Andrew Nicholson and Avebury are once again the Barbury Castle International Horse Trials 3* Section A champions after a vintage performance this morning in the cross country.
The combination had a comfortable 10 penalty point buffer over their nearest rivals Izzy Taylor (GBR) aboard Kbis Starchaser.
It was a fitting win, as his home-bred Avebury (owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow) is named after a local Roman settlement.
“It’s a great place to win,” said Nicholson.. “Avebury is very experienced and easy to ride now. It felt like a top performance in every phase.”
In a pressure-packed cross country phase, there were was just one combination to come home clear and inside time. Rising to that challenge was Craig Nicolai (NZL) aboard his own Just Ironic. Their efforts saw them finish in 16th place – well up from their 56th after the dressage.
Tim Price and Wesko had an expensive run out which saw them slide from third place to 21st, while Sir Mark Todd and his new ride Oloa was clear but with time faults which saw him move up to 11th.
In the 3* Section B it was all Piggy French’s way. The British rider and Tinkas Time were clear to finish less than two penalty points ahead of second-placed Clark Montgomery (USA) on Loughan Glen.
Nicholson was again the best of the Kiwis, finishing in fifth place on Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar), with Lucy Jackson and Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson) seventh and Jonelle Richards and Faerie Dianimo (owned by Mrs T Rickards) 11th.
Again, clear rounds inside time were scarce.
Tim Price and his 19-year-old best mate Vortex were crowned Retraining of Racehorses Champion of Barbury for the second consecutive year.
Results -
CIC3* Section A (final): Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Avebury (owned by Mark and Rosemary Barlow and Nicholson) 35.2 1, Izzy Taylor (GBR) Kbis Starchaser 45.4 2, Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) Simon Porloe 46.6 3, Sir Mark Todd (NZL) Oloa (owned by Di Brunsden, Peter Cattrell, Pip McCarroll and Todd) 62 11, Craig Nicolai (NZL) Just Ironic (owned by Nicolai) 69.4 16, Tim Price (NZL) Wesko (owned by Christina Knudsen) 79 21, Caroline Powell (NZL) Thornfield Jones (owned by Alan Bell and Powell) 90.8 30.
CIC3* Section B (final): Piggy French (GBR) Tinkas Time 37.2 1, Clark Montgomery (USA) Loughan Glen 39 2, Rebecca Howard (CAN) Riddle Master 46 3, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Nereo (owned by Libby Sellar) 47 5, Lucy Jackson (NZL) Willy Do (owned by Gillian Greenlees and Jackson) 48 7, Jonelle Richards (NZL) Faerie Dianimo (owned by Mrs T Rickards) 55.6 11, Sir Mark Todd (NZL) Ravenstar (owned by Paul Quirk and Team Rutledge) 69.6 24, Caroline Powell (NZL) The Earl of Belvedere (owned by Richard Ames) 109 41, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Viscount George (owned by Robin and Nicola Salmon) eliminated.
