Team New Zealand swept up in the 3 CIC** classes this afternoon at the St. James’s Place Barbury Horse Trials 2015, with clean wins from Andrew Nicholson, Tim Price & Jesse Campbell – all three of whom are also based in nearby Marlborough. Overall the CIC** course left many with bruised cross country records.
Barbury has always been a tough track, and this year was no exception. Run-outs, refusals, unseated riders and eliminations were in abundance, plus only a mere handful of the several hundred across all three sections made it back home inside the optimum time. No matter where you spent your day on course you would have seen some of the upset, that left many a rider walking home. Oddly enough the main water complex rode particularly well all day. Although the ‘crocodile’ water fence that preceded it caused a good deal of trouble.
After the CIC*** show jumping concluded arena entertainment consisted of the JCB Eventers’ Challenge followed by a BSJA Grand Prix show jumping class, with some of the big names pitching up to jump some pretty decent fences. I’m not sure what the outcome for these two competitions were but they captivated the crowds who could be heard cheering loudly from the farthest corners of the cross country course.
I also spotted 2 former 4* horses having outings with new young riders; Simon Porloe (Padraig Mccarthy) & Nuef Des Coeurs (Hector Payne).
MORE PHOTOS IN THE MAIN GALLERY
I’ll have more from Barbury tomorrow for the conclusion of the feature class, with Avebury in prime position to take a 4th CIC*** title.
Until then here are the necessary links:
