Kiwi magic seemed to return at last weekend's Belton International Horse Trials, when old campaigners Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson won all three advanced classes between them.
Mark Todd gave notice of his future intentions in the sport with a win on his new horse, Grass Valley, in the advanced class with 23 starters. Todd has competed the son of Legal Pressure since last month and added only a few cross-country time faults to his dressage score of 29.5, to finish on 31.10 penalties. In the same class fellow Kiwi riders also performed well, with Neil Spratt third on Upleadon with 40.50, and Joe Meyer and his Olympic horse Snip fourth with 47.80. Dan Jocelyn was sixth on Special Advocate on 57.60, and Andrew Nicholson's Trafalgar finished 13th after faults on both the cross-country and jumping courses.
Nicholson made amends on Oplitas in the second advanced class, winning on 39.40 penalties. It was the horse's second start at the level.
Nicholson capped off his weekend on Nereo, winning the third advanced class with 37.50 penaltes, narrowly beating Kiwi Dan Jocelyn on Special Advocate, who finished with 40.70. Neil Spratt and Hugo's There III were fifth with 47.70. Caroline Powell did not run her two starters - Boston Two Tip and Apapa - over the cross-country, and Annabel Wigley also did not jump Black Drum.
Todd also placed third on Land Vision in the Open Intermediate, and was 13th on ODT Mouse in another OI division.
Joe Meyer and Black Andy finished fourth in the large three-star advanced class, which had more than 60 starters. The combination finished on 61.70 penalties, only 10.10 penalties behind the winner, Emily Baldwin on Drive Time. Andrew Nicholson finished 10th in the same class on The Light Fandango and 27th on Cruise Control, Tim Price finished 14th on Vortex, Jocelyn's Viscount Barnaby was 33rd, and Meyer's Sanskrit was 38th.
Facebook
Twitter
HOME SITES 