15 May Sunday Round Up

Action packed competition at Brigstock International Rockingham Castle, the new home of Brigstock International Horse Trials hosted four days of top eventing action featuring grassroots riders, local heroes, Olympians and future stars in classes from BE100 level up to CIC2* and 1* International. Brits dominate International Classes The International show-case sections culminated on Saturday with the top spots dominated by British riders. CIC1* Section I was won by Wiltshire rider Kitty King (GBR) who was riding the 2012 British Eventing Five Year Old Champion, Ceylor LAN, to finish on a score of 38.1. The bay gelding by Veron is owned by Jacqueline Owen, Diana Bown and Samantha Wilson. Kitty said of her winning ride:

“He just keeps moving up the grades in a lovely, solid way. His test was nice although he was a little green and broke in his counter canter but the rest of his work was of a high quality. He went on to jump two lovely clears and really made it all feel very easy.”

Of the course:

“It was lovely to be able to ride on perfect ground over a bold galloping track, it has been fantastic event so far. Three of my rides will now go on to three day events and will have really benefitted from the atmosphere here in the dressage and show jumping arenas.”

Second place went to local rider Sophie How who was riding the Hows Racesafe owned Bojangles HRS. Rising star Sophie, who was the 2012 British Junior European Champion, finished just one point behind Kitty on 39.1 whilst Michael Ryan took third place in the final line-up riding Carol Henry’s Ballylynch Wizard for Ireland. Lincolnshire’s Rosalind Canter (GBR) won the next level of competition up, taking the CIC2* section J with her own pint-sized Emill a gelding by Unbelievabl, finishing on their dressage score of 42.9. Rosalind said of the new location of Brigstock:

“It has been a fantastic event in such a beautiful spot; everyone here has been incredibly friendly, I will definitely be back next year!” “I am now aiming both horses at the 8/9 year old CIC3* at Blenheim Palace in September.”

Second place went to Japanese rider Toshiyuki Tanaka riding the Riding Club Crane’s Pretty Darling finishing on 43.2. The rolling parklands again proved happy hunting ground for Kitty King who took third place in this section riding Frank Inns and Jane Murfett’s Persimmon. The Castle grounds were luckier still for ‘Ros’ Canter who also claimed the second of the CIC2* classes, section K with her own mare Zenshera by Guidam. The pair finished on 42.9 leaving themselves 3.6 points clear of runners up Hayden Hankey who was riding Mr Ni Zhaoxing’s Zong Rong Beijing.