History is made by winning Japanese rider
GRAND DAY OUT: EXCITING FINISH AT BRAMHAM
PACKED STANDS enjoyed yesterday’s exciting end to the 2017 Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials which have attracted around 50,000 spectators this year and one royal guest.
A day after Zara Tindall had completed her competition on Saturday afternoon, a huge crowd flocked to Bramham’s final day with many armed with both sunglasses and waterproofs after an unpredictable week of weather.
Under grey skies and intermittent rain, Northallerton’s London 2012 Olympian Nicola Wilson soared up the leaderboard on cross-country Saturday, giving crowds hope of a Yorkshire victory.
But instead a busy Bramham crowd witnessed history as Yoshiaki Oiwa became the first Japanese rider to win at the event in its 44-year history and claim the £5,750 first prize.
Oiwa won the flagship CCI three-star event on Calle 44. He said: “I wanted to be competitive but winning wasn’t planned! He’s really careful showjumping, but sometimes a bit too careful.”
Grafton’s James Sommerville finished the highest-placed Yorkshire rider in seventh on the aptly named Talent.
Young Brit Will Furlong won the event’s Bishop Burton College CCI three-star under-25s event on Collien P 2.
It was the seventh Bramham appearance for Zara Tindall, the Queen’s grand-daughter.
Next year’s Bramham will take place from Thursday, June 7 until Sunday, June 10. Before that, big crowds can be expected at Yorkshire’s other premier equestrian spectacle – the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. The Great Yorkshire starts on Tuesday, July 11.
I wanted to be competitive but winning wasn’t planned. Winning rider Yoshiaki Oiwa.