Blair’s cross-country claims some big names

While Germany made Ian Stark’s cross-country at Blair Castle look positively simple, it certainly proved influential for the rest of today’s field at the FEI European Eventing Championships. Problems arose throughout the course, with the incessant rain playing its part in making things even tougher as the competition progressed.

Plateful

Multiple Olympic medallist Ian Stark told us he’d had a sleepless night waiting to see how his first senior championship course would ride. When Dutch rider Theo Van De Vendel came home clear this morning – albeit well over the allotted time of 10min 13 sec – Ian could breathe a sigh of relief.

But it wasn’t long before the course claimed its first scalp. Ireland’s Joseph Murphy, the second to leave the starting box, fell at the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties fence (21AB, 22). It was to become the most controversial obstacle of the day, particularly with the steep slope between the haggis and the arrowhead tatties elements.

Three more riders fell there: Karim Florent Laghouag, Giel Vanhouche and Daniel Dunst, at which point the decision was made between Ian and the ground jury to remove the Haggis element – leaving the markedly less meaty neeps and tatties parts intact. “We couldn’t risk another fall, it would have been stupid, so we took it out,” Ian explained afterwards.

After it was taken out, it didn’t caused much more trouble – though Francis Whittington did bow out at this stage when Easy Target ran out of energy and ground to a halt at the first element.

Centre stage

At most events, any fences in the main arena tend to be fairly straightforward – here, not so much. Ian placed a tricky double of corners at 16AB and the crowds who’d headed to the grandstands to shelter from the rain ended up witnessing a number of mishaps.

Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy became the first rider to run into trouble here, coming off Simon Porloe when he ducked out of the second corner. It was a real shame, as they’d been going well up to this point.

Britain’s team hopes were given a blow when Nicola Wilson’s One Two Many had a run out at this fence. France’s Karim Florent Laghouag picked up 20pen here, shortly before his fall – and Giel Vanhouche broke a frangible pin at the fence and went on to fall at the same jump as Karim too.

Bettina Hoy had a run out here, Jacek Jeruzal had two and walked home, Gwendolen Fer picked up her only 20pen at this point, and Pietro Sandei had a fall and was eliminated. Sweden’s Niklas Lindbäck, who’d been impressive in the dressage with Cendrillon on Friday, were the final combination to pick up penalties at this fence.

Easy start

As usual, the course got underway with several straightforward fences and the Longines Flower Display (1), the Mitsubishi L200s (2) and the Whisky Barrels Spread (3) caused no upset at all.

But the Shepherds’ Bothies – little brick houses set on a curving, sloping line – caught out two of the British hopes. Sarah Bullimore picked up 20pen here with Lilly Corinne, with next to go Holly Woodhead doing the exact same thing, dropping her and DHI Lupison from second individually to 22nd.

Giovanni Ugolotti’s competition ended abruptly at this point with a fall at the second element, while last to go Karin Donckers picked up 20pen here.

The Olympic Diamond (fence 5) was a big spread surrounded a picture frame, giving competitors the chance to admire the scenery as they jumped. It caused no issues, nor did the solid Post and Rails wooden gate at six.

A step down

The Leaf Pit Drop (7) gave the H&C team vertigo when walking the course but on the whole it jumped well. Russia’s Mikhail Nastenko had a refusal here, followed by another at the first water complex (8AB) – the only competitor to fault here – plus a fall at the second water complex (11AB), which again jumped fine for everyone else.

Camille Guyot fell at the Silver Birch Oxer (9), causing a hold on course for Sandra Auffarth, but the fence didn’t see any other penalties.

The Wind Blown Tree (10) was straightforward and jumped well, as did the Castle Wall and Canon (14) and the Stags Heads (15). Karin Donckers reached the huge Picnic Table (13) before electing to retire, having already picked up 20pen earlier on course.

Brush off

After navigating through the arena, riders had to jump the Joules Brush Arrowhead (17) – which is where William Fox-Pitt had a very uncharacteristic two run-outs. Daniel Dunst also faulted here, as did Sweden’s Louise Svensson Jähde and Finland’s Sanna Siltakorpi.

The very artistic final water complex, the Firth of Forth Crossings (18AB), saw Sweden’s Johan Lundin take a tumble. Dirk Schrade survived a sticky moment at this complex to go clear, while Ireland’s Austin O’Connor became the third Irish rider to be eliminated when he fell at 19AB. Britain’s Oliver Townend had a disappointing run-out at the final big corner fence here.

The Aintree Steeplechase Fence (20) is the sort of huge, galloping jump that spectators blanch at the size of but three- and four-star riders skip over. But it did cause a fall for Dutch rider Alice Naber-Lozeman.

Nearly at an end

After the drama of the Haggis fence, it was on to the Irish Horse Gateway Rails and Ditch Complex (23, 24AB), where Swiss rider Jasmin Gambirasio fell.

The big Trakehner at 25 jumped fine, though Sanna Siltakorpi retired at this point. Then it was on the the EventScotland Hanging Keyhole (26), which went without mishap. Only Patrizia Attinger had a run out at the Strezgom Offset Brushes (27, 28) but everyone jumped the Longines Final Fling (29) clear – with the kilted men forming the last jump of Ian Stark’s distinctly Scottish cross-country course.

Statistics

Of the 65 starters, just three finished clear within the time, while a further 32 jumped clear with time penalties. There were ten riders falls, and a further three horse falls.

Michael Jung and Izzy Taylor produced the joint quickest rounds of the day, each crossing the finish in 10min and 4sec, while the steadiest round was by Elnira Nabieva, who took 13minand 12sec to complete.

Overall, course designer Ian Stark was pleased with how the competition went, despite the taxing weather conditions. “We couldn’t have seven days in a row without rain in Scotland, and it had to happen today,” he said. “But the troubles were spread out, some big names went out and some less big names got round. The German riders excelled and rode with great balance and feel.”

Tomorrow’s showjumping will bring the event to a close – and we somehow doubt that a Haggis jump will be making an appearance.

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