New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, whose stables are at Lockeridge near Marlborough, took the first two places in the three star competition at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials on Sunday (July 1.) Riding Avebury (for first place) and Quimbo (for second place), Nicholson clocked faultless cross country rounds inside the time limit on both horses.
However, the final stages of the competition in front of a record crowd, were full of drama. Mark Todd (NZ), who was lying in third place with NZB Campino was eliminated for missing out fence 21 in the closing stages of the cross country. Then Jonathan Paget (NZ), second in the overnight placings, retired after falling on the cross country course – both horse and rider were fine. This left Britain’s Lucy Wiegersma riding Simon Porloe in third place.
Andrew Nicholson was delighted by this doubles success: “I’m thrilled to win here. Barbury is a fantastic track and it’s my local competition. In the build-up to the Olympics there is a lot of pressure because this is a key event, so it’s great to put a strong performance in now”.
British team members Mary King and Tina Cook, with their Olympic rides Imperial Cavalier and Miners Frolic, confirmed their value to the team with good cross country performances in their last competitive outing ahead of the summer games at Greenwich Park.
On the previous day, fellow team members Zara Phillips, William Fox-Pitt and Piggy French all completed clear rounds in the cross country in the two star competition on their respective Olympic mounts.
The final day’s eventing, shopping at the many trade stands and entertainments at the Wiltshire Show attracted a crowd of many thousands. And they had only a few showers to cope with.
Nigel Bunter, owner of the Barbury Estate said: “It has been a fantastic four days here at the Horse Trials and Wiltshire County Show. A record number of visitors have been able to enjoy pre-Olympic competition as well as taste and experience some of the finest produce from the Wiltshire area and beyond at the CGA Festival of Food”.
Full results of the Barbury events can be found at www.bdwp.co.uk
Marlborough News Online will be back at the Barbury course for the 2013 trials – until then we will be reporting the progress of horses and riders based in the Marlborough area.
