The sun shone again for the third day of the St James’s Place Barbury International Eventing and Show. As the queues lengthened, the ice cream man called in reinforcements.
The thousands who visited Barbury on Saturday (July 6) were treated to a spectacle of world class equestrian sport as well as a bonanza of gourmet food and local produce at the CGA Festival of Food.
Following clear rounds in the premiere Three Star eventing competition’s showjumping, last year’s winners Andrew Nicholson and Avebury and Britain’s Piggy French on Tinkas Time, will head into tomorrow’s cross country leading their respective sections each with a first prize of £5,000.
Section A of the premier competition was dominated by local riders: Nicholson (based at Lockeridge) and his talented grey Avebury jumped a copybook clear round in the showjumping to remain on his dressage score of 34.4.
However, Laura Collett (Membury), lying second on Rayef, kept up the pressure with her challenging clear round. New Zealander Tim Price (Minal) on Wesko shares third place with Germany’s Franca Luedeke on Parlando.
“I will probably have a sleepless night!” laughed Nicholson. “Barbury is my local event and so it would mean a lot if I could win tomorrow.”
In Section B of the Three Star, British rider Piggy French became overnight leader – remaining on her dressage score of 36.4 – when the U.S.A. rider Clark Montgomery’s Loughan Glen tipped a rail and dropped to second.
Olympic silver medallists Mary King and Imperial Cavalier maintained their third place jumping clear, with less than four penalties separating the top three.
Victory tasted particularly sweet for Nicky Roncoroni in Section C of the Two Star competition as her horse Stonedge, owned by her mother, Janie, was injured last year and his career was temporarily in doubt. The pair finished on their dressage score of 43.9.
Unfortunately, in that same section of the Two Star competition, Zara Phillips and Mr Murt parted company on the cross country course and were eliminated. Horse and rider were both unhurt.
As one expert spectator commented: “Don’t understand that – she was going so well.”
All is set for Sunday (July 7) and some keen competitive riding on the Three Star cross country course. But if anyone’s going to steal the thunder of the top Three Star combinations it could well be Kauto Star who, with Laura Collett, will be giving a dressage display before the lunch break.
Another tight competition to be resolved on the last day will be the Retraining of Racehorses Championship with a jump off in the main arena for the top ten from Friday’s jumping. Current leader is Tim Price on the veteran campaigner Vortex – at nineteen a horse that’s used to some tension.
Health warning issued to public not to swim or fish in the pollution devastated River Kennet
