Remington Clear on XC at Barbury, plus Saturday's SJ Recap

Remington XXV jumped around the cross-country clear with a few time faults at Barbury Castle for the final mandatory outing for the Land Rover US Eventing Team today. Everyone is now anxiously awaiting the big decision by the Olympic selectors....

Barbury CIC3* Final Results:
1. Andrew Nicholson and Avebury +0 41.6
2. Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo +0 49.8
3. Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porlow +1.2 50.2
4. Oliver Townend and Pepper Anne +0 50.8
5. Tiana Coudary and Ringwood Magister +0.8 51.2
6. Boyd Martin and Remington +6 53.4
...
10. Will Faudree and Andromaque +0 56.0
12. Allison Springer and Arthur +4 56.2
14. Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper +9.2 57.2
15. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen +4.4 57.8
23. Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere +11.6 60.4
33. Karen O'Connor and Mr. Medicott +14.0 66.4
34. Will Coleman and Twizzel +11.2 66.6
36. Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville +13.2 67.2
39. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice +10.8 68.0
Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos -- Elim

Boyd sent a recap at the end of the day yesterday, which didn't make it through the mail, so here's it is belatedly... -AMH

Saturday saw another splendid day of eventing action at the Barbury International Horse Trials.  It was one of the first times that I have competed the show jumping phase before the cross-country. It was a challenge on all the horses who were a little more excited and fresh that what they usually would be. All in all, the three boys jumped well and I was pleased with them.

Neville Bardos

Neville was one of the first to go. I was happy with the way he jumped, with good style throughout the round.  I made the mistake of turning up too tight on two rollback turns, putting him too deep to two large square oxers.  He did stay rideable and careful throughout the round, but unfortunately picked up 8 faults. Argh....

Otis Barbotiere

Otis was brilliant.  With the two-star cross-country horses galloping straight past us, he was very fired up. When he gets excited, he jumps better, and he put in a spectacular round that received a round of applause from the Brits.  Yee Haw!

Remington XXV

Old Remi also put in a pearler of a round.  He jumped with great form and good scope cruising around the course inside the time.  Unfortunately, I let him get a little bit free into the third last fence, which was a combination that he just tapped down.  It hardly made a noise, and I only realized that I had it down at the end of the round when I saw it on the ground.  Bugger...

The plan for cross-country is to be a little conservative on Neville and Otis, working on their rideabiity and control, and to make them work hard up the steep hills and protect them down them.  Remi will run on a little more, looking to angle a few fences and be economical.  It should be a fun day.

Boyd

Photos courtesy of Samantha Clark