Michael Eilberg has won the Equestrian.comIntermediate 1 dressage to music at Bolesworth International, riding the brilliant mare Woodlander Farouche.
Exciting horse
Michael’s stunning routine was awarded a score of 77.625%, winning him £2,500.
“I think there is a lot more to come,” said Michael. “She is a very exciting horse for the future.”
Laura Tomlinson was second on 74.000% with Duvals Capri Sonne JR, who she has only had since April. Becky Moody and Carinsio were third.
Speed specialist
The showjumping kicked off on Thursday, with Laura Renwick winning the opening class.
There was just 42 hundredths of a second between the top four, but it was Laura and speed specialist Beluga that posted the fastest time to win the class.
“She is an amazing horse,” said Renwick. “She has won at every age, and is naturally quick. She will jump anything, and that type of class is her bread and butter.”
Irish Olympian Marion Hughes was second with Laith, while Keith Shore and Zegreanne Z took third spot, just ahead of Nicole Pavitt and Our Duchess.
In his element
Another woman showing the men how to ride against the clock was Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift, who won the A W Jenkinsons 1.40m class.
Ireland’s Captain Michael Kelly on Drumiller Lough, while James Smith and Tyson Uno finished third.
The class was great preparation for next week’s Hickstead Speed Derby, where Harriet hopes they can go one better than last year’s runners-up spot.
“He is a quick horse, and he is in his element at 1.40m,” she said. “The Castle Arena is on a bit more of a slope than you would think, but he likes a bit of hilly ground and that really suited him today.”
New ride
Shane Breen, who is based at Hickstead, won the Gaskells Waste Management 1.45m speed class. He was the sole rider to clock under 70 seconds on Acoustik Solo du Baloubet. Shane only started competing the horse four weeks ago, but this was already the pair’s second win.
“He hadn’t jumped a 1.45m before, so I thought I would try to do the turns and see how quick he could be,” Shane said. “He is going to be very good.”
USA’s Laura Kraut was second on Cavalia, Mexico’s Alberto Michan Halbinger came third with Really LS La Silla and Chloe Aston was fourth on Kolibri Classic.