Tim Price and Happy Boy proved the pair to beat in the CCI-L 4* at a rain-soaked Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
The pair added 1.6 cross-country time penalties to their fourth-placed dressage score of 25.4 to triumph by almost six penalties from Daisy Berkeley and the 11-year-old French gelding Diese Du Figuier.
Germany’s Jerome Robine riding Dorothea Von Zedtwitz’s 14-year-old Black Ice were third.
British-based New Zealander Tim has been riding Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s 12-year-old Dutch gelding since he was five and the duo won the seven-year-old class at the 2019 World Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers in similar wet conditions.
“I held that in the back of my mind as we were warming up. I knew that he was athletic and that he was capable of it, and he’s a fighter. This has been fantastic. You don’t take these days for granted,” said Tim.
This result, which was Tim’s first victory at this event, marked a return to form for Happy Boy who had been eliminated for three run-outs at a corner in an open intermediate class at Cornbury House Horse Trials the previous week.
British Olympian, Daisy Berkeley, is a previous winner of this class, taking the spoils in 2006 with Springbok IV and climbed from sixth after cross-country this time thanks to a clear show jumping round in heavy rainfall.
“I’m thrilled with this horse. He’s so beautiful and athletic. I could hardly see through the rain and I was suddenly slipping in the saddle, but I just told myself to ride him like a good horse. He was superb, as he has been in all three phases,” said Daisy.
Luck of the Irish
Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
There was a nail-biting conclusion to the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds. Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabaione took the win, just 0.4 penalties ahead of compatriot Georgie Goss with Kojak who were the last pair on the cross-country as the top 20 combinations ran in reverse order of merit.
“He’s the most complete event horse I’ve ever ridden. He has won at every level,” said Padraig, who had been 10th ahead of the cross-country and was unaware he had won for some time.
Third place was awarded to Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown.
“It has been another great weekend of competition, with thoroughly worthy winners. We’ve seen some brilliant horsemanship from a truly international field, plus great support from owners, spectators, and our invaluable sponsors and volunteers. Roll on next year,” said event organiser Katrina Midgley.
