Top-class action at Cornbury
Winners and competitors from the Paris Olympics 2024, including Tom McEwen (above), took part in the prestigious Cornbury House Horse Trials (8-11 September) on the Cornbury estate near Charlbury in Oxfordshire.
Tom McEwen, a member of Britain’s gold medal-winning team at both the Paris and Tokyo Olympics, won CCI3*-S section B riding Brookfield Quality. Paris team reserve rider and reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham took section A on Rehy DJ. And New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone topped section C on his Olympic mount Menlo Park. All three winning horses are aiming for the end-of-season CCI5* at Pau in France.
“Brookfield Quality was awesome,” said Tom. “It was a great prep run for Pau, and it was brilliant to be able to do it in the atmosphere of Cornbury with a lot of things going on. The ground was absolutely perfect after last night’s rain.”
Both British riders completed on their dressage scores: Tom on 25.1 with Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality, and Yasmin on 25.6 with Janette Chin and The Sue Davies Fund’s Rehy DJ.
“This was a great fitness test for Rehy DJ,” explained Yasmin. “It’s beautiful up-and-down parkland and he felt brilliant throughout, so we are pushing on for Pau now and it’s exciting.
“I always try to get Cornbury into my calendar for the season. It’s beautifully run, the courses are amazing and the ground is perfect. I find it really good preparation for both my older horses and the younger ones as well – it’s highly educational.”
Menlo Park, who added just 1.6 cross country time penalties to his dressage mark of 24.1, will be tackling his first CCI5* at Pau. “This is a stepping-stone to that," said Clarke.
There were some equine heroes in the ribbons in the British Eventing Open Intermediate sections, both of which were won by New Zealand Olympian and former world number one Tim Price. Tim took Sue Benson’s Falco IV, winner of the CCI5* at Pau in 2021, team and individual bronze medallist at the 2022 World Championships in Italy and sixth individually at the Paris Olympics. Following was Ballaghmor Class (Oliver Townend), twice a winner of Defender Burghley’s CCI5* and also winner of the Defender Kentucky CCI5*, as well as a team gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics for Britain.
Tim’s section D success came aboard Jarillo, owned by Lucy Allison, Clifton Eventers and Rachel and James Good.
Young riders make their mark
The under-21 riders also impressed at Cornbury, with 19-year-old Anna Price winning The Howden Way CCI-S 3*YR riding her parents Tricia and Tim’s 11-year-old Ars Vivendi mare Blakeney Surprise. The pair only added two showjumping time-faults to her dressage mark of 27.9. Finn Healy, riding Caroline Jenks’ Ramiro Wannabe, was second.
Oscar Fitzgerald, 16, topped The Howden Way CCI-S 2*J on Super Cillious, owned by Deborah Bevan, Juliet Donald, Lucy Allison and Italian Olympic rider Vittoria Panizzon. Second was Irish rider Tom Nestor riding Jessica McKie’s Coolafancy.
The Project Pony-sponsored Pony Trial went to Cumbria’s Maisie Greening, 15, and her 11-year-old Irish-bred dun mare Kilnaspic Lily. They recently represented Britain as individuals at the Pony European Championships. Second was Ireland’s Tadgh O’Haire riding Ballinagore Hero
As well equestrian sport, Cornbury House Horse Trials featured local, sustainable food and drink from neighbouring farms, premium hospitality and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.
Both British riders completed on their dressage scores: Tom on 25.1 with Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality, and Yasmin on 25.6 with Janette Chin and The Sue Davies Fund’s Rehy DJ.
“This was a great fitness test for Rehy DJ,” explained Yasmin. “It’s beautiful up-and-down parkland and he felt brilliant throughout, so we are pushing on for Pau now and it’s exciting.
“I always try to get Cornbury into my calendar for the season. It’s beautifully run, the courses are amazing and the ground is perfect. I find it really good preparation for both my older horses and the younger ones as well – it’s highly educational.”
Menlo Park, who added just 1.6 cross country time penalties to his dressage mark of 24.1, will be tackling his first CCI5* at Pau. “This is a stepping-stone to that," said Clarke.
There were some equine heroes in the ribbons in the British Eventing Open Intermediate sections, both of which were won by New Zealand Olympian and former world number one Tim Price. Tim took Sue Benson’s Falco IV, winner of the CCI5* at Pau in 2021, team and individual bronze medallist at the 2022 World Championships in Italy and sixth individually at the Paris Olympics. Following was Ballaghmor Class (Oliver Townend), twice a winner of Defender Burghley’s CCI5* and also winner of the Defender Kentucky CCI5*, as well as a team gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics for Britain.
Tim’s section D success came aboard Jarillo, owned by Lucy Allison, Clifton Eventers and Rachel and James Good.
Young riders make their mark
The under-21 riders also impressed at Cornbury, with 19-year-old Anna Price winning The Howden Way CCI-S 3*YR riding her parents Tricia and Tim’s 11-year-old Ars Vivendi mare Blakeney Surprise. The pair only added two showjumping time-faults to her dressage mark of 27.9. Finn Healy, riding Caroline Jenks’ Ramiro Wannabe, was second.
Oscar Fitzgerald, 16, topped The Howden Way CCI-S 2*J on Super Cillious, owned by Deborah Bevan, Juliet Donald, Lucy Allison and Italian Olympic rider Vittoria Panizzon. Second was Irish rider Tom Nestor riding Jessica McKie’s Coolafancy.
The Project Pony-sponsored Pony Trial went to Cumbria’s Maisie Greening, 15, and her 11-year-old Irish-bred dun mare Kilnaspic Lily. They recently represented Britain as individuals at the Pony European Championships. Second was Ireland’s Tadgh O’Haire riding Ballinagore Hero
As well equestrian sport, Cornbury House Horse Trials featured local, sustainable food and drink from neighbouring farms, premium hospitality and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.
Photography: Peter Nixon