Brits at Blair Euros on Thursday: ‘My groom said to go nail it’ *VIDEO*
Find out how Britain’s riders performed on the first day of dressage (Thursday, 10 September) at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.
Kitty King, 32, with Jane and Frank Inns’ Persimmon (team rider) — 36.9, fifth at the end of Thursday
“I’m not normally nervous before the dressage, but I definitely felt the butterflies this morning,” said Kitty. “He can be tricky and you never know what day he’s going to do it, but he couldn’t have performed better today.
“I was worried the atmosphere would make him tense, but he let me ride him. He just got a bit tight before one flying change and missed it, which was a shame — we had issues with it earlier in the week and they came back to haunt us.
“I was surprised to be asked to go first — I assumed being a newbie to the team I’d be in the middle somewhere, so I was a bit like, ‘oh god’ when Yogi [Breisner, chef d’equipe] asked me. But I’ve had time to get my head round it now and and it’s not as bad as I thought.”
Gemma Tattersall, 30, with The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul (individual rider) — 47.3, 17th at the end of Thursday
“I spend my life managing his tension,” said Gemma. “He’s quite established in his work now, which has only really happened this year, so it’s a case of managing his mind. He’s genuinely nervous and scared, there’s nothing naughty about him. You have to keep his confidence and persuade him it’s not that scary.
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“I was disappointed he didn’t walk at all as that will have lost us a lot of marks. Normally he’s really good at the walk and the pirouettes, but he didn’t do them at all today as he was too tense.
“It would have been nice to be in the mid to low 40s, so I’m a little disappointed, but not with the horse. At the end of the day he’s given me my first senior flag and he’ll be fun to ride on Saturday.”
Sarah Bullimore, 42, with her husband Brett’s and her own Lilly Corinne (individual rider) — 38.2, seventh at the end of Thursday
“I’m chuffed with her, although it’s a shame there was a bit of tension in the walk. But she’s arrived here and practically gone straight in arena, so I’m over the moon with her,” said Sarah, who only came off the reserve bench on Wednesday morning when Dani Evans’ horse Smart Time wasn’t quite himself.
Sarah drove up to Blair overnight on Tuesday, expecting to wait around until shortly before the trot-up, the last point at which a substitution can be made, and then drive home again.
“I’ve waited 20 odd years for this and to get my flag is fantastic. It’s been a total whirlwind and an emotional few days. It’s a shame my gain comes because of someone else’s misfortune, but Dani’s been the ultimate professional and her time will come.
“Lilly would have gone to Pau if she hadn’t come here. Normally you have a pinnacle you are working to, the stepping stones of the last week, so I feel a bit unprepared in that respect, but the horse is ready, fit and well. Maybe sometimes we over prepare. The training is all done at home, then you just have to come out at a competition and do the business.”
Holly Woodhead, 21, with her father Ian and stepmother Heidi Woodhead’s DHI Lupison (individual rider) — 31.1, first at the end of Thursday
“All I could remember as I cantered in was the test we did at Aachen [last month] and trying to do the same,” said Holly. “The last words I actually heard were from my groom, Alex van Tuyll, who said to go nail it.
“I knew he could go well, but I didn’t realise I’d got that kind of score, which is a personal best. I’d have been happy with the top 10, let alone to go straight into the lead.”
Laura Collett, 25, with Diana Chappell’s Grand Manoeuvre (individual rider) — 37.8, sixth at the end of Thursday
“He tried really hard in there — it’s his best test yet so he’s chosen the right time to do it,” said Laura, who took over the ride on “Milo” from Nick Gauntlett last year. “He’s been on cracking form all year, getting better and better, so it’s nice it came off at the right time. He’s an amazing horse and we’re starting to gel and getting our relationship together.
“I’ve never done a home championship, so that’s a new experience. The buzz and vibe really pushes you to do that bit extra. Everyone is out to do their best and show they’ve earnt their place here.”
Nicola Wilson, 38, with Mary and Gerry Kemp and Janine Shewan’s One Two Many (team rider) — 34.6, third at the end of Thursday
“I’m delighted with him,” said Nicola. “He’s such a talented horse, but he can be a bit cheeky. But over the past six weeks he’s been getting better and better. He’s been working really well at home so it was good to be able to show that. He was lovely to ride today and I’m so proud of him.
“I do love coming here to Blair and my owners love it too. We make an annual visit, it’s like our summer holiday.”
Britain in team and individual gold after first day
Follow the action with H&H Live
Full report from the European Championships at Blair in H&H next week, out Thursday, 17 September — 19 pages of analysis and photographs, plus columns from Harry Meade and Mike Etherington-Smith.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.