Sammi Birch (AUS) landed the CCI3*-S at Kelsall Hill International riding Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s Jutopia. The pair kicked off their campaign with a 23.4 dressage followed by just 3.6-time penalties in an otherwise clear cross-country, and a clear show jumping round to finish on a total score of 27.
“She is a lovely mare who we bought as a five-year-old,” said Sammi of the now 10-year-old. “She has always been on the cusp of a big performance like this having won a few intermediates, and it all came together on the day. She is a beautiful dressage mover, and her test really came together. She show jumped great and her cross-country round was super. It was only her third start this year and she coped brilliantly. It was a result that she thoroughly deserved.
“She is perfect to do at home – we call her ‘Lovely Lola’, and is an angel, always trying her hardest. We will look at doing a 4* short with her now.”
Close on Sammi’s heels was runner-up Millie Juleff and Pencos Crown Jewel who added four faults show jumping to their 27.2 dressage for a total score of 31.2. They were followed by third-placed Charlotte Donald and Maplevalleys Concorde who finished on their dressage score of 31.4.
Campbell takes CCI2*-S
The CCI2*-S class was awarded to Jesse Campbell (NZL) riding Anne Stratton’s seven-year-old British gelding Misty Liberty Lane who pulled off a foot-perfect double clear to finish on their 27.9 dressage score.
“We’ve had him since he was broken in,” said Jesse. “He’s very professional and always tries his best. It was a really good weekend for him. He did three very good phases and was rewarded with a win. It was great for his owner Anne Stratton who has been a big supporter of British Eventing over the years.
“He will go to Osberton and do the 2* short there and then Bicton for the 2* long and then we’ll see what the rest of the year looks like. He’s seven but is a big-framed horse at 17.2hh, and it’s taken a long time for him to mature. He was still growing last year so it’s been a bit of a process which has taken time, but he’s grown in confidence and has come out stronger this year and has been jumping super.”
It was close at the top with runner-up Chelsea Pearce and Kilnaboy Buffet finishing on 28.7, and Eliza Bell and Butts Ackerman scoring 29.4 to finish in third.
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