It was a second place finish for the Brits in the inaugural FEI Nations Cup competition, sponsored by Delarki, at Chatsworth International Horse Trials earlier today.
Their strong dressage scores of yesterday had seen the British quartet take the lead overnight ahead of France. However, today saw the positions switch with just an 8.6 penalty margin being the deciding factor which saw France take the victory. It was Belgium and the USA that took the following two places respectively.
The French team secured their win in the cross-county phase where their fast clears saw them return home triumphant. The Brits certainly put up a strong performance with three clears also coming home with David Doel in particular putting in an extremely fast time to see himself finish third Individually.
Stephane Landois (FRA), was the overall Individual winner with the 11-year-old grey Selle Francais, Chaman Dumontceau. His team mate Nicolas Touzaint was Individual second on Diabolo Menthe.
David Doel, 30, from Wiltshire, and a member of the second-placed British team, was best British rider in third place on Christine Lees’ quality mare Ferro Point and won the prize for finishing fastest of the day, with 10.8 cross-country time penalties.
“Chatsworth is one of my favourite places to come to and very popular with owners,” he said. “It’s the premier CCI4*-S in the country and you know you’re going to get a good cross-country course. The ground conditions were testing, but at least one of us is little and lightweight—my mare scampered around easily.”
David and his team mate, Ros Canter, along with birthday girl Yasmin Ingham (ninth on Rehy DJ), all jumped brilliant clear show jumping rounds on the holding ground. Ros, the 2018 world champion and dressage leader, ended up in Individual fourth place on Izilot DHI with 25.6 cross-country time penalties. Bubby Upton, aboard Magic Roundabout, completed the team of four riders representing Great Britain.
This prestigious team series now moves on to Millstreet in Ireland next month. Great Britain currently sit in joint third pace with Italy on the leaderboard with Belgium and France taking the two places.
A bumper crowd enjoyed the sunshine at Chatsworth, which bodes well for the fast-improving ground conditions for the show jumping and cross-country phases of tomorrow’s CCI4*-S Section H and the Advanced class. The latter is currently led after dressage by Britain’s Sarah Bullimore and her 2021 European bronze medallist Corouet.
The equestrian action starts at 9.30am as well as plenty of family entertainment, including dog agility, Pony Club jumping, the Yorkshire Countryman, the Sheep Show and more than 80 tradestands.
For full results here
