Podium for Gambesie at Bramham
Jesse Campbell has ridden Gambesie to a solid third place in the CCI4*-L at the Bramham International Horse Trials overnight, and he couldn’t be happier. “His owner and I have had a lot of faith in him,” said the Tokyo Olympian. “He has been a tricky horse to produce with a few niggly injuries along the way. It has been great to have a spell of work to put into him and get him to Bramham in amazing shape.”
The Kiwi combo scored 29.4 penalty points in their dressage, adding just two time in the cross country and nothing in the showjumping for a total of 31.4, just a whisker behind winner Pippa Funnell (GBR) aboard MCS Maverick who finished on 30.5 with Piggy March (GBR) and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise in second with their 30.8 effort.
The Ian Stark-designed cross country was tough – a big course in big terrain, but Jesse said Gambesie just “ate it up”. “Gambesie has produced the result we really wanted from him and one we thought he could achieve. He is incredibly talented as well as mentally being super solid.” Jesse said it is a “real honour” to ride a horse he considered to be so exciting.
Jesse’s efforts drew praise from ESNZ high-performance general manager Jock Paget who said it had been a great weekend for the rider. “They were marking quite hard on the flat across the board for the dressage and it was a really tough cross country but Jesse had two great rounds,” said Jock.
Forty-six combinations had started the 4*-L, with just 31 seeing out the three phases. Jesse and Cooley Lafitte placed 17th on a score of 46.7, with James Avery completing on both his horses Finduss PFB and MBF Connection.
Caroline Powell completed the 77-strong CCI4*-S with her horses CBI Aldo and High Time, saying there were some exciting times ahead. “What a shining future they both have,” said Caroline. “Ian Stark’s course was as brilliant as ever and demanded strong, positive riding, and the ground was the best we could have hoped for in this weird season where the weather has been so influential.”
The 4*-S was won by Selina Milnes (GBR) on Cooley Snapchat on 34.9, with Mollie Summerland (GBR) aboard Flow 7 second on 37.1, and Zara Tindall (GBR) on Class Affair third on 37.3.
MORE INFO: https://bramham-horse.co.uk/
RESULTS: https://bramham-horse.co.uk/times-results-2/
The horse details;
Gambesie (by Zambesi TN out of Verrona who is by Harcos) – owned by Sarah Moffat
Finduss PFB (by Saffier out of Belle Miranda who is by Sarantos) – owned by Parkfield Breeding and Samantha Birch
MBF Connection – owned by Hazel Livesey
CBI Aldo (by Goodluck VDL out of KMS Eclipse who is by Ramon) – owned by Jo West, Serena Greenwell and Pat Melville-Evans
High Time (by Hemmingway out of Freckleton Maximas Mandolin) – owned by Annie Allen
By Diana Dobson – ESNZ high-performance Media Liaison
Photos: Libby Law ESNZ