The final day of the DEFENDER CCI4*-S was an extraordinary rollercoaster ride, with the leaderboard changing dramatically over the two jumping phases. Spectators were kept on the edge of their seats, with the final result still unclear right up until the penultimate competitor.
First up was the showjumping, which started bright and early in the main arena to get the Saturday programme underway. Course designer Jason Abbs set the riders a flowing but technical track, where clear rounds proved to be at a premium. Both the leader, Tom McEwen with Fred and Penny Barker’s MHS Brown Jack, and the third-placed Ros Canter with Lady Milnes Coates and Deirdre Johnston’s MHS Seventeen, rolled a pole to drop down the order. However, Australia’s Bill Levett, who was sitting second overnight, expertly rode a clear with his own and Elisabeth Murdoch’s Sligo Candy Cane to take pole position going into the all-important final cross-country phase.
With the two sections of CCI-L 4* done and dusted by lunchtime, the park was opened to the short section riders and, after a few riders, it became clear that the time would play a significant role in the competition. The undulations of the park, the testing track set by Ian Stark and the hot conditions all needed careful management by riders as they tried to get the best from their horses.
The first combination to make a mark for others to follow was Katie Magee and the Jaguar Mail-sired Treworra. Their dressage of 35.8 left them in 23rd position, but a single showjumping pole and a quick cross-country for 6.8 time gave them the early advantage.
The first of the challengers to the top spots was Ros and MHS Seventeen – their lowered pole may have put them off the podium, but they were still in with a chance of seizing it back. However, the horse is just a 10-year-old and this would be his first trip cross-country at four-star level. The pair started well, but then misjudged the B element of the Bramham Round House – a skinny on a bounce stride after a ha-ha step – and skipped past. Ros gathered up the gelding and they negotiated the long route successfully, but then had a further run-out at the Speedi-Beet Double towards the end of the course. Ros brought the gelding home safely, but their chances of a top placing were gone.
Shortly after, it was Tom McEwen’s opportunity to rise back up the rankings with MHS Brown Jack – another young horse still learning his trade. Tom and Jack were another combination to fall victim to the skinny at fence 7B, but put in a great round from there on, which will give the horse confidence for the future but put them out of the running.
Nicola Wilson pupil Robyn Gray and Gelukkig, owned by Jan Ball, started the day in ninth thanks to a dressage of 34.2, but were one of the few combinations to go clear in the showjumping. They had a fantastic run through the park for just 9.2 time penalties, giving them a final total of 43.4 to take the lead at that stage.
Their time at the top was relatively short-lived, however, because experienced rider Selina Milnes entered the fray with William and Angela Rucker’s nine-year-old, Irish-bred Cooley Snapchat. They sat eighth after dressage and were faultless in the showjumping, so a speedy cross-country would put them in touching distance of the podium. They were one of the rounds of the day, cruising round the course and making it look easy. They gathered just 1.2 time penalties for a final score of 34.9, putting them atop the leaderboard.
The fifth-placed combination after dressage were Mollie Summerland and Paula Cloke, Mark Johns and her own Flow 7. They had an extremely unlucky pole in the showjumping, but Mollie set off across the country in determined mood. The nine-year-old only have two seasons of eventing runs under his inexperienced belt, but looked every bit at home on course with an impressive – and quick – round. They stopped the clock at 6:37, five seconds under the optimum time, making them the first duo to make the time, a feat which duly handed them the lead.
Zara Tindall put herself and the Gledhill House Stud’s Class Affair in good stead with a clear round in the jumping, to add nothing to their 33.3 dressage in what is their first competitive outing since contesting the Kentucky CCI5*. A stylish spin around Ian Stark’s course earned them just four time penalties and slotted them behind Mollie and Flow 7 on the leaderboard.
The two-phase leaders, Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane, were the next challengers, but the influential Bramham Round House would put pay to their chance of a win. A run-out at the skinny was followed by a second refusal while attempting the long route, and Bill raised his hand to call it a day, saving the youngster for another day.
Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, who he owns with Andy and Miranda Rawlin, were down in 14th place after the dressage and a pole down this morning dropped them a bit further down the order. However, the duo were most impressive across the country, answering every question on the course and cantering to the finish in an expertly judged 6.40 to complete on 38.8, which left them fifth at worst.
The final challenger for a podium place was Ireland’s Susie Berry and Killcandra Capitol, owned by TruckEast Ltd, and they headed out course as the penultimate combination on 35.1 They were travelling well, but had a glance-off at the corner in water at the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond. The plucky gelding attempted to jump it, but it was clear they hadn’t properly cleared the flags, so it was 20 penalties and Susie had to represent. Their chances were gone, but they did get home safe.
So, at the end of a long day of cross-country, the top 10 had a dramatic new look, with six new names joining the fray and the top accolade going to Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat.
“Cooley Snapchat was super today,” said Selina. “I was a little disappointed with his dressage, but I think everybody was. He showjumped really well – I thought he might have gone a little bit green with the crowds to be honest, as he hasn’t done a lot, but he was super and jumped really, really well. On cross-country, he was just on it and so easy to ride – straight, not strong and he just keeps coming. I was a little bit worried about fence 7 – it was a serious question for a young horse, going into darkness, and I wasn’t sure how he’d react because he’s never seen anything like it in his life. He read it really well and just popped across.
“It’s brilliant to win here because it’s a big event and they [the organisers] make such an effort. I did come here thinking he could win, though,” she added with a rueful smile.
Mollie Summerland and Flow 7 took the runners up spot, while Zara Tindall completing the podium with Class Affair.
“This weekend was all about educating him,” said Mollie of her rounds. “I bought him unseen off the internet – I never tried him – and once again he continues to exceed expectations. He didn’t start eventing until he was seven, but he blows us away with his ability. He was totally fearless and I didn’t even think I was going fast – he just eats up the ground and it makes him such an exciting prospect for the future.”
Zara summarised her competition: “He [Class Affair] was good today. He jumped mega this morning – I wasn’t sure how he would deal with it because the cross-country was going on. Out on cross-country, he was good everywhere. He can be a bit of a monkey on occasions, so I wasted a bit of time at the beginning so that I didn’t light him up too early and I’d be able to turn him at the end. He was really good and I was really pleased with him – it shows why we love him when he’s good.”
Notable leaderboard movers also include Sophie Fouracre and Lordanna vh Leysehof Z, who started the day in 43rd and ended in sixth. Hector Payne made a 20-place leap with Dynasty to finish seventh, and eventual ninth-placed Xanthe Goldsack with Hi Tech came from 34th place.
The DEFENDER section was far from a dressage competition and proved an all-round test of horse and rider – their ability, stamina and partnership. Congratulations to Selina and Cooley Snapchat, who won through the day. This is a partnership we hope to be seeing much more of in years to come.
For full results – click here. Times & Results | Bramham (bramham-horse.co.uk)
