Nicholson cleans up at Gatcombe Park (From Stroud News and Journal)

Nicholson cleans up at Gatcombe Park

NEW Zealander Andrew Nicholson, fresh from his win in the Hickstead Eventing Grand Prix, carried all before him at the first Doubleprint Festival of Eventing held at Gatcombe Park at the weekend.

He had already won the two Advanced classes on the Saturday, riding Astronave in Section 1 and Climb The Heights in Section 2, before winning the big event of the weekend, the British Open Championship, on Mallards Treat who, said Andrew, 'never put a foot wrong.'

It was a particular triumph for the Olympic event rider who is known for his wizardry in bringing on young horses and who is seldom out of the placings at major events, but who has never won the Open at Gatcombe before. He also took seventh place on Fenico.

Close behind him in second was Pippa Funnell who is also on a winning roll, having won Badminton on Supreme Rock, Samur on Jurassic Rising and Bramham on Walk On Star.

On Sunday, riding Primmore's Pride, she set off on the cross country course marginally ahead of Andrew, having led in the dressage and had one fence down in the show jumping.

But she could not match his scorching time and said afterwards that she had not tried to, particularly after Primmore's Pride's back legs had slipped from under him between fences 15 and 16.

"But he recovered instantly and jumped the next fence fine. I'm so excited because he's going to be such a horse for the future, but I'm realistic and I didn't want to jeopardise our chances for Burleigh by pushing him too far."

Pippa also took third and fifth places in the Intermediate Championship, riding Best Of All II, and Teddy Twilight.

British Open winner in 2000, William Fox-Pitt could not quite match that performance, but was placed third on Moon Man and fourth on Stunning, on whom he became the only rider to get home within the time.

He was also second in Midnight Dazzler in Advanced Section 2 and third on Highland Lad in Advanced Section 1, so things are looking good for both him and Pippa at the forthcoming World Equestrian Games.

Putting up a particularly good performance in fifth place was vet turned event rider James Robinson, riding Comanche. James began his eventing career at the yard of former Olympic show jumper, the late Pat Smythe, near Miserden, only a few miles from Gatcombe.

The Intermediate Championship was won by Ruth Friend, who is showing herself to be the young rider of the future, riding Two Thyme, having also come ninth and tenth in the Open on Classic Wizard and Matthew II.

Runner up in the Intermediate was Lucinda Fredericks, riding for Australia on Hedley Britannia. Local rider Julie Tew from Northleach, riding Sunstone, came 17th, just ahead of even more local rider Zara Phillips and Toytown.

Mark Phillips's decision to run novice, intermediate and open competitions over virtually the same course on the same weekend turned out to be a good one, in spite of early controversy over the size of the novice course.

In fact, it rode well in near perfect conditions, with more than half of the competitors getting clear rounds.

With record entries, good weather and massive crowds, the horse trials at Gatcombe Park were their usual great success, providing marvellous viewing for the enthusiasts and lots of other diversions for the non-horsey.