On its opening day (Thursday, July 4) Barbury’s St James’s Wealth Management eventing competition proved its international status. A day given over to dressage – the first of eventing’s three disciplines – saw international riders taking the overnight lead.
In Section A two polished dressage tests put Germany’s Franca Luedeke (on Parlando) and New Zealand’s Tim Price (Wesko) at joint top place with 42.6 penalty points. Tim Price is based at Minal.
America’s Clarke Montgomery (Loughan Glen) put in a smart display to take the overnight lead in Section B with a penalty score of 34.2. Britain’s Piggy French (Tinka’s Time) and Kitty King (Persimmon) finished in second and third spots respectively, with Lockeridge based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson (Nereo) lying in fourth.
One entrant attracting attention was veteran eventing star and former British team member Lucinda Green with Cry Freedom. And Yogi Breisner, the performance manager for the British eventing team, was there checking the progress of team members – and potential team members.
With entries from fifteen countries – including Brazil and Japan – the Barbury International Eventing competitions continue on Friday with the novice eventing competition and further tests for entries in the two and three star dressage.
On Saturday and Sunday the amazing site on top of the Marlborough Downs sees the addition of the Barbury Show with cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and fun for all the family. This will include an It’s a Knockout competition with teams from local businesses raising money for Barbury’s nominated charity the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
The eventing climaxes with three and two star showjumping on Saturday and the three star cross country on Sunday. And this year there are new showjumping classes which have attracted a bumper entry including Team GB rider Tina Fletcher from Faringdon.
And at noon on Sunday there will be a parade of racing legends and a dressage display by former champion of champion racehorse Kauto Star and local rider Laura Collett.
Further information on the programme and tickets at the Barbury website.
