Gatcombe Park Hosts Leg 5 of the Event Rider Masters this Weekend
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This weekend a mouth-watering line up of the world’s best horses and riders will descend upon the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park to compete in the fifth leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM).
There is £50,000 up for grabs and with the 2017 series now over its half way point there is everything to play for. Competitors will be hungry for a coveted ERM podium finish and score valuable points on the leaderboard, as the £400,000 series heads into its final three legs across August and September.
Gemma Tattersall currently tops the ERM leaderboard with 74 points, and has secured her lead riding a different horse in each leg of the 2017 series. She won Leg 1 on board the grey mare Quick Look V, who she will ride at the European Eventing Championships later this month. Then, in July Gemma completed in the top ten at both Leg 3 riding Pamero 4 and at Leg 4 on board Chico Bella P. From the outset of the 2017 series Gemma stated that her sights were set on the series, and with Arctic Soul renowned as a superb cross country performer she is a favourite to extend her lead this weekend.
Commenting ahead of Leg 5 of the ERM, Gemma Tattersall said:
“I am really looking forward to riding Arctic Soul this weekend in the Event Rider Masters. He is a lovely big horse and I feel the galloping cross country should suit him, being a thoroughbred. I expect this weekend is going to be super competitive but we are ready and I hope I am still at the top of the ERM leaderboard come Sunday afternoon”.
It was at the Festival of British Eventing, at Gatcombe Park last year, that the 2016 ERM champion Oliver Townend (GBR) began his dominance of the series, when winning the leg with Cillnabradden Evo. Oliver kicked off his 2017 ERM campaign in fine style last month when finishing third on the podium for Leg 4, at Haras de Jardy in France. He was one of only two riders in the competition to finish on their dressage score. This weekend he rides Note Worthy and will be hungry to build on his third-place performance.
Sarah Cohen (GBR) is remarkable performer in the 2017 series and currently lies in second in the overall ERM rankings, with 69 points. This weekend she will ride her fifteen-year old gelding Treason, with the combination making their fourth appearance in this year’s series. They delivered a brilliant win at Leg 2 in Wiesbaden, Germany as well as finishing in the top ten in the first and fourth legs. The pair are well established across the three Eventing phases and have jumped double clears in all their ERM appearances. They are earmarked as potentials to steal the series lead if they deliver another strong performance this weekend.
With the magnificent estate of Gatcombe Park as the back drop for Leg 5 of the Event Rider Masters and with competitors vying for the top of the series leaderboard the scene is set for a fascinating two days of ERM Eventing.
All the action from Leg 5 can be viewed live at eventridermasters.tv. A highlights programme will be aired across global TV channels, including Sky Sports Arena in the UK on Thursday 10 August at 1800.
For Leg 5 competitors, start times, information, and live stream http://eventridermasters.tv/events/2017/gatcombe-park
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.