It’s been another clean sweep for the in-form Andrew Nicholson. This time, the nearly-52-year-old won three divisions at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, including two of the CIC3* sections, and securing the top two scores overall.
Nicholson and Viscount George notched 44.9 penalty points in the CIC3* (section two), notching the highest score in the CIC3* classes, and a comfortable seven penalty points ahead of the second placed Aiofe Clarke (IRE) on Fenyas Elegance.
Nicholson also won the CIC3* (section one) aboard Mr Cruise Control with 48.1 – the second highest score of the day in the division. In the advanced section, Nicholson won aboard Qwanza and was fifth on Sintra BK.
ESNZ high performance director Sarah Harris says the results underline the depth of Nicholson’s stable.
“He’s continuing to put the pressure on to get top results and a glance at his dressage marks over the past year shows that improvement,” she said. “He’s just nailing it.”
Making a comeback was World Equestrian Games 2010 bronze medallist Clarke Johnstone who was 15th in the CIC3* (section two) on Regal Romar.
“It’s Clarke’s first three star start for a while so it is nice to see him back. He’s worked his way through a challenging patch with his horses and is on track to try and make the 2014 World Champs team.”
His team-mate from the 2010 champs who was also part of the medal-winning London Olympics team, Caroline Powell, was 10th aboard Thornfield Jones, one of her younger horses.
Results - CIC3* (section one) : Andrew Nicholson, Mr Cruise Control 48.1 (owned by Robin and Nicola Salmon) 1 (overall 2nd best score in the 3*), Jonelle Richards, Mere Oak 72.8 (owned by Lucy and Ben Sangster) 13, Mark Todd, Leonidas II 116.6 (owned by Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell) 21.
CIC3* (section two): Andrew Nicholson, Viscount George 44.9 (owned by Robin and Nicola Salmon) 1 (overall best score in the 3*), Caroline Powell, Thornfield Jones 61.2 (owned by Alan Bell) 10, Clarke Johnstone, Regal Romar 65.2 (owned by Natasha and Richard Otto and Rob and Jean Johnstone) 15.
CIC3* (section three): Mark Todd, Up N Go 87 (owned by Pip McCarrol and Malcolm Brow) 24.
CIC1* (section one): Blyth Tait, Bear Necessity 60.8 (owned by Ronnie Bartlett) 18.
CIC1* (section two): Blyth Tait, Catch Me Katerina 66.3 (owned by Sally Moore) 27.
Advanced (section one): Andrew Nicholson, Qwanza 34.6 (owned by Rosemary and Mark Barlow) 1, Andrew Nicholson, Sintra BK 46.9 (owned by Nicholson) 5, Dan Jocelyn, Valemount 84.7 (owned by Jocelyn) 24.
Advanced (section two): Tim Rusbridge, Oneforthenotebook 65.5 (owned by Ms A Butler and Rushbridge) 11.
Open novice: Caroline Powell, Halltown Harley 34.8 7.
For results go to: http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cha
- Diana Dobson
