Tim Price is back on the podium once again, this time as the winner of the CCI4*-L at the Strzegom Spring Open in Poland with Vitali.
The Kiwi combo lead after the dressage but dropped to third post cross country due to a few time penalties, coming back to secure the victory with a stunning showjumping round this morning. It was Vitali’s first crack at a 4*-L and his efforts have left Tim very happy.
“I am really happy with that performance from Vitali,” said the world no.2. “I wanted to get him secured into the 4*-L club and he has achieved that … he is such a great horse.”
The bay Holsteiner gelding is co-owned by Joe and Alexander Giannamore and Tim. “I am really excited for Joe, who has been such a long time Kiwi supporter.”
Tim says there are plenty of places to shave penalties off. “He is very capable in all departments,” he said. “As this was his first 4*-L I just let him him feel his way into overdrive (on the cross country) when they have to go that little bit further when they are not used to it. He stayed really nice and balanced, and I didn’t want to shove him along, so we had a few time faults.” But the horse came out today and jumped “beautifully”. The combination scored 28.7 penalty points in the dressage, added 10.4 time in the cross country and clear in the showjumping to finish on 39.1. Runner-up was Melody Johner (SUI) aboard Toubleu de Rueire on 42.4 with Merel Blom (NED) and Ceda NOP third on 44.2.
Tim also competed in the CCI2*-L aboard Chio 20, a horse he describes as another “very exciting” horse. The seven-year-old qualified for Lyon thanks to his performance in Poland. The class was won by Nicholas Goldbeck on Chintano.
“So that was another box ticked for him. It was well worth the trip out to Poland, but I can’t wait to get back home and see my wife and kids who I haven’t seen for two weeks having done this and Kentucky back-to-back.”
The horse details:
Vitali – owned by Alexander and Joe Giannamore and Tim Price
Chio 20 – owned by Di Brunsden, Peter Cattell, Lucy Sangster and Tim Price
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photo credit LW: Leszek Wójcik