The world’s best took to the lawns of Nottinghamshire’s Thoresby Hall in a bid for Lycetts Grantham Cup glory. With a plethora of GB Olympians dominating the leaderboard, an exhilarating competition unfurled with all title contenders jumping immaculate showjumping clears. With all four members of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal-winning team, along with Gemma Stevens, sitting within a second of each other, a nail-biting conclusion awaited the on-looking crowds.
Setting the early standard and taking the eventual win, with a cross-country round worthy of their world number one status, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin completed within the time, to finish on their 24.5 dressage score, to pile the pressure on their compatriots.
“He’s [JL Dublin| feeling very good. He’s been very fresh all day which has been lovely, showjumping today he was like a man possessed and the same cross-country. I didn’t really know if I was going to have a quick one but I knew I wanted to use this for prep. There was only one way Dubs was going and that was quick so I thought I would let him rock and roll and he really utilised his huge long stride everywhere and everything is so free flowing and the course really played into that.
“Hopefully Dubs will go to Badminton, so it’s been great to come to a big show like this. For the last couple of seasons I’ve done everything on a surface, be it dressage or jumping, going to Kentucky or Championships and obviously Badminton is not on a surface, it’s very much grass, so it’s great to come and jump on the grass and the same with the dressage.”
McEwen’s win also saw him crowned the Lycetts Leading Rider, along with the £1,000 bonus prize.
Gemma Stevens, seemingly on a hot streak at the Eventing Spring Carnival, produced another flawless performance with the Chilli Morning sired Jalapeno III, to secure second place. The duo completed on their 24.6 dressage to edge ahead of Laura Collett and Ros Canter.
“I’m absolutely chuffed to bits – I’ve ridden three horses so far, Jala second in this class, Jalapeno owned by Chris and Lisa Stone, she’s 17 years old and she’s hopefully going to Badminton and I thought what have I got to lose, come on girl, let’s make the time, and she really answered me, galloped round gamely inside the time. Not too shabby to be 0.1 behind old Tommy!
“[The ground] It couldn’t be more perfect; it’s given us all fantastic runs this weekend ready for Badminton or whatever the horses are going on to do. There are a few good questions out there. It’s made us all think a bit!”
Coming home just two second over the optimum time, Laura Collett and her three time five-star winning partner, London 52, moved from second overnight to eventual third.
“I just wanted to give him a nice run, the ground is literally perfect. He’s not one that you can run slowly, he needs to be on it. He’s just amazing.
“I think they’ve done an amazing job of the course, completely different to the last couple of years, running it in a different direction was quite good. The water coming early was a bit of a challenge for them.”
Overnight leader, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, took a more sedate approach to the cross-country, adding 5.2-time penalties to their 24.3 dressage to end up just outside the podium placings in fourth.
A Jolly 4* Win
With two CCI4*-S sections full of the stars of eventing it was the return of some familiar faces for the second of the two prize giving’s at The Eventing Spring Carnival.
Moving from second place after dressage, Laura Collett claimed the top step of the podium with Dacapo completing on a score of 34.1.
“He was lovely, couldn’t fault him to be honest and we all know he does what he feels like and he was very happy and had a jolly time so I had a jolly time and the good thing with him is you know as soon as you get out the start box, I jumped fence one and I was like I’m going to have a nice ride today so yeah he’s quite the character but can’t fault him when he’s like that.”
With the Eventing Spring Carnival building its following year-on-year and sunshine bringing out the weekend crowds, the event provides the first big atmosphere of the season, further supporting many in their preparations for the Spring five stars.
“There’s a great crowd here which creates a really good atmosphere for the first big one, it’s quite a buzzy arena for the showjumping and the crowd is out on the cross-country which really gives that international feel to get them back in the swing of things to prepare for the bigger competitions later on in the year.”
In a frustrating leaderboard shuffle Gemma Stevens once again took second place, after holding a commanding two-phase lead with Flash Cooley.
“He was super, but for some reason, misread the first corner coming out of the water and had the pin. He stormed round the rest of the course; he was still which is great and I’m really pleased with them.”
Competing four Chilli Morning offspring here this weekend, it was Chilli King that rose to second place, adding just 4.4-time penalties across the country to his 33.4 dressage.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with him because he is a really green horse at this level. He jumped a superb double clear and did one of his nicest, most relaxed dressage to date.
“He stepped up very gently last year and now feels ready to crack on – I’m hoping to take him to Bramham this summer. He is a really sensitive person, he’s the most amazing jumper, incredibly careful, and scopey so just because of his sensitivity and his scope and carefulness we have taken it really slowly with him. I think this year he is just coming into himself and is ready to show the world that he is going to be awesome.”
Gemma now splits her time between eventing and showjumping, and recently competed at the new Hong Kong International Horse Show.
Speaking of how jumping in the world ranking classes supports her eventing, Stevens added, “the showjumps look so small and you have to get up into such a cog to ride round these world ranking classes I’ve been doing the last two weeks and then I came in and Dickie (Waygood) said to me as I went in “watch the time” on the first horse. Obviously Tim was first on Vitali and got a couple of seconds over and then I think I was eight seconds inside the time, but it’s nice because then it just feels easy and I think with the jumping you have to be so so quick in your reactions at that level, I think it also helps with the cross country.”
Chabert Lifts Polly Phillips Memorial Trophy
Each season the Polly Phillips Memorial Trophy is awarded to the highest placed rider in the Lycetts Grantham Cup who has yet to represent Team GB on a senior championship team. Presented by Vere Phillips in memory of his late wife Polly Phillips who was lost because of a fall at Thirlestane Castle in 1999.
With back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024 Emily King has been the worthy recipient for the past two years, winning with Valmy Biats.
This year’s trophy was awarded to Kirsty Chabert, following her fifth-place finish with Classic VI, completing on a score of 34.4.
Of the award Kirsty commented: “It’s an honour and it’s something we’ve all worked towards and it’s really lovely that we can keep it going and what an honour to win it.
“I had a fab run; it was really good. I do like it [the direction of the course], I think the water came up quite quickly and running away from the collecting ring. The feel of the course was really good. I think the frangible idea, there is a place for it in the sport now and I thought he [Stuart Buntine] designed a really nice track for us.”
Kirsty and Classic are now headed for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials CCI5* in May.
Mothering Sunday will see the culmination of the event and the Rathabones CCI3*-S champion will be crowned.
The Eventing Spring Carnival is packed with excitement for the whole family! Alongside world-class eventing, enjoy international hobby horsing, an exciting Mother’s Day Treasure Hunt with a prize worth over £1,600, and the fantastic Kids in the Courtyard experience. Meet the Sherwood Outlaws, watch thrilling gun dog displays, and discover so much more!
Advanced tickets are still available via www.bede-events.co.uk/tickets
Release supplied by event.
