GATCOMBE: Berkeley event rider triumphs (From Stroud News and Journal)

GATCOMBE: Berkeley event rider triumphs

By Skip Walker »

BERKELEY-based event rider Daisy Berkeley won her first big championship on Sunday when she triumphed over a top-class field at Gatcombe Park to take the British Eventing British Open Championship on her 17-year-old ride Spring Along, writes Skip Walker.

More familiarly known as Daisy Dick until her marriage in October to Charles Berkeley, Mrs Berkeley revealed to the waiting press immediately after her win that she and Charles were expecting a baby in January.

Gatcombe was, therefore, her penultimate competition before she takes a break from competitive riding until after the birth of their baby.

Having come third on Spring Along at Badminton earlier this year, Berkeley felt optimistic about her chances in the British Open at Gatcombe and decided to forego the Advanced Section in which she had triumphed last year.

"I really wanted to win this, especially as it is a local event," she said.

The decision paid off and Berkeley and Spring Along led the field on 32.7 penalty points after a faultless show jumping performance and was last out across the Capt Mark Phillips-designed cross country course just after 4pm on Sunday.

Several riders, including Caroline Powell on Lenamore and Joe Meyer on Sanskrit, had posted exceptionally fast times ahead of her and 38-year-old Berkeley said she knew she would have to go some to maintain her lead.

"I did show my age with my 0.8 point time fault," she admitted, but despite her pregnancy she did not hold back and Spring Along was faultless throughout the course.

She said she was soppy when it comes to awards and she was thrilled that she and "Pod" as Spring Along is known in the stables, were now on the honours board at Gatcombe.

She was also delighted to report that Spring Along had now achieved an all-time record for the most points ever earned by an event horse.

Her husband was not, however, there to congratulate her as she and Spring Along crossed the finish line. He had instead honoured a commitment to give a talk to a local group about growing up at Berkeley Castle.

"I said never mind you do your thing and I'll do mine and we'll have a celebratory curry when I get home."

Although some competitors this year complained about the first place prize of £2,250, it will buy a fair few curries.

New Zealander Joe Meyer and Sanskrit were second with a fast clear inside the time, with Surrey-based youngster Gemma Tattersall third on Kings Gem.

Ruth Edge, who won the British Open Championship at Gatcombe last year and the year before, did not enter the Open this year but won the Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship on Applejack II.

Previous Open winner Oliver Townend on Jeepers Creepers won the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship.