Gatcombe 1 Horse Trials 2009
Gatcombe (1)
An excellent win for Rodney Powell and Zinzan II, in the Advanced Intermediate at the Land Rover sponsored spring Gatcombe was just the result they needed to put the horror of an incident, which almost ended the horse’s life, behind them. At the end of last season one of Zinzan’s studs pierced a live power cable while Rodney was riding him at an event and he received a powerful electric shock. “This is only his second competition coming back from that” Rodney said “The biggest worry was that it would have affected him mentally but I gave him a very quiet run at Tweseldown, he was fine, so took the handbrake off today and I was delighted with the way he went.” Rodney had been well up among the leaders after dressage, on a score of 32.3, and a clear round in the show jumping put them in a strong position going onto cross-country. “I was very pleased with our dressage test” Rodney said “but there’s still room for improvement, we haven’t peaked yet.” Zinzan, who is owned by Mr & Mrs R. Boucher and Nell Buckler, is now heading for Badminton, via advanced classes at Belton and Powderham Castle.
Andrew Nicholson, riding his own and Robin Salmon’s Mr Cruise Control, finished just .2pen behind to take the runner up spot. Andrew enjoyed a successful day on all his Intermediate horses, finishing second in Intermediate section H with Deborah Sellar’s Quimbo and third in section I on Jack Green.
Zara Phillip, deputized for The Princess Royal by handing out the prizes for the AI, and was delighted to present herself with third and eight places, riding Ardfield Magic Star and Secret Legacy respectively. “Ardfield Magic Star was a very good boy today, his dressage was particularly good and he didn’t fight with me so much in the show jumping” she said “My horses don’t usually behave at their home event but surprisingly they did today.”
Louisa Brassey, riding Fergals Flight, once again enjoyed success at her local event by winning Open Intermediate section K by a clear 10-point margin. “Gatcombe has always been my lucky event” Louisa said “I took over the ride on Fergals Flight from his owner Ian Clark, who brought him up to Intermediate level, but then decided he didn’t have the time to take him any further. We’ve worked hard on his dressage, as he’s not a natural at that, so to come here and score 26.8 is wonderful.” They then added just two time penalties on the cross country to secure a well-deserved win. The runner up spot went to Tom McEwen and Major Sweep with Louisa Lockwood and The Diva in third.
Ewart Woolley’s victory in OI section J riding Trefeinon Niko was the perfect “get well” present he could have given the horse’s owner Vicki Irlam as she was in hospital recovering from a hip replacement operation. The pair added just 3.2 time penalties to their dressage mark of 30 to snatch victory from long time leaders Daniel Sibley and Osh Kosh in the dying minutes of the class. Ewart said, “He’s a lovely horse, a bit like a pony to ride, very nimble and easy to place at fences.” They now head for a first advanced run at Weston Park
Daniel Sibley was also delighted with the partnership he is building with his new ride the experienced campaigner Osh Kosh. “Andrew Nicholson was offered the ride on him last year” Daniel explained” but didn’t feel he was the right sort of horse for him, so suggest to owner Polly Samson that she let me try him. We were placed every time out last season but, because he is a very fast horse, it’s taken to now for me to feel ready to let the hand brake off.” Third place went to Joe Meyer riding Snip.
In the first of three Intermediate sections Young Rider Laura Grace Johnson scored her first win on Henry and Edna Harding’s homebred Ashdale Kaliro. Laura, who is based in Cheshire and combines eventing with show jumping, took over the ride on the mare and her full brother Ashdale Samiro, who also finished fifth, in February and this was only the second competition together. “I did my dressage yesterday in the most tremendous hail storm” Laura said, “I just couldn’t believe how well she coped with it.” Nicky Roncoroni with Mistral De Blondel took second place with Bill Levett and Miracle Contender NJ in third.
Fiona Hobby notched up her third win in as many weeks by taking section I with her husband Jolyon’s Fun Time Frankie. Having already won at Tweseldown and Aldon Fiona had’nt intended to run at Gatcombe but when she heard they had not made it into CCI2* at Compiegne decided to give him one last run, then a short holiday before re routing to Tattersalls in Ireland. “I’m always surprised by how fast he is,” said Fiona “He has such a huge canter stride that he just covers the ground without appearing to make any effort.” Chris King finished in second place on his new ride for this season Jane James’ Rudolf III.
The final section went to Harry Dzenis on his own Rockin Robin after the pair notched a dressage mark of 23.6. Harry bought the horse just over a year ago as a replacement for his junior team horse, Spider. “ We were lucky enough to get him quite cheaply as he hadn’t a great deal” Harry said “He finds the dressage quite easy as he’s by the Dutch dressage stallion Krak C. The cross country has been his weakest phase as we’ve struggled to find a bit that suits him”
After a bitterly cold day on Saturday, Sunday’s Intermediate competitors were lucky enough to enjoy perfect sunshine and excellent going.
An excellent win for Rodney Powell and Zinzan II, in the Advanced Intermediate at the Land Rover sponsored spring Gatcombe was just the result they needed to put the horror of an incident, which almost ended the horse’s life, behind them. At the end of last season one of Zinzan’s studs pierced a live power cable while Rodney was riding him at an event and he received a powerful electric shock. “This is only his second competition coming back from that” Rodney said “The biggest worry was that it would have affected him mentally but I gave him a very quiet run at Tweseldown, he was fine, so took the handbrake off today and I was delighted with the way he went.” Rodney had been well up among the leaders after dressage, on a score of 32.3, and a clear round in the show jumping put them in a strong position going onto cross-country. “I was very pleased with our dressage test” Rodney said “but there’s still room for improvement, we haven’t peaked yet.” Zinzan, who is owned by Mr & Mrs R. Boucher and Nell Buckler, is now heading for Badminton, via advanced classes at Belton and Powderham Castle.
Andrew Nicholson, riding his own and Robin Salmon’s Mr Cruise Control, finished just .2pen behind to take the runner up spot. Andrew enjoyed a successful day on all his Intermediate horses, finishing second in Intermediate section H with Deborah Sellar’s Quimbo and third in section I on Jack Green.
Zara Phillip, deputized for The Princess Royal by handing out the prizes for the AI, and was delighted to present herself with third and eight places, riding Ardfield Magic Star and Secret Legacy respectively. “Ardfield Magic Star was a very good boy today, his dressage was particularly good and he didn’t fight with me so much in the show jumping” she said “My horses don’t usually behave at their home event but surprisingly they did today.”
Louisa Brassey, riding Fergals Flight, once again enjoyed success at her local event by winning Open Intermediate section K by a clear 10-point margin. “Gatcombe has always been my lucky event” Louisa said “I took over the ride on Fergals Flight from his owner Ian Clark, who brought him up to Intermediate level, but then decided he didn’t have the time to take him any further. We’ve worked hard on his dressage, as he’s not a natural at that, so to come here and score 26.8 is wonderful.” They then added just two time penalties on the cross country to secure a well-deserved win. The runner up spot went to Tom McEwen and Major Sweep with Louisa Lockwood and The Diva in third.
Ewart Woolley’s victory in OI section J riding Trefeinon Niko was the perfect “get well” present he could have given the horse’s owner Vicki Irlam as she was in hospital recovering from a hip replacement operation. The pair added just 3.2 time penalties to their dressage mark of 30 to snatch victory from long time leaders Daniel Sibley and Osh Kosh in the dying minutes of the class. Ewart said, “He’s a lovely horse, a bit like a pony to ride, very nimble and easy to place at fences.” They now head for a first advanced run at Weston Park
Daniel Sibley was also delighted with the partnership he is building with his new ride the experienced campaigner Osh Kosh. “Andrew Nicholson was offered the ride on him last year” Daniel explained” but didn’t feel he was the right sort of horse for him, so suggest to owner Polly Samson that she let me try him. We were placed every time out last season but, because he is a very fast horse, it’s taken to now for me to feel ready to let the hand brake off.” Third place went to Joe Meyer riding Snip.
In the first of three Intermediate sections Young Rider Laura Grace Johnson scored her first win on Henry and Edna Harding’s homebred Ashdale Kaliro. Laura, who is based in Cheshire and combines eventing with show jumping, took over the ride on the mare and her full brother Ashdale Samiro, who also finished fifth, in February and this was only the second competition together. “I did my dressage yesterday in the most tremendous hail storm” Laura said, “I just couldn’t believe how well she coped with it.” Nicky Roncoroni with Mistral De Blondel took second place with Bill Levett and Miracle Contender NJ in third.
Fiona Hobby notched up her third win in as many weeks by taking section I with her husband Jolyon’s Fun Time Frankie. Having already won at Tweseldown and Aldon Fiona had’nt intended to run at Gatcombe but when she heard they had not made it into CCI2* at Compiegne decided to give him one last run, then a short holiday before re routing to Tattersalls in Ireland. “I’m always surprised by how fast he is,” said Fiona “He has such a huge canter stride that he just covers the ground without appearing to make any effort.” Chris King finished in second place on his new ride for this season Jane James’ Rudolf III.
The final section went to Harry Dzenis on his own Rockin Robin after the pair notched a dressage mark of 23.6. Harry bought the horse just over a year ago as a replacement for his junior team horse, Spider. “ We were lucky enough to get him quite cheaply as he hadn’t a great deal” Harry said “He finds the dressage quite easy as he’s by the Dutch dressage stallion Krak C. The cross country has been his weakest phase as we’ve struggled to find a bit that suits him”
After a bitterly cold day on Saturday, Sunday’s Intermediate competitors were lucky enough to enjoy perfect sunshine and excellent going.
