The day began bright and busy, setting the stage for an action-packed Saturday at the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials.
NAF Magic CCI4-S*
Ros Canter delivered a masterclass performance to claim victory in the highly competitive NAF Magic CCI4*-S, riding the reigning Badminton champion, Lordships Graffalo. After an impressive dressage score of 22.4, Canter and her world-class partner, affectionately known as “Walter,” added just 0.4 time penalties in the show jumping phase to finish on an unbeatable total of 22.8.
2024 winners Bubby Upton and Cola III delivered a strong performance across all phases, finishing as runners-up this time. Starting on 26.2 after dressage, they added just 2 penalties in the show jumping to complete on 28.2. Third place went to Selina Milnes with Cooley Snapchat, who stormed around Eric Winter’s track, finishing on 30.4 after adding 2.8 penalties in the show jumping from a starting score of 27.6.
Irish rider Aoife Clark and Full Monty de Lacense claimed fourth place on 30.8 after an eye-catching cross-country round that capitalised on this horse’s impressive speed and stamina. Two Irish riders finished in the top ten, with Susie Berry and Clever Trick claiming ninth.
Piggy March and Fenizio rounded out the top five, delivering a fault-free round in the show jumping arena and a clear cross-country round, finishing on 31.6. Her other ride, MCS Maverick, enjoyed a steady clear cross-country, with the relatively new partnership showing promise for the future.
New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone finished with two rides inside the top ten, with Sparky Lad and Rocket Man finishing in sixth and seventh place respectively. Jesse Campbell and Speedwell had a rail down in the show jumping that knocked them down the placings into tenth place.
Hartpury University and College British Open Championship
In the Hartpury University and College British Open Championship, Tim Price and Vitali remain out in front after delivering a flawless show jumping round, staying on their score of 23.3. Price will once again be a rider to watch tomorrow as he takes on the cross-country challenge at 14:20.
Hot on his heels is fellow Kiwi Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig on 29.3, who also jumped a faultless show jumping round around Paul Connor’s track on Saturday. Katie Magee and Treworra remain well poised as the best British rider with a score of 29.7. She’ll be out on the course at 14:11 on Sunday.
Tim Price also has Happy Boy in fourth place on 32.5, and David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed are in fifth on 32.7.
NAF Metazone CCI2-L*
With good going and the cross-country course primed and ready, it was the NAF Metazone CCI2*-L that kickstarted the action on Saturday.
After a day of bold riding and precise teamwork on the cross-country course, Bubby Upton holds the overnight lead. Partnering the impressive Sancerre De Tiji, Upton produced a composed and fluent cross-country round to remain on her dressage score of 25.8. The pair will head into tomorrow’s final horse inspection and show jumping phase with a narrow advantage over their closest rivals.
Amy Harris and Iwan also delivered a faultless performance across country, staying on 28.4 to keep the pressure firmly on the leader. In third, Kitty King and Kilcoltrim Cooley maintained their starting mark of 29.6 with another clear round inside the optimum time.
With just four penalties separating the top three, and several combinations close behind, tomorrow’s finale promises a thrilling conclusion. While the course rode well on the whole, fence 11ab, the NAF Metazone Complex, proved influential.
NAF Superflex CCI3-L*
The NAF Superflex CCI3*-L, the final cross-country class of the day, caused no problems for China’s Alex Hua Tian and Manjushri – the dressage leaders. Collecting just two time penalties, his lead was sufficient to retain top place on a score of 29.4.
Izzy Taylor and Bayaanaat had a fabulous clear round, with a score of 29.1 jumping up the leaderboard from fourth to second. New Zealand’s Tim Price is enjoying another successful week, and Gloire De Marchenval added only 1.2 time penalties, keeping the pair in third place on 29.4. Tim’s wife Jonelle sits in ninth place with 35.2.
With the competition being close and hard-fought, Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On dropped from second to fifth place with four time penalties (31.4), and her second horse Billy Wonder, also with four time penalties, went up to fourth place (30.1).
The course generally rode well, with time penalties responsible for the large majority of leaderboard changes.
Jump1 British Intermediate Championship
Louise Bradley piloting Ardeo Mandela leads the section with a stellar 27.4, earning a clear show jumping round and a cross-country set for Sunday at 15:20.
Ros Canter and Armscote Explorer will go into Sunday’s cross-country test on a score of 27.6, while Katie Magee and Cushlas Indigo will start the final phase on 27.8. All three jumped clear rounds in the show jumping.
Fairfax Saddles Novice Restricted Championship
Elle Slack and ELS Dakota hold a clear lead with a strong dressage score of 26.1 and a clear show jumping round.
Henry Dove has two mounts in the top five: Troys Mimi (second) and Godsend Du Givre (fifth). Ella Lucas is in third place with My Good Morning on a score of 29.8 after a clear round in the second phase. The tightly grouped top four—Elle Slack, Henry Dove, Ella Lucas, and Kelsey Love—set the stage for an intense and competitive cross-country phase on Sunday.
Retraining of Racehorses Open Novice Championship
Jeanette Brakewell holds a tight lead with Swhiskey after a stylish show jumping round on Saturday afternoon. Her 25.5 score gives her a solid advantage, but with no one far behind, the cross-country will be intensely competitive.
Michael Jackson sits in second place with Bhodi on a score of 27.5, while Lucinda Atkinson and Pride Park are in third place, also on 27.5. .
Fairfax Saddles British Novice Championship
Sam Gillespie and Florissa will lead heading into the showjumping and cross country phases after posting an impressive score of 24.7. Dani Steward-Richardson and Londonlook TN are close behind on 24.9, while Austin O’Connor and Diamond Mistress are on 26.5. Nine of the top ten combinations after the first phase have sub-30 scores, so this championship looks set for another competitive showdown on Sunday.
