Price Capitalises In ‘Esteemed Company'

Tim Price’s ride Happy Boy rises through the mud to land seven-year-old gold, while Piggy French scores again

- Martha Terry

YOUNG event horse championships often go to the best dressage test, but a shifting leaderboard ensured this year’s renewal was nail-biting. Tim Price admitted surprise at rising from eighth after cross-country to take gold in the seven-year-olds with the KWPN Happy Boy.

“This is an event you dream of winning,” he said. “You’re in such esteemed company with class riders on their top young horses.”

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp’s double clear on “the best horse I’ve ever had”, Cooley Moonshine, catapulted her from 13th after cross-country into silver, while Tom McEwen fared best of the Brits in bronze, relinquishing gold only at the third-last show jump.

TIGHT AT THE TOP

THE dressage judges could barely separate the field, with four penalties covering the top 20. Germany’s Josephine Schnaufer, third to go, retained her early lead on 26.7 on Viktor 107, half a penalty ahead of Tom on Brookfield Benjamin Bounce.

“I made one mistake trying to avoid the mud,” said Tom, “but these conditions suit him — he’s compact and powerful.”

Christopher Burton took third on the French-bred Coup De Coeur Dudevin, with Oliver Townend (Miss Cooley) fourth, just one penalty off the lead.

Rain was forecast for cross country, but the runners started in sunshine and the clouds held back until the final horse had jumped. The ground was deemed “ideal”, with 23% of the 66 making the time, and 62% jumping clear.