Harry Meade and Monbeg Medlar - 7th in the Intermediate Section J
Good Friday turned out to be a very good Friday for local rider Philippa Cross. 'Pip', from Gressenhall, rode her top horse Scoop de Ferbet to victory in one of the Intermediate sections at the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials today. Speaking of her victory, she admitted she wasn't expecting the result but was confident that an intensive winter training on her dressage with Judy Bradwell had made 'Scoop' more rideable and would ultimately make them more competitive.
Pip, a professional rider, is a regular at Burnham Market and was impressed by the course this year, saying it offered a 'good test' with perfect going and excellent distances which encouraged forward riding.
Scoop, owned by Tina Hayward and 'The Scoop Syndicate' first arrived at Pip's yard to be sold. However she instinctively knew there was something special about him and suggested she keep him to train through the levels. Since then the 12-year-old has come on leaps and bounds under her training and hard work.
Their next stop is Belton International to contest the two star, then onwards to Chatsworth CIC***. Ultimately she would like to complete another CCI*** by the end of the 2018 season. With the partnership at the top of their game, they are an exciting combination to keep an eye on.
Piggy French, who originally hails from Norfolk, also had a successful day. She bagged both a straight intermediate section on Carnival March and the Advanced with Quarrycrest Echo. She additionally pocketed third, fourth and sixth place rosettes.
Nicola Wilson added another win to yesterday's triumph, taking an open intermediate section with Annie Clover, with Izzy Taylor claiming the second open intermediate aboard Serafina.
Oliver Townend has retained his dressage lead in the Two Star, with Pippa Funnell still heading the Three Star.
Tomorrow's International class action kicks off with dressage and showjumping at 8.30am and cross country at 9.30am
