Up and Coming Rider Storms to Victory At Blenheim CCI3*
Twenty-four-year-old, Bella Innes Ker, stormed through SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trial CCI3*, to take the top spot.
Ker rode the fourteen-year-old mare, Carolyn, to victory after leading throughout the competition.
Delighted, Ker exclaimed;
Wow, today is a complete dream come true. Carolyn is one in a million — we’ve gone through a lot together, all the way from BE100 and juniors.”
Ker maintained her lead of 0.3, even knocking one rail in the penultimate showjumping phase. The minute difference placed her just ahead of William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II, who took second.
Despite finishing the dressage stage with a respectable 28.7 points Fox-Pitt admitted he was “disappointed” with his performance, and “thought that was it”, in terms of placing in this years competition. Fox Pitt continued on a brighter note;
My horse is a tough old chap and he came out really well today after the cross-country — he’s a fighter and I’m very excited about him.”
Alex Bragg and Zagreb took third place with a score of 29.6, putting their fall at Burghley Horse Trials behind them.
In the final phase, a clear round saw Sierra Milnes and Iron IV jump four places, grasping fourth place. Kitty King riding Vendredi Biats took fifth, whilst Pippa Funnell and MGM Grafton Street dropped from second to sixth after knocking a fence in the final phase.
In the eight-and-nine year old CIC3*, at Blenheim Palace Horse Trials, Laura Collett with London 52 took top position after finishing just one second over the optimum time with a score of 27.9.
It’s scary how easy he finds it. He’s pure class and he gave me some feeling around the cross-country today. He doesn’t have that much thoroughbred blood in him, but he has a massive stride. There’s so much more to come from him too.”
Izzy Taylor and her speedy ride, Springpower, finished 13 seconds inside the time and with a score of 29.5, to take second.
Laura Collett also took third with her overnight leading ride, Dacapo, and 3.2 time faults.
