Andrew Nicholson’s clear showjumping round has seen him finish second in the CCI3* at the Bramham International Horse Trials in the UK.
He and Swallow Springs were fifth after the dressage, moving up to fourth at the end of cross country, and this morning were on the podium with their 28 penalty point effort. A gracious runner-up, Nicholson paid tribute to winner Julia Krajewski (GER) and Chipmunk FRH, who led from the get-go, finishing on their dressage score of 19.4.
“Julia’s done a superb dressage, beautiful cross country round and a lovely showjumping round. If you are beaten, you like to be beaten by someone who has done a proper job at all phases.”
He had watched her showjumped and felt once the horse had just jumped better and better. “It is nice to win, but if you get beaten by someone who has done a proper job, you have to be happy and appreciate how good they are as well.”
Nicholson also had plenty to say about his 10-year-old grey gelding. “He is probably at the top of the list now with me . . . probably my number one horse. He will head to Burghley next. He has always been a good horse at all the levels from the moment he started.”
The horse had made the cross country feel very easy and Nicholson said he had improved a lot over the past year. “If he can keep stepping up each time, it will be good for the future for the big stuff.”
Dan Jocelyn and Blackthorn Cruise were also all clear in the showjumping, to finish in 23rd place on 47.2, with Nicholson and Yacabo BK all clear to finish in 43rd spot on 78.6.
Just 47 combinations started the final phase with 15 adding nothing further to their scores.
The horse details:
Blackthorn Cruise – owned by Therese Miller and Panda Christie
Yacabo BK – owned by Andrew Nicholson
Swallow Springs – owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Adam Fanthorpe