Tim Price has kept the Magic Millions British Open Championship all in the family, backing up wife Jonelle’s 2019 win with victory aboard Vitali.
Jonelle and Classic Moet were the last winners of the crown, but this year managed fifth, leaving Tim to lead home the 19-strong field.
Tim, who has just moved to the world no.2 ranking, finished on a score of 30 penalty points, comprising 23 from the dressage, adding three time in the showjumping and four in the Captain Mark Phillips-designed cross country. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Dreamliner were second on 21.1. As the highest-placed Brit, Oliver became the British National Champion for the third time.
“It was a great win for a horse that I have been working long and hard on,” said Tim. “His showjumping was really good and I was very pleased to jump a clear round to set up the opportunity to have a go at winning.” The event was the “perfect” preparation for Burghley.
Jonelle, who is now ranked at world no.5, finished on a score of 37.4.
The Festival of British Eventing had been an excellent outing for Team Price, with all but one of their six horses finishing in the top 10.
Tim also won the BiowaveGO Open Intermediate aboard Gurtera Jimmy Clover, placing fifth in the same class on Polystar I with Dan Jocelyn and Cooley One to Many sixth; Tim and Total Belief finished fourth in the BiowaveGO Intermediate (section D); he teamed up with Viscount Viktor to place fifth in the 26-strong Evelyn Partners British Intermediate Championship; and then with Jarillo finished eighth in the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship (section B).
THE HORSE DETAILS:
Vitali – owned by Joe and Alex Giannamore
Classic Moet – owned by Sophie and Trisha Rickards, and Jonelle Price
Viscount Viktor – owned by Barbara Cooper, Ginny Rusheer and Glynn Norcutt
Jarillo – owned by Shaun and Lucy Allison, Rachel and James Good, and Jonelle and Tim Price
Gurtera Jimmy Clover – owned by Michael McGrath
Cooley One to Many – owned by Carole King, Francesca Clapham, and Sophie and Lucy Allison
Total Belief – owned by Total Construction
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison