests. German pathfinder Michael Jung was disappointed to score only 45 this morning with his Luhmühlen winner La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, while the first British team member, Nicola Wilson, had also hoped for a better mark than her 56.7 with Opposition Buzz (20th equal overnight).

“He’s not the easiest on the flat, but I’m really pleased with him, though I’d have loved to be in the 40s,” she said.

British individual Lucy Wiegersma and Woodfalls Inigo Jones equalled Michael Jung’s score this afternoon to tie for fourth overnight. Their test was only marred by a bounce through the first flying change.

“That was a shame as he’s actually got very good changes, but he finds them harder on the turn than the straight,” explained Lucy. “He’s a relatively young, inexperienced horse, being only 10, and he did some lovely work, despite getting a bit tense as he went in.”

Several riders said that first impressions of Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course suggest that this competition will not be settled in the dressage.

“It’s twisty, the time will be difficult to get, and although it’s not dimensionally massive, it is technical,” said Lucy Wiegersma. “Even the straightforward fences ask a question by being on a turn or downhill.”

The organisers are watering parts of the track, which runs on sandy paths through woods and over grassed areas which are quite firm.

“I worry the tracks will get deep and you don’t want to be making up time on the turns — it would be easy to have a silly fall on the flat and get eliminated,” said William Fox-Pitt.

RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1. Frank Ostholt on Air Jordan 2 (GER) 39.2

2. Dirk Schrade on Gadget De La Cere (GER) 39.6

3. William Fox-Pitt on Idalgo (GB) 41.5

4eq. Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (GER) 45

4eq. Lucy Wiegersma on Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GB) 45

6. Eric Vigeanel on Coronado Prior (FRA) 46.7

TEAM SCORES AFTER TWO TEAM MEMBERS

1. Germany 84.2

2. Britain 98.2

3. France 101.3

4. Belgium 105.9

5. Italy 115.4

6. The Netherlands 117

Pictures of cross-country course

Full individual results

Official website

Read daily reports from the Europeans at www.horseandhound.co.uk/eventingeuros2009 and don’t miss H&H on 1 October for our full eight-page special report.

Lucy Wiegersma wins her first Blenheim Horse Trials CCI***

Horse & Hound — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:59:54 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma scored her first Blenheim Horse Trials victory this afternoon when she secured top spot with Granntevka Prince.

By the time she entered the arena last as the overnight leader, others’ mistakes had given Lucy a fence in hand.

She used this up when Granntevka Prince took the front rail off a big blue oxer, but stayed clear over the remaining obstacles.

“He is a good jumper — he’s won £400 or £500 show jumping through the last few winters — but he’s going through a not so good stage at events through being a bit tense, but I think he’ll grow out of it,” said Lucy.

“I tried to keep it quiet and ride tight lines, and then when I had that one down [fence eight] I thought the time was going to be an issue and I’d better motor on.”

Emily Baldwin also held her place with one fence down on Drivetime, while Izzy Taylor was the big beneficiary of this phase when her clear round elevated her from sixth overnight to third on nine-year-old mare Briarlands Matilda.

“She’s a class horse — so brave but really careful with it,” said the former young rider individual bronze and team silver medallist.

Daisy Dick (Spring Along) and Andrew Nicholson (Mr Cruise Control) both dropped a place to fourth and fifth with four penalties, while amateur rider Melanie Wilder jumped clear on Minuteman to move up two places to sixth.

CCI*** FINAL RESULTS

1.Lucy Wiegersma on Granntevka Prince (GB) 49.4

2.Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 50.5

3.Izzy Taylor on Briarlands Matilda (GB) 53.9

4.Daisy Dick on Spring Along (GB) 54

5.Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (GB) 54.2

6.Melanie Wilder on Minuteman (GB) 54.6

Full results

Final CIC*** report

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next week for a full report from Blenheim.

Lucy Wiegersma leads Blenheim Horse Trials after cross-country

Horse & Hound — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:08:29 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma leads the CCI*** at Blenheim Horse Trials after today’s cross-country.

Lucy and Granntevka Prince lay fourth after dressage on 45.4, but they put in one of only six clear rounds inside the optimum time to move up to first place.

“He was just magic,” said Lucy. “I was a bit embarrassed to be so far under the time [nine seconds] — I set my watch to five seconds early, as I always do, and forgot I’d done that [so I was nine seconds faster than I expected].

“You get a feel for how to ride this place — you have to allow them to travel up the hills at their own speed. But he’s nippy and as I came to the stone houses [Cotwold Life Boxes, fence 19ab] I realised how much horse I had left underneath me.”

Granntevka Prince is a Grannex-sired nine-year-old who was bred by his owner, Geraldine Mills, and he was British Eventing six-year-old champion in 2006.

Emily Baldwin keeps the second place she held after the first phase by adding eight time-penalties to her dressage score of 38.5 with Drivetime.

“He’s not the greatest galloper and he wastes time in the air, so I have to be strict with myself when I’m walking the course about riding the tightest lines, and that’s what I did here,” said Emily.

“I was really pleased with him — I was a bit worried about how he’d cope with the hills, but when I got in the arena I was surprised how fast I was still going and he had a turn of speed coming home.”

Daisy Dick’s clear inside the time has moved her up from 21st after dressage to third with Spring Along, who was re-routed here after being pulled up after a run-out at the troublesome fence six at Burghley last week.

“Spring Along was amazing, I couldn’t fault his round,” said Daisy. “He loved it — it’s the third time he’s been here and it suits him, being a stamina test.”

Devastating late stop for dressage leader

This was the first time the Blenheim track has been ridden in a clockwise direction and Eric Winter’s course generally rode well, with faults spread around different fences, no holds and no serious injuries.

Dressage leader Allison Springer had a devastating 20 penalties late on course at The Joules Blackberry Brushes (fence 26ab) with Arthur, while fence 13ab put paid to the chances of both Neil Spratt (third after dressage on Upleadon) and Pippa Funnell (fifth after dressage on Ensign).

The direct route through the fence — named the The My Wine Club’s Butt & Barrel Bar (pictured above) — consisted of a big table, followed by a left-hand curving line to a corner on three to five strides. Neil had a fall at this fence, while Ensign ran-out at the corner.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s show jumping, Lucy Wiegersma does not have a fence in hand over Emily Baldwin, so if Emily jumps clear, the Lucy will have to also leave all the fences intact to win her first Blenheim title.

“He is a good jumper, although I don’t think he’s jumped a clear at an event his year,” said Lucy. “He’s saving it up for here!”

CCI*** RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1.Lucy Wiegersma on Granntevka Prince (GB) 45.4

2.Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 46.5

3.Daisy Dick on Spring Along (GB) 50

4.Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 50.2

5.Will Faudree on Pawlow (USA) 50.9

6.J-P Sheffield on Crown Farm Consort (GB) 52.9

Full times and results

Report of today’s CIC*** action

Stay up to date with more reports from Blenheim tomorrow on www.horseandhound.co.uk and buy Horse & Hound next week (17 September issue) for a full report.

Allison Springer stays ahead at end of Blenheim Horse Trials dressage

Horse & Hound — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:28:58 +0000

The two riders who topped the leader board at the end of Thursday at Blenheim Horse Trials remain in prime position at the close of the dressage.

No one today could break into the 30s, so America’s Allison Springer still holds first place with Arthur, a horse she re-routed here after three stops across country at last week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Emily Baldwin also holds her overnight position — second — with Drivetime. Emily’s score of 38.5pen puts her five marks ahead of New Zealand’s Neil Spratt, the best of today’s competitors.

Neil performed an excellent test with the grey 11-year-old Welton Crackerjack gelding Upleadon, winner of Bramham CIC*** in June, to take third.

“He did a very good test at Bramham, but he’s done a couple of average tests since then so we’ve just been trying to get him back to his Bramham form,” said Neil.

“Winning Bramham was a big occasion for him and it got to him a bit and he got tense after that. We’ve been concentrating on getting him soft and relaxed again.”

Neil’s test was only marred by a slight “hump” in the first flying change, which he blamed on himself, saying he had “strangled” Upleadon slightly in the counter canter going into it.

Lucy Wiegersma is fourth on nine-year-old Granntevka Prince, whose only big mistake was trying to canter out of the rein-back, and Pippa Funnell is just 0.2pen behind Lucy with Ensign, second here in 2006.

Ensign would almost certainly have ended up ahead of Granntevka Prince but for a blip in the final counter canter half-circle. As he approached the P marker, he seemed to suddenly stop in his tracks and Pippa showed all her skill in restoring the counter canter for a few strides so that she did not also lose marks for the flying change.

Sarah Bullimore and the Dutch-bred Salerno — the 2005 British Eventing six-year-old champion — were the first to make an impression on the top three today, claiming third soon after the lunch break on 46. They end the day in sixth place.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s cross-country, Neil Spratt said: “It’s very inviting to take on the straight routes, but you have to bear in mind the track is quite hilly.

“There are a couple of points where you go up a steep hill and there’s a difficult fence at the top — you need to be aware you may not have a full tank of petrol. But it’s a nice galloping track and if you have a good round you can be very pleased.”

The first horse on tomorrow’s cross-country is Godington Haarlem, ridden by Ruth Barnard, at 10am.

CIC***

Last week’s Burghley winner Oliver Townend leads the inaugural CIC*** for eight- and nine-year-old horses. Oliver and the Master Imp nine-year-old ODT Master Rose scored 44 to lead by 1.2pen.

Piggy French — who has recently been promoted from the reserves’ bench to represent Britain at the forthcoming European Championships — lies second on the in-form eight-year-old Flying Machine.

Andrew Nicholson is third on Rosemary Barlow’s Saumur winner Avebury.

The competitors in this class show jump tomorrow after the CCI*** cross-country finishes and go cross-country in the lunch break on Sunday.

CCI*** RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1. Allison Springer on Arthur (USA) 36.9

2. Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GB) 38.5

3. Neil Spratt on Upleadon (NZL) 43.5

4. Lucy Wiegersma on Granntevka Prince (GB) 45.4

5. Pippa Funnell on Ensign (GB) 45.6

6. Sarah Bullimore on Salerno (GB) 46

CIC** RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1. Oliver Townend on ODT Master Rose (GB) 44

2. Piggy French on Flying Machine (GB) 45.2

3. Andrew Nicholson on Avebury (NZL) 46.5

4. Ruth Edge on Nick Of Thyme (GB) 47.1

5eq. Pippa Funnell on Mirage D’Elle (GB) 47.7

5eq. Jeanette Brakewell on Take It 2 The Limit (GB) 47.7

Blenheim results and times

Stay up to date with daily reports from Blenheim over the weekend and buy Horse & Hound next week (17 September issue) for a full report.

Riders chosen to join elite BEF programme

Horse & Hound — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:11:35 +0000

Event riders Nicola Wilson (pictured), Lucy Wiegersma and Ruth Edge, and para-equestrian dressage rider Sophie Wells are to be promoted from the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) World Class Development Programme to the World Class Performance Programme.

The lottery-funded World Class Performance Programme, which incorporates the Olympic sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping, and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage, provides Britain’s elite riders with the best preparation for international competition.

Will Connell, BEF World Class Performance director, said, “The promotion of these riders shows the depth of talent we have in this country. The standard of riding on the Performance Program continues to improve year on year.”

Nicola has enjoyed consistently good results since finishing 16th in her four-star debut at Badminton in 2007.

In 2008 she was placed in the top five in the British Open and Burghley, and to date has achieved top five finishes at Burgie, Bramham and Burnham Market.

Lucy Weigersma, who has ranked in British Eventing’s top ten for the last two years, came second at Badminton in 2008 and was selected to represent Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics with Shaabrak.

Although unable to compete in Beijing due to an injury, the pair are back on form, finishing 6th at Badminton this year.

Ruth Edge also has an impressive record, taking the title at the British Open Championships in 2004 and 2008, winning the Scottish Open Championships in 2006 and securing four-star victory at Luhmülen in 2004.

This year she achieved a top ten finish at Badminton, a second place at Luhmülen and a first and second place at Burnham Market.

Sophie Wells, at 19 the youngest rider on the World Class Performance Programme, became the first para rider to win an able-bodied international competition when she took the title of the Hickstead Under-21 International in 2008.

This year she has dominated the grade IV section of the Para Equestrian Dressage International competition at Hartpury, riding to victory in the individual, team and freestyle tests.

The BEF development programme is divided into start and potential squads across each discipline, and to be considered for the programme, riders must meet set minimum criteria, attend numerous ridden assessments and an interview.

Selection for the World Class Performance Programme is based on results combined with the potential of riders to contribute to team success at major championships. Following selection, riders’ performance is continuously assessed and reviewed.

Karin Donckers leads after dressage at Badminton Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:59:38 +0000

Belgian rider Karin Donckers (pictured) leads after the dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, but young British stars Lucy Wiegersma and Oliver Townend are close behind in second and third.

Little changed at the top of the leader board for most of this morning, until Italian first-timer Roberto Rotatori, 41, took second with Irham De Viages just before lunch.

But the bests tests were always expected to be in the last session, which didn’t disappoint, despite strong winds increasing the tension in the main arena.

Karin Donckers put in a light, flowing test with the Pellaux family’s 14-year-old mare Gazelle De La Brasserie, who was second after dressage at the Olympics last year. She scored 38.8 today to take the lead.

“Maybe in relation to the Olympics she wasn’t so relaxed, but there are big crowds and wind here,” said Karin. “I can always count on a good test with this mare.”

Badminton final scores

Listen to Karin Donckers’ interview

Lucy Wiegersma admitted she thought she was into “damage limitation territory” with Shaabrak, who felt “the most tense I’ve known him during a test”.

“I was quite disappointed when I came out, but it obviously looked better than it felt,” said Lucy, who is just 0.9pen behind Karin.

Oliver Townend was “thrilled” with Flint Curtis, third here in 2006.

“Since he came here then he’s been excitable in the dressage, and this is the first time since at a major three-day that I’ve been able to sit on my backside and ride him,” said Oliver.

Zara Phillips scored excellent marks during her trotwork with Toytown, but the horse tried to spin round in the rein-back and showed tension after that in the canter. She is ninth on 45.3.

Listen to Zara Phillips’ interview

Sharon Hunt’s Tankers Town actually span round in the rein-back this morning, and it has been suggested this was caused by horses catching sight of the scoreboard.

Cross-country thoughts

Lucy Wiegersma said of Hugh Thomas’s cross-country course: “It’s not quite as tough as last year, but still big, bold and aggressive. There are plenty of jumping efforts in the last mile.”

Oliver Townend described it as “not the most inspiring course if you are down the leader board”. But he added: “It’s still Badminton and it’s intense all the way round — in comparison to recent years you’ll have to concentrate to the end more.”

Both Oliver and Lucy said they think the ground is superb, but will ride quite fast.

William Fox-Pitt is the pathfinder, setting off at 11am with Macchiato.

FINAL DRESSAGE RESULTS

1. Karin Donckers on Gazelle De La Brasserie (BEL) 38.8

2. Lucy Wiegersma on Shaabrak (GBR) 39.7

3. Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis (GBR) 40.5

4. Emily Baldwin on Drivetime (GBR) 42.3

5. William Fox-Pitt on Idalgo (GBR) 42.8

6. Roberto Rotatori on Irham De Viages (ITA) 43.7

Read H&H Badminton reporter Catherine Austen’s blog about Roberto Rotatori

Log back on to www.horseandhound.co.uk tomorrow for a mid-action cross-country report, plus an end of day update.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week (14 May) — our 15-page Badminton report will include comments from Carl Hester, Mark Todd and Tina Cook, plus cross-country course analysis and plenty of colour photographs.

Lucy Wiegersma, British event rider

Horse & Hound — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:28:43 +0000

Read the latest Lucy Wiegersma news

Born in 1977, Lucy Wiegersma is the only British rider to have won all three national eventing titles – Junior in 1995, Young Rider in 1998 and Senior in 2006.

Having long been a prolific winner of one- and three-day events, Lucy hit the big time when she was second at Badminton in 2008 with Shaabrak, with whom she also won Blair CCI*** in 2004.

They were selected for the Hong Kong Olympics, but dropped from the squad when Shaabrak missed some fitness work due to a poisoned foot.

At the inaugural Express Eventing International Cup in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in December 2008 Lucy came second to Oliver Townsend with Shaabrak, winning £50,000.

Lucy made her British squad debut in September 2009, finishing 13th at the European Championships in Fontainebleau on Woodfalls Inigo Jones.

In 2011 she won Chatsworth CIC*** again with Shaabrak and Barbury CCI** with Wish Upon A Star.

Her Dutch father Hendrik rode at the top level and her mother Pippa was head girl to 1956 British Olympic team gold medallist Bertie Hill.

In August 2011 Hendrik suffered a serious accident on his ride-on mower. However, despite having “no feeling in his feet” he was starting to learn to walk again by the following month.

Lucy – who is based at Warren Farm in Devon – also has an English degree from Exeter University and does some freelance journalism work, including writing for H&H’s sister magazine Eventing.

Warren Farm was less than two miles from a case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) in September 2010 but fortunately the disease did not spread.

Lucy Wiegersma videos

Lucy Wiegersma photo galleries

Lucy Wiegersma’s official website

Lucy Wiegersma takes second after dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:45:08 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma (pictured) managed a super test in this afternoon’s poor conditions to take second place after dressage in the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. And William Fox-Pitt kept up the British effort when Tamarillo achieved his best four-star score to date for third.

With heavy rain having dominated the day, the ground in the arena was deteriorating rapidly by the time Lucy and Shaabrak took the stage. But they still put in a smart test, marred only by Shaabrak losing his balance slightly in the second shoulder-in and coming above the vertical.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from him given the conditions — the centre line resembles a ploughed furrow,” said Lucy, who had warmed up swathed in waterproofs and only put on her top hat and tails at the last minute.

Listen to Lucy’s interview

Five horses later William and Tamarillo came in. The part-Arab seemed unaffected by the wet, and, keeping his trademark bounce under control, scored in the 30s for the first time ever at a four-star.

“I’m delighted with him,” said William. “It’s quite muddy in there, so far from a level playing field with the bogs and ruts. But he tried hard and I could even ‘go for it’ a bit. He was still cheeky from time to time, but that’s Tamarillo.”

Listen to William’s interview

Ruth Edge retains the lead after her excellent test this morning with Mr Dumbledore. She is 5.4 penalties ahead of Lucy, with William just 0.7 of a penalty further back.

Wet ground on tomorrow’s cross-country is likely to make the time — always difficult to get here — particularly tough to achieve tomorrow.

“The ground here does take a lot of moisture, but we have had a lot of moisture today,” said Lucy. “It’ll be at the forefront of people’s minds leaving the start box and perhaps they won’t set out as quick as if we were running on the top of the ground.”

William Fox-Pitt said he had been out on the course today and the going was in general remarkably good, if wet in places. Tamarillo has a good record in the mud having won at Badminton 2004 in similar conditions.

“He has an amazing ability to rise above the ground,” said William, who predicted no one will make the optimum time. “He’s a plucky little horse and very athletic.”

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1. Mr Dumbledore (Ruth Edge, GB) 33.7

2. Shaabrak (Lucy Wiegersma, GB) 39.1

3. Tamarillo (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 39.8

4. Rose’s Merlin (Karin Donckers, BEL) 40.6

5. Imperial Cavalier (Mary King, GB) 41.5

6. Moon Fleet (Andrew Hoy, AUS) 41.9

Keep logging onto www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley08 for updates, blogs and video from Burghley.

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (11 September) for a 12-page special report, colour photographs and William Fox-Pitt’s comment.

Lucinda Fredericks signs up for express eventing

Charlotte White — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:07:01 +0000

Six more top riders — including Lucinda Fredericks — have signed up to take part in the new Express Eventing International Cup.

The new eventing series — designed to condense the excitement of three-day eventing into a few hours, indoors —makes its debut in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 30 November.

Twenty riders will take part in the competition, which has a prize-fund of £250,000, with £100,000 to the winner on the day.

British rider Lucy Wiegersma, Australian Olympic silver medallist Lucinda Fredericks, French eventer Rodolphe Scherer, Italy’s Vittoria Pannizon, New Zealander Caroline Powell and American Philip Dutton have all signed up for the competition in the past week.

Riders previously confirmed include Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Clayton Fredericks, Belgian rider Karin Donckers and German Dirk Schrade.

The competition will start with a freestyle dressage programme, set to music, where riders will be judged on “artistic interpretation”.

They will then enter a combined jumping stage, with quick break to change tack between the show jumping and cross-country phases, still in the indoor arena.

For more information about Express Eventing International Cup, go to www.eeicup.com

Burghley Horse Trials 2008 trot-up video highlights

Horse & Hound — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:24:36 +0000

Video highlights from Wednesday’s trot-up featuring Zara Phillips, William Fox-Pitt, Lucy Weigersma and Mary King. Glenbuck and Tamarillo both did their best to entertain spectators.

Lucy Wiegersma heads the British open field at Gatcombe

Pippa Roome — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:29:18 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma will be looking to take home her second British national — and first British open — title at Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing, supported by BETA, this weekend.

Badminton runners-up Lucy and Shaabrak (pictured) were originally selected for the British team for the Olympics, but when the horse suffered a poisoned foot she was taken out of the squad. However, the pair went into quarantine as reserve combinations.

But with no last-minute call-up, Lucy will bring the chestnut to Gatcombe to contest the British open championships. The pair were fourth in this class last year, and the fastest round the cross-country course — could they improve on that this year?

Other leading contenders for the £10,000 first prize include Chatsworth World Cup qualifier winners Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis and Australian pair Paul Tapner and Inonothing, who won Belton’s Grantham Cup this spring. Zara Phillips will also ride in the open, competing her two Badminton runners, Ardfield Magic Star and Glenbuck.

New Zealand Olympic team members Andrew Nicholson and Joe Meyer are riding at Gatcombe before heading out to the Games, and Andrew has the prodigious nine-year-old Armada, as well as new ride Muschamp Impala, in the open.

Andrew will also make a strong assault on the Martin Collins International and EHOA intermediate championship, bringing three horses including last year’s runner-up for the novice title, the Jumbo grey Avebury.

The Dodson & Horrell novice championship also looks set to be a competitive class with 100 horses lining up for a chance to win.

The novice and intermediate championships are often the first prestigious step for horses who go on to achieve great feats: Tamarillo won the intermediate in 2000, while in 2006 William Fox-Pitt scored a double across these two classes with Navigator and Macchiato, who have both gone on to win Bramham.

“The course and competition at all levels will be as challenging as ever and the winners at Gatcombe will be deserving champions,” says director Tim Henson. “Who could resist the idea of a picnic in the park while watching some of the world’s top riders in action, without having to travel to Hong Kong?”

Keep an eye on www.horseandhound.co.uk/gatcombe08 for online updates from Gatcombe over the weekend and don’t forget to buy H&H next Thursday (7 August) for a full report from Gatcombe, including a column from former British open champion Ruth Edge.

Full Gatcombe entries

Gatcombe website

Lucy Wiegersma will miss the Olympics after injury to Shaabrak

Pippa Roome — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:28:27 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma will not ride on the British eventing team at the Olympics in Hong Kong this summer.

Lucy’s mount Shaabrak (pictured finishing second at Badminton this year) has been suffering from a poisoned foot, which has meant he has missed some fitness and preparatory work, although when H&H spoke to Lucy yesterday she was still hopeful he would be able to reach peak fitness in time for the Games.

“It’s bad timing,” said Lucy. “It started about two weeks ago — he had a bit of broken foot one day, then the next he was lame, with a thumping pulse and a hot foot.”

First reserve riders Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) and Daisy Dick (Spring Along) have been selected to replace Lucy and Zara Phillips, who had to withdraw three weeks ago after an injury to Toytown.

Will Connell, British equestrian team leader commented: “I am of course extremely disappointed for Lucy, who has worked so hard over many years to win her place in the team; however, in Tina and Daisy we have two experienced campaigners who both have horses that should be able to turn in some excellent performances at the Games. The team remains strong, capable and focused on winning medals in Hong Kong.”

Lucy Wiegersma heads the Brits at Ede CIC***

Horse & Hound — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:52:44 +0000

France’s Aurlien Kahn and Lord De Lignire put up a superb performance to win the CIC*** at Ede in Holland by more than seven marks, from Andreas Dibowski on FRH Little Lemon.

Italys Susanna Bordone finished third on Ava, just ahead of Australias Andrew Hoy riding Peaceful Consort.

Best of the Brits was Lucy Wiegersma on Woodfalls Inigo Jones, who made a meteoric rise from 48th place after dressage to fifth place on the final day.

Germanys Julia Mestern finished sixth on Hamlett, while the home crowd was delighted to see Hollands former European young rider silver medallist Huub van der Mark finish seventh with Exquis Idem Du Roc.

Mary King finished 12th with Kings Fancy after jumping clear in both phases.

The CCI** was won by Lucinda Fredericks and Frances Smarts Mr Alligator on their dressage score.

The CCI* went to Germanys in-form Dirk Schrade on Grand Amour, with Bumble Thomas on her one-star debutante Cool Diamond runner-up.

Dirk also won the CIC** with Huskey ahead of Dutch rider Tim Lips on Oncarlos. Lucy Wiegersma was again best of the Brits, in fourth on Granntevka Prince.

Read this eventing report in full in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (25 June, ’07)

Eventing masterclass at Belton Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:12:16 +0000

Oliver Townend (pictured right) and Lucy Wiegersma are among a line-up of potential Olympic event riders hosting a masterclass at Belton Horse Trials (31 March 7:30pm).

The class will offer advice on training for dressage, show jumping and cross-country, using up-and-coming riders as guinea pigs.

Piggy French, Tristram Owers, Nick Gauntlett and Polly Jackson will be teaching alongside Townend and Wiegersma. The class, which is run in conjunction with Belton Horse Trials (31 March – 1 April), is being held in support of the Event Riders’ Association.

Tickets are available priced at £20 for adults and £17 for children under 16. Pony Club members £15. Attendees to the masterclass can also benefit from a preferential entry rate of £5 to Belton Horse Trials.

Ticket application details and further information can be found at www.hoylandevent.co.uk or by contacting Hoyland Event & Marketing Services (tel: 01777 872298) or email: info@hoylandevent.co.uk

Gatcombe (1) Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:47:31 +0000

Lucy Wiegersma (pictured right) claimed victory in the advanced intermediate at the Land Rover-sponsored spring Gatcombe with Shaabrak. Just 0.3pen separated her from second-placed Kitty Boggis on Coup De Coeur. Francis Whittington took third place with Sir Percival III.

William Fox-Pitt and Moon Man led open intermediate section L. Bruce Haskell was second with Sky Sport, while Oliver Townend finished third with Golden Hue.

Oli dominated the second open intermediate section claiming first and second places with Northacres Best Wishes and Daisy Crazy respectively. Tristram Owers’ consistent little grey Gentle George was third.

Selina Payne won intermediate section I on her own Tiger Lady, while Vittoria Panizzon took intermediate section J with Malt On The Rocks. Stephen Way riding Hop And Skip won the final intermediate section.

Read this report in full, including photos and further analysis, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (29 March, ’07)

Latest from Horse & Hound in Lucy-wiegersma

Former British team rider takes over at Pontispool from Badminton’s course-designer

“I’m very excited and pleased to have been asked to design the courses at Pontispool this year, although stepping into Eric Winter’s shoes will be a very tough act to follow,” she said.

“It’s a place I know very well as a rider and I feel it has a great deal to offer for the education and development of horses and riders. From my riding experience at Pontispool, I know how it feels, and instinctively, which parts are difficult to ride and which ride well.”

Lucy will be focusing on developing tracks that are encouraging for greener horses and riders, educational for more established combinations and “above all fun to ride”.

“We will make full use of Pontispool’s wonderful parkland setting, and there will be purpose and flow and my aim is to make it a positive experience, educational and enjoyable for the horses and the riders so that, hopefully, the majority come back with a smile on their faces,” said Lucy.

Pontispool owner Richard Mitford-Slade thanked Eric Winter, who has been “instrumental” in putting the venue on the map, designing “brilliant” courses over the last two decades.

“We’re delighted to welcome Lucy on board. Her vast experience will be a valuable addition to Pontispool, as we take the venue in a slightly new direction, to cater for the changing demands of those who event. It’s an exciting time,” he said.

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