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Wilson left to rue her Bramham penalties
THREE time penalties cost Yorkshire rider Nicola Wilson the main title at Bramham International Horse trials yesterday.
The Northallerton rider had been in the lead after the cross country on Saturday riding Master Banks, ahead of Andrew Nicholson and Pippa Funnell with the home crowd willing her to win.
She was the last to go after Nicholson completed a faultless round on Nereo and actually thought she had clinched the title until she glanced at the scoreboard as she left the ring.
"I am kicking myself enormously but I'm delighted with how he's gone all week and I'm very excited about his future.
"I pushed for the line and halfway to the exit I saw the scoreboard and my heart sank."
The horse is owned by Sir Robert Ogden who was at Bramham to see the pair in action.
A cool, calm and collected performance by Nicholson on Nereo won him the title and a 4,300 cheque.
He won at Bramham three years ago riding Henry Tankerville. Based in this country he said he was genuinely thrilled to have won.
"He's a nice horse and that makes it easier.
"He's only nine and a sensitive horse... this is the biggest atmosphere he's had."
Funnell, who had been in second place on Ensign, had the last fence down which meant third place went to Piggy French riding Some Day Soon.
Lucy Holliday, from Thirlby near Thirsk, did well with High Times finishing in sixth place with four faults after the jumping.
The horse is owned by Lucy and her mother, the Hon Mrs. Mary Holliday, and they won the Angela Cotton Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the owner of the highest placed mare.
An extra CIC three-star event was held at Bramham this year, carried over from Chatsworth Horse Trials and the Kiwis proved to be on top form again.
The winner was Neil Spratt riding Upleadon and this was his biggest win to date.
"I was thrilled with how he coped with the atmosphere all week. He hasn't put a foot wrong," said Spratt, who has hopes of a New Zealand team place with this horse.
Andrew Nicholson, who was second riding Epic, paid tribute to his countryman and said he had jumped 'a lovely round'.
Olympic rider Sharon Hunt, riding Tankers Town, was placed third and was delighted the horse had gone so well. "I wanted to build him back up again after Badminton and now he's back on track."
Fourth place went to Harry Meade riding Dunauger. The horse is owned by Tracey Garside from Spofforth who led with him in the dressage here last year but felt he needed a stronger rider.
Nicola Wilson riding Pricewise finished 12th and Gary Parsonage from Beverley on Fearnhill O Dea was in the top 20 at 16th.
The winner of the Bishop Burton Under 25 Championship was Emily Llewellyn and Pardon Me 11. She had been in third place after the cross country but a clear show-jumping round put her in the lead ahead of Duarte Seabra from Portugal who was second and Sarah Stretton, third.
Emily, 20, is the current Young Rider European Champion and is aiming this horse at the 2012 Olympics.
The four-day event ran in near perfect weather conditions and attracted huge crowds. There were many thrills and spills along the way with Olympic rider Daisy Dick taking the lead from Nicola Wilson at one point only to have to withdraw her horse before the cross country as it had a twisted fetlock.
There were celebrations for the Kiwis, commiserations for Nicola Wilson and proof that even the most experienced riders can make an easy mistake sometimes.
Veteran rider Mark Todd was eliminated after missing out a fence in the show jumping.
A rider is being treated in Leeds General Infirmary for a back injury after a crashing fall on the cross-country course at Bramham International Horse trials at the weekend.
Faith Cook from Standlake, Oxfordshire, was thrown from her horse when it somersaulted at a log fence at the bottom of a steep slope. The horse suffered severe bruising but recovered.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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