Australian & British Olympic Team riders dominate at Barbury
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
World class shone through on the final day of The 2008 St. James's Place Barbury International Horse Trials (Sunday 6 July) with Australian and British Olympic team members dominating - and Australia's Lucinda Fredericks taking top honours.
In the lead from Day one, with a score of 30.8 penalties in the dressage, Lucinda followed up with a clear show-jumping round and only 17.2 time penalties on the cross-country, leaving her on a final score of 48.
Husband Clayton was pushed into 3rd by British Olympic team member William Fox-Pitt who finished 2nd on Parkmore Ed, 4th on Ballincoola and 5th on Tamarillo.
However, all eyes were on the pink colours of Lucinda Fredericks as last to go on the cross country course she and her feisty mare Headley Britannia had all to play for if they were to win this prestigious event.
The little mare gave her all and in the style that won them Badminton in 2007 flew the fences as fast as they dared to come home clear. Although others had been faster, their excellent dressage score ensured they stayed at the top of the leaderboard collecting the Barbury International Challenge Trophy and the £5,000 first prize.
"I went as fast as I could albeit with handbrake on - she was going but not in an impetuous or crazy way as she sometimes can," said Lucinda who has been selected along with third placed husband Clayton for the Australian eventing team. "She produced a couple of flyers but in a safe way and I had a great fun ride - and she was still pulling at the finish."
Clayton and Ben Along Time who was lying in second place behind his wife after dressage and show jumping collected times penalties to drop one place and finish behind William Fox-Pitt on his Burghley winner Parkmore Ed who raided the prize fund to also finish in fourth and fifth with Balincoola and Tamarillo.
Lucinda and Clayton admitted to working alongside each other in their quest for Olympic selection. "We have worked alongside each other all year and stuck to our guns - there have been some hiccups but they do help you concentrate," said Lucinda who knew that selection was dependent on a good showing here. "We had to do well here and luckily we did. Having the show jumping in reverse order - which they have not done before meant I did feel the pressure in that phase," said Lucinda.
Clayton was thrilled with Ben Along Time. "His dressage was rock solid and I didn't let him down in the show jumping. He got a bit fiery during the cross country but he went fantastically and he is fitter than he has ever been."
William Fox-Pitt is still undecided which horse to take to Hong Kong. "It is the first time I have run the three against each other and I am still none the wiser which to take - although sentimentally having ridden Tamarillo in Athens (2004) I would love to ride him again as I always said he had two games in him. The real question is how are we going to beat the Australians?"
A top class record field produced 84 starters in the cross country including Chris King and Secret Weapon who came hoping to defend the title they won here last year. The pair finished in sixth place. "There were some seriously good horses here and we have not disgraced ourselves," said Chris. "Even with all the rain we've had the ground held up superbly and we had a fantastic event - Barbury is just a brilliant venue."
