Eventing Mark Phillips
Oliver Townend dominates ahead of Kentucky and Badminton, as eventing finally runs in the sun
Istanbul BBQ Chester Kelsall Hill (1), Cheshire OLIVER TOWNEND’S ride Cillnabradden Evo lost a front shoe across country, but still ran out the victor in the £1,000-to-the-winner advanced intermediate (AI). The 12-yearold, owned by Sally-Anne Egginton, lost the shoe dropping down Kelsall’s signature bank towards the end of the course. However, he was reshod in time to jump clear in the showjumping which ran after the cross-country, with the top 10 in reverse order.
“He’s a very reliable showjumper, in fact I’ve never had a rail on him,” said Oliver. “He missed last year after picking up an injury. He had a pipe opener at Gatcombe back in March, but that was so long ago it was like first time out with him again.”
Oliver also won the open intermediate (OI) with Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Ulises, and took third in the AI with the Badminton-bound Ballaghmor Class and seconds at intermediate and OI level with Sweeps Crystal Cruise and Tregildur.
“I was super-happy with
Ulises,” said Oliver. “In fact, I was happy with all of them. They’ve gone as well as they could have done and as I’m flying to Kentucky on Monday, I’m glad to know I can still see a stride at speed.”
Oliver is a regular at the Cheshire event and rode 10 over the weekend.
“It’s the best event of this level in the country and the only thing that would improve it would be the addition of an advanced, a two-star and a three-star,” he said.
The remaining intermediate section was won by Nicola Wilson riding Deidre Johnson and the Lamberts’ JL Dublin. The Diarado gelding, out of a half-sister to three 1.60m jumpers, was winning his second intermediate of the
season and will head for the twostar at Floors and hopefully the seven-year-old championship at Le Lion d’Angers in the autumn.
“Today he did his best test by far, even though he was very fresh,” said Nicola, who rates the seven-year-old highly. “He’s an old head on young shoulders and finds everything so easy.”
Nicola picked up two other top-10 placings with her five rides.
“They all needed a run, but it was a real galloping course with fantastic going,” she added.
After the recent inclement weather, it came as some surprise for most riders and for organiser Phil Latham that Kelsall Hill ran under blue skies, with well-nigh perfect conditions.