EQUESTRIAN: Nicholson success at Blenheim
1:00pm Wednesday 16th September 2009 in Sport By Kate Healey
ANDREW Nicholson finished in the money in both sections on offer at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
The top title up for grabs was the CCI*** (three star three-day event), won by Devon rider Lucy Wiegersma and Granntevka Prince.
Nicholson, the Marlborough-based New Zealander who has been in Britain for 30 years, was fifth on Mr Cruise Control.
The eight-year-old, who Nicholson owns jointly with Robin and Nicola Salmon, has been primarily saved for three-star international runs this season, with his best previous performance a ninth at the Burnham Market CIC*** back in the spring.
This time he was handily placed in seventh after dressage and added just four cross-country time penalties to that score over Eric Winter’s course, which saw well-known names such as Mark Todd, Daisy Dick and Swindon-based Neil Spratt, third after dressage on Upleadon, pick up faults.
Mr Cruise Control ended the event with just one down in the final showjumping phase – a pole that cost him second place overall.
Nicholson also finished second in the new CIC*** (international one-day event) for eight and nine-year-old horses, which gave spectators an extra day of cross-country action this time. This was on Rosemary Barlow’s nine-year-old Avebury, who is by renowned British stallion Jumbo, also sire of Lucinda Fredericks' great Olympic silver medallist Headley Britannia.
The pair, winners of the Saumur three-star title in France back in May, moved up one place after dressage thanks to a clean show jumping round and were just .3 of a mark off a win.
Young Chinese eventing star Alex Hua Tian, who is based at Little Cheverell in the yard of Coral Keen, finished seventh and 12th in the Blenheim CCI***.
Hua Tian, who became the first Chinese rider to compete in the Olympic equestrian events last year at the age of 18, has been busy with his A-level studies at Eton for much of this year.
The teenager, who got his season fully underway in July, filled seventh spot on the 12-year-old gelding Jeans, who was at just his third event of 2009.
The pair lay 10th after dressage, where Hua Tian received ‘fabulous’ comments on his scoresheet from international judge Christopher Hess, and added just eight cross country time penalties to that score.
"Alex has been teased in the past about going too slowly cross-country, so this time he picked up speed, and took just one long route,” said his mother, Sarah Noble.
“He hasn’t always seen eye to eye with Jeans, who was probably the most experienced horse to come to him. They are only just getting things together so to finish seventh was really good.”
His 12th-placed ride was Magenta, who was first to go in the dressage phase where she broke in the half pass and walk in an otherwise good test.
Twelve cross-country time penalties kept the pair just out of the top 10.
“Alex also won the Best Under 25 prize and both his horses have now qualified for the 2010 World Equestrian Games,” added his mum.
“He has been managing all the horses himself, with advice and lessons from the Fredericks' and great help for Olympic dressage rider Jane Bredin.”
His 2008 Olympic ride Chico is currently out of action after breaking a splint bone but Hua Tian hopes he will be back in action in three weeks time.
He will be starting his studies for an Aero Technology degree at Bristol University towards the end of the month, which may put paid to a proposed trip to the Boekelo International event in Holland.
AN action-packed Gatcombe International Horse Trials (Friday to Sunday) has drawn a huge entry of 750 riders, all keen to try their luck over the Cotswolds cross-country course designed by HRH The Princess Royal and Pattie Biden.
Tomorrow (Friday) sees the 200-strong Intermediate and Open Intermediate classes run all day, with top names such as William Fox-Pitt, on Tamarillo, Nicholson and Mark Todd entered.
The Network Group International CIC** has attracted 122 runners, headed by Zara Phillips and two up-and-coming horses, High Kingdom and Silver Lining V.
Riders will do dressage on Friday and Saturday, with cross country from 9am on Sunday and final showjumping at 2pm in reverse order.
Other local hopes to look out for include Tytherton Lucas-based Chris King, with two good chances in Silver Machine and Idol Hero, in-form Chippenham rider Kitty Boggis on Bee Animas, second at Highclere on their latest outing and Harry Meade on Tinka’s Time, sixth at the Hartpury three-day event last month.
Beanie Sturgis, on the seven-year-old Wizard from Aus, Australian international Paul Tapner, Under 21 British rider Eliza Sangster, Helen Cole, Alexander Peternell and Jonelle Richards also compete.
There is also a CIC*, Novice sections and a young horse qualifier.
Entry is £5 per car, with all occupants, and the event is signposted off the A419 Cirencester to Stroud road.
The website is www.gatcombe-events.co.uk THIS weekend also sees the Tedworth Autumn Ride (Sunday), which takes entrants across 10 miles of superb downs and private land from a start point at Rushall, near Upavon.
The course includes 30 jumps of varying heights all of which are optional.
Riders may set out on the ride between 10am and 1pm and the venue will be signposted from the A345.
Details from Pewsey-based Alison Jenkins on 01672 851217 or email autumnride@tedworthhunt.co.uk or visit www.tedworthhunt.co.uk.
STONAR School student Sarah Pinfield scored a memorable win at the National Pony Club Novice Championships in Cheshire, where she was competing for the Avon Vale Hunt branch.
The Bromham 13-year-old won her arena in the dressage championships, improving on the second place she’d gained last year on her pony Minnie.
This time Pinfield partnered her eight-year-old 148cms skewbald mare Samba, who finished on a superb mark of 74.4% to win by a four-point margin.
Pinfield's Avon Vale team finished 16th out of 40 teams and riding with her were Libby Seed, Sophie Andrews and Antonia Riley.
