13th – 17th September 2017

Words & Photos by Tim Wilkinson   #blenheimpalace

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British Eventing delivered another great Blenheim PalalceInternational Horse Trials, with new title sponsor SsangYong, a new fence combinations from course designer David Evans coupled with great weather which was only interrupted by a very intense (and heavy) rain show on Saturday afternoon made for a superb weekend, and the International competition was fierce.

The CCI3* was a very intense competition German rider Julia Krajewski CHIPMUNK FRH lead the dressage on 33.4 and was one of only nine riders to jump clear inside the time across the country sadly threw away the win she rolled the final pole in the showing jumping slipping to third place handing the Win to the American rider Kimberly Severson COOLEY CROSS BORDER who jumped a beautiful double clear to put the pressure on finishing on her dressage score of 37.8.  Laura Collett completed the podium jumping double clear to finish on 40.4

The CIC3* 8/9 yo Championship couldn’t have been closer with Australian rider Christopher Burton COOLEY LANDS beating Japanese rider Kazumo Tomoto BROOKFIELD VIKENTI by just 0.1 tp claim the win.  Kazumo Tomoto had been the surprise leader after the dressage and had jumped clear in the show jumping lining up and a head to head on the cross country, where the time was critical, Christopher Burton timed it to perfection being the only rider to complete inside the optimum time and lying down the gauntlet, sadly despite Kazumo Tomoto covering the ground well 2.0 time faults meant he miss out on the win and he had to settle for 2nd place.  The podium was completed by one of the young talents on the circuit Holly Woodhead PARKFIELD QUINTESSENTIAL who round a confident clear round adding just a few time faults to clim 3rd place.

The CIC3* Event Rider Master Series Finale, after another great series Blenheim was to host the finale, however, with Gemma Tattersall having already wrapped up the overall series with her win at Blair, it was just a matter of seeing who could win the final leg, and Izzy Taylor BE TOUCHABLE made her intensions clear from the start leading the dressage on 35.7 and jumping double clear to maintain the lead throughout and take the win.  Tim Price ASCONA M were hot on her heels to finish 2nd, while Christopher Burton GRAF LIBERTY wrapped up a great weekend to claim the 3rd place on the podium.

CCI3* Final Results
1st - Kimberly Severson (USA) COOLEY CROSS BORDER
2nd - Laura Collett (GBR) MR BASS
3rd - Julia Krajewski (GER) CHIPMUNK FRH

CIC3* 8/9 yo Championships - Final Results
1st - Christopher Burton (AUS) COOLEY LANDS
2nd - Kazuma Tomoto (JPN) BROOKPARK VIKENTI
3rd - Holly Woodhead (GBR) PARKFIELD QUINTESSENTIAL

CIC3* Event Rider Masters Leg 7 - Final Results
1st - Izzy Taylor (GBR) BE TOUCHABLE
2nd - Tim Price (NZL) ASCONA M
3rd - Christopher Burton (AUS) GRAF LIBERTY