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Pippa Funnell once again wrote herself into the equestrian history books winning a record fourth title at Blenheim, claiming this year’s Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials with Sue and Lizzie Bunn’s breeding stallion Viceroy II.

A good dressage score, a clean sheet cross country and less than handful of time penalties put the combination well ahead of the field with two show jumps in hand. This was increased to three fences when second placed Andrew Nicholson and Flush Banker took out the back rail of the parallel. But Pippa showed her true colours and, being the professional she is, produced a clear, well-timed round leaving the rest behind and finish on a score of 42.4. “There is just as much pressure with so many fences in hand as it is not very impressive if you then don’t win,” said Pippa.

A clear round from 21 year old Matthew Wright moved him up into second placed with his own coloured gelding, (Park Pilot) bred by his mother Jane Wright, to give him his best senior three day result to date and several prizes including best ‘under 25’ and best Blenheim ‘first timer’. Incredibly Matthew, one of the youngest to finish, was one of just two to complete on his dressage score. (Matthew and Park Pilot are pictured at the right during the Cross Country Phase.Photo courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.)

The four faults dropped Andrew Nicholson and Flush Banker to third while Polly Jackson and her coloured gelding Two For Joy also added four faults to their total to finish in fourth place.

Swedish rider Dag Albert, who produced one of the five clears in the time cross country yesterday, with his and his wife’s Who’s Blitz, kept a clean sheet in the show jumping to move up to fifth place, moving up 25 places after dressage and joining the elite club for those adding nothing more to their dressage score.

Former Cotswold Pony Club member twenty year old Dominic Ruane completed only his fourth three day event and first three star competition in 25th place, to win the prize for the most local rider. The combination finished 58 places higher today than their 83rd place after dressage. “Dressage has never been his strong point. It is always let down by tension,” said Dominic. “But I am thrilled. If someone had told me I would be jumping in the top 25 on Sunday afternoon I would never have believed them.”

Story courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.

Final Results after Show Jumping:

1. VICEROY II, Pippa Funnell (USA) 38.8 2 3.6 - 42.4 - = 42.4
2. PARK PILOT, Matthew Wright (GBR) 54.6 24 - - 54.6 4 - = 54.6
3. FLUSH BANKER, Andrew Nicholson (NZL)52.0 17 - - 52.0 4 = 56.0
4. TWO FOR JOY, Polly Jackson (GBR) 46.4 10 6.8 - 53.2 4 = 57.2
5. WHOS BLITZ, Dag Albert (SWE) 57.6 30 - - 57.6 - = 57.6
6. FIRST FLIGHT II, Kristina Cook (GBR) 54.4 21 3.6 - 58.0 4 = 62.0
7. BALLY'S GERONIMO, Viktoria Carlerback (SWE) 46.2 9 12.4 - 58.6 4 = 62.6
8. EXCLUSIVE IMP, Sarah Cutteridge (GBR) 62.4 47 1.2 - 63.6 - = 63.6
9. ZARZOO, Milla Healey (GBR) 52.6 19 4.4 - 57.0 9 = 66.0
10. W P IN LIMBO, Clayton Fredericks (AUS) 60.2 37 6.4 - 66.6 - = 66.6

Americans and Permanent USA Residents:

55. EIGHT SAINT JAMES PLACE, Laine Ashker (USA) - 149.0 (4 SJ)

BAILEY ZWEI, Eleanor Brennan (GBR) Eliminated - SJ

CAVALDI, Kristin Schmolze (USA) - Retired - XC
HOROSCOPE, James Giannamore (USA) - Retired - XC

59 competitors finished.

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Saturday, September 11, 2004 - Cross Country Day

Pippa Heads For Fourth Blenheim Title
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Pippa Funnell looks on route for her fourth Blenheim title finishing well ahead of the field at the end of an exciting day cross country at the Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials.
Clear rounds were at a premium over Mike Etherington Smith’s course with many combinations adding unexpected cross country penalties to their dressage scores to upset the overnight leaderboard. (Pippa and the stallion Viceroy II are pictured at the right. Photo courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.)

“I said right from the first walk that it is a brilliant course. It’s sorting every one out; but, mainly just through run outs, which is what you want, and most of those are just about riding,” said Pippa.
Pippa was one of 40 clear rounds and adding only 3.6 time penalties moved to the top of the leader board at the halfway stage of the competition.

Dressage leaders Ruth Friend and Two Thyme were the only ones able to go ahead yet it proved not to be Two Thyme’s day. The 10 year old Thoroughbred had a stop at Fence 6 and after a third stop later round the course was retired by a disappointed Ruth.

While Pippa could not be beaten, the placings were up for grabs and it was the ultimate rider of the day, Andrew Nicholson, who moved up 15 places into second with a clear round in the time with Flush Banker, his Olympic reserve ride, with whom he was third here last year. (Andrew and Flush Banker are pictured at the left below. Photo courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.)

Polly Jackson and Two For Joy, her sharp little coloured gelding, also produced a fast clear to move into third. Fourteen year old ‘Percy’ a former show pony was competing at novice level when she bought him three years ago. “He is a real character and thinks he’s Murphy Himself really,” said Polly who hopes to take him to Badminton next year. “But he is class all the way through and is pretty quick and has one heck of a jump in him.” (Polly and Two for Joy are pictured at the right below. Photo courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.)

Despite being held for half an hour at the start, 21 year old former young rider team gold medallist Matthew Wright, also jumping late in the day, put in one of the five clears in the time with Park Pilot ending the two days in fourth position – uniquely placing two coloured horses in the top four. “When I walked the course I certainly wasn’t worried; but, you do begin to think a bit when many are having problems and retiring,” said Matthew who produced the fastest round of the day. “But he had done a couple of three stars before this so I knew he could do it.”

Hard luck stories included a stop for Olympic gold medallist Leslie Law and Fox on the Run at the troublesome Fence 19; an early walk home for William Fox Pitt, when Moon Man slammed on the anchors, also at Fence 19, three times for elimination;, a fall for German Olympic rider Ingrid Klimke and Robinson’s Concorde at Fence 11; and a stop for Jeanette Brakewell and McGuigan.

At the other end of the scale Dominic Ruane and Highwayman and Portugese rider Frederico Mexia De Almeida and Pegaso both placed in lowly positions after dressage have come storming back onto the leaderboard with fast clears to move up an incredible 59 and 57 places into 24th and 29th respectively.

Sixty four horses completed the day and will go forward to tomorrow’s final horse inspection before the show jumping.

While Pippa and Viceroy have two fences in hand over Andrew and Flush Banker, just two fences separate the next nine riders.

The above story is courtesy of the Blenheim Web Site.

CCI*** Cross Country Results

1. VICEROY II, Pippa Funnell (GBR) D38.8 (2) T3.6 - = 42.4
2. FLUSH BANKER, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) D 52.0 (17) - - = 52.0
3. TWO FOR JOY, Polly Jackson (GBR) D46.4 (10) T6.8 - = 53.2
4. PARK PILOT, Matthew Wright (GBR) D54.6 (24) - - = 54.6
5. IN THE PURPLE, Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) D54.4 (21) T0.8 - = 55.2
6. OSH KOSH, Francis Whittington (GBR) D55.6 (26) - - = 55.6
7. ZARZOO, Milla Healey (GBR) D52.6 (19) T4.4 - = 57.0
8. WHOS BLITZ, Dag Albert (SWE) D57.6 (30) - - = 57.6
9. FIRST FLIGHT II, Kristina Cook (GBR) D54.4 (21) T 3.6 - = 58.0
10. BALLY'S GERONIMO, Viktoria Carlerback (SWE) D46.2 (9) T12.4 - = 58.6

American and Permanent USA Residents Cross Country Scores:

48. BAILEY ZWEI, Eleanor Brennan (GBR) D66.6 (70) 8.4T 20J = 95.0
62. EIGHT SAINT JAMES PLACE, Laine Ashker (USA) D64.8 (62) 15.2T 65J = 145.0

CAVALDI, Kristin Schmolze (USA) - Retired
HOROSCOPE, James Giannamore (USA) - Retired

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Comments on the Blenheim Cross Country Course

Once again Michael Ethrington-Smith has managed to design the nearly perfect course.

Consider the following Cross Country statistics:

5 double clears

41 completions without jumping faults

19 completions with one refusal

22 Retired

11 Eliminated

Of the top 10 placings after Cross Country all but 2 were NOT in the top ten after Dressage. Did the Blenheim Cross Country have the proper influence on the over all score? YES!

Compare this to the Athens Olympic course where 9 of the top 10 after Dressage remained in the top 10 after Cross Country and the 10th moved down one place to 11th. Did the Athens course have the proper influence on the over all score? NO!

Cora C. Cushny, Editor

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Geronimo Takes An Early Lead
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After the first 25 riders around the cross country course Thursday dressage leaders Viktoria Carlerback (SWE) and Bally’s Geronimo have taken back the lead at The Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials. Viktoria’s good dressage score gave them a good advantage, the Swedish combination adding 12.4 time penalties to end their day on 58.6.

However the early results have proved this will not be a dressage competition with many combinations falling foul and collecting jumping penalties with Fence four, (The Oxford Times OTT), Fence 11, (The Equimax Equaliser) and Fence 19 (The Dodson & Horrell Feedstore all proving influential.

Trailblazers Andrew Nicholson and Henry Tankerville collected 20 pens at Fence 19.
“Going first doesn’t worry me,” said Andrew. “The conditions are perfect and there is a good breeze. I don’t think there are any specific problems out there – there are problems all the way round and quite a lot of spreads to bear in mind particularly towards the end of the course.”

Despite being no. 13, Tristram Owers and the 13 year old Classic Touch II were the first to come home on a clean sheet and within the time to move well up the leaderboard on their dressage score of 63.4. “I saw riders having problems at Fence four, which just looked a bit bright so decided to take the long route there but otherwise rode as I’d intended. He is a good little horse – and he is litte (15.3hh) and as we were spot on the time might be in with a chance of winning a pair of boots,” (said Tristram).

(Story courtesy of Blenheim Web Site.)