Young talent provides stiff competition
The Charles family are back in the ribbons, while Matthew Sampson scores an impressive treble
CSI3* Spanish Sunshine Tour, Vejer De La Frontera
HARRY CHARLES just missed out on winning his second grand prix of the week, taking the runner-up spot to Egypt’s Abdul Said (Beauminka) in Saturday’s 1.45m small grand prix.
Harry, 18, had triumphed in the previous week’s postponed CSI4* grand prix with Controe — beating his Olympic gold medallist father Peter on that occasion — but, this time on Vivaldi Du Dom, the Hampshire rider just couldn’t quite match the time of the Egyptian. His younger sister Sienna was snapping at his heels, taking third on Chaitanya 2, with William Funnell fourth on Billy Angelo.
Among the other big winners on the Tour this week were Matthew Sampson (Gloria Van Zuuthoeve, Billy Republic and Dy Korette), Holly Smith (April IV), Harriet Nuttall (Silver Lift), Keith Shore (Coriander Van’t Vennehof ), Max Routledge (Lord Of Arabia) and Georgie Crumley (Haifa OL). Notable big tour placings went to Ellen Whitaker (Arena UK Winston), John Whitaker (Cassinis Chaplin) and Ben Walker (Roulette H).
Kayleigh Watts flew the British flag as winner of the 1.40m medium tour grand prix on Fashion V. Abbe BurchmoreEames (Casti Aneira) and Steven Whitaker (Billy Jean) were among the raft of successful British riders in the small and medium tours.
Meanwhile, in the young horse classes David McPherson caught the eye with his Frenchbred victor Best Of Adriers, as did Carron Nicol with the impeccably bred stallion Galerius (Diamant De Semilly x Sandro Boy).