Gemma Tattersall becomes first female rider to win a ERM leg riding Quicklook V

Suzanne Ashton

Gemma Tattersall becomes first female rider to win a ERM leg riding Quicklook V

  • Gemma Tattersall (GBR) becomes first female rider to win a ERM leg riding Quicklook
  • Second Bettina Hoy (GER) and Designer 10
  • Thomas Carlile (FRA) and Upsilon third

Britain’s Gemma Tattersall became the first female rider to win a leg of the £400,000 Eventing series, riding the lovely mare Quicklook V, last weekend at Chatsworth Horse Trials.

Quicklook V, who is owned by the Pebbles syndicate, was competing at this level for the first time since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Following a clear showjumping round, Tattersall set out on the Chatsworth cross-country in pole position. They jumped a faultless round and completed with 3.2 time penalties. Their finishing score was 36.9, which secured the combination a personal best at this level and sets a record for the lowest ERM finishing score, as well the winners the cheque for £16,000.

Gemma, visibly delighted on the ERM podium said;

“Quicklook V was absolutely foot perfect in all three phases. I am so proud of her. My main aim is to win the Event Rider Masters series, and I have set out this year to do just that. I have some top classes horses to aim at it and can’t wait for the next one”.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy received compensation after a disappointing Badminton last week, finishing second on the ERM podium riding Designer 10. The pair started out on cross country behind Tattersall after showjumping clear, but adding one time penalty. They completed the cross country on 40.6 adding no jumping faults and just 1.2 time, securing Bettina her first podium spot.

“I do believe things happen for a reason, and I am very happy to be here following this result. I wanted to be competitive today and I had to go for it. Designer responded brilliantly and I am delighted with him”.

With the showjumping phase proving influential on Sunday morning, the overnight dressage leaders Thomas Carlile and Upsilon had a refusal and slipped down the cross country starting order to fifth. However, the combination came out all guns blazing on the cross country jumping an impressive clear inside the time to take third place. They were one of only three combinations to go inside the optimum time in the afternoon’s ERM cross country session. Elizabeth Power (IRE) and the former racehorse Soladoun and Brazil’s Marcio Jorge riding Coronel MCJ were the only two other combinations to also achieve this.

“I was disappointed with our mistake in the showjumping this morning. I didn’t set out on cross country with the time in mind, but he coped with the undulations here at Chatsworth so well and I was surprised how up on the time we were towards the end. It’s the first time he has managed to beat the clock at this level. He is a super star”.

The next leg of the Event Rider Masters is at the Internationales Wiesbadener PfingstTurnier (Germany) 2nd – 3rd June.

A highlights programme of Leg 1 will be aired across global TV channels from Thursday 18 May, including Sky Sports in the UK at 7pm.

The seven competitions hosting a ERM leg in 2017 are:

• The Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials 12th -14th May (ERM 13th – 14th May)
• Internationales Wiesbadener PfingstTurnier (Germany) 2nd – 5th June (ERM 2nd – 3rd June)
• The St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials 6th -10th July (ERM 9th – 10th July)
• Haras de Jardy (France) 14th – 17th July (ERM 15th – 16th July)
• Festival of British Eventing, Gatcombe Park, presented by BETA 4th – 6th August (ERM 5th – 6th August)
• Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials 24th – 27th August (ERM 26th – 27th August)
• Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials 13th – 17th September (ERM 15th – 16th September)

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