NAF Magic CCI4*S
Bubby Upton and the incredible Cola III won the NAF Five Star Magic CCI4*S on Saturday 10 August, improving on their fourth place in the same class last year. It has been an outstanding few days for Bubby who has returned following a serious back injury in 2023. She also finished in second place with Its Cooley Time, improving on their second place finish in the CCI3*L at the same venue twelve months ago.
Bubby and Cola III stormed around Eric Winter’s challenging cross country course and were one of only three riders to finish inside the time. The pair had led after the dressage and remained out in front after an immaculate round of showjumping.
She also put in a quick round with Its Cooley Time adding just 0.8 pens to her two phase score of 29.8. Tom Jackson jumped clear across country inside the time, rounding out the top three with Ask For Manchier on a score of 31.5.
A delighted Bubby said: “You can’t really ask for more, both horses were fantastic from start to finish. Cola III is a horse that I owe everything to, not just for everything he has done in my life but particularly during the last ten months. Its Cooley Time is an exciting young horse and to finish 2nd in such a huge international class is beyond exciting for the future.
“I am very precious about my horses, so I wouldn’t have been able to let the handbrake off across country if it wasn’t for the work the team have done on the ground here. I come to Hartpury every year because of that. The effort they put in is extremely appreciated.”
The NAF Five Star Magic CCI4*S has earned a strong reputation for attracting high profile combinations over the years, and has often proved to be good preparation for autumn internationals and future five-star runs.
Outside of the British riders, Germany’s Felix Etzel added just 2.4 pens to his dressage score of 29.5 to finish in fourth place. Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Ryuzo Kitijima returned from their bronze medal winning efforts at the Paris Olympic Games to finish in the top ten with Jefferson JRA (6th) and Feroza Niuewmoed (9th).
Fence 5ab - a double of Hartpury Sport Planks, fence 14ab - the corners at the Metazone and fence 17c - a table heading out of the NAF Magic Pool, caused the majority of penalties for those that had problems.
British Open Championship
35 combinations opened their account in the British Open Championship on Saturday morning, with a glittering field performing their dressage test in front of judges Adrian Buzzard and Agy Mossakowska.
This year’s Bramham CCI4*S winner Kitty King and Vendredi Biats returned to the venue where the striking grey enjoyed international success as an eight-year-old. They pulled out all the stops to lead with 20.4 and also jumped an immaculate round of show jumping to remain out in front heading to cross country on Sunday.
Tim Price and Vitali also showed their class and experience scoring 20.5, and Emily King and Valmy Biats continue their outstanding season scoring 20.6. Both combinations also added nothing to their dressage penalty score around Paul Connor’s showjumping track.
Oliver Townend’s Rolex Kentucky CCI5*L winner received an appreciative round of applause from the crowd in the Hartpury Arena and also show jumped clear to remain on their dressage score of 23.0 that has them in fourth place.
The cross country for the British Open competitors will take place from midday on Sunday 11 August.
NAF Metazone CCI2*L
The day began with the NAF Five Star Metazone CCI2*L and Eric Winter’s cross country course providing a fair test for the respective level. The majority of problems came at fence 11ab, two offset corners presenting a challenge that resulted in penalties for a number of competitors. Gemma Stevens has a busy weekend ahead, but Cooley Couture skipped around the Gloucestershire countryside to retain their dressage lead of 27.2. They remain in poll position heading into the final day. Willa Newton had a frustrating day having been in second and third place after dressage on her two rides. However, Watermill Cruise had two run outs at fence 11b before opting to retire. Willa’s other ride Kingsman had problems at fence 12, the NAF Magic Pool, and was also pulled up having incurred two run outs.
Jasmine Holmes and Arent I Lucky capitalised on a clean cross country round that moved them up the leaderboard into second place. Tom Jackson also moved up the leaderboard. He heads into Sunday’s final horse inspection and show jumping in third place with Anne and Iain Slater’s Leamore After Hours.
Austin O’Connor is one of a number of Olympians competing on UK soil for the first time since the Paris Games, and he is the only non-British rider inside the current top ten (4th place with Diamond Mistress).
NAF Superflex CCI3*L
Roberto Scalisi and DHI Rock Cavalier hold a tight lead in the NAF Superflex CCI3*L after adding 1.2 time pens across country. They stay marginally ahead of Fred Powell and Grafiba on 30.1, with just 0.3 pens separating the top two heading into the final day.
New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell also stormed around the cross country inside the time and sits in third place on a score of 30.9.
The CCI3* track caused less penalties than the CCI2* and CCI4* with any problems scattered across the course.
The action continues on Sunday with the conclusion of the NAF Five Star Metazone CCI2*L and NAF Five Star Superflex CCI3*L, as well as the show jumping and cross country phases of the British Eventing National Championships.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
