Fox-Pitt takes honours again at Bramham (From Gazette & Herald)

Fox-Pitt takes honours again at Bramham

9:20am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in Equestrian

CHAMPAGNE corks were popping as William Fox- Pitt celebrated his sixth Bramham title on Sunday.

He dominated this year’s Bramham Horse Trials, taking the top honours in both the CCI3* and CIC3* classes with Chilli Morning and Neuf Des Coeurs.

Riding the 12-year-old German-bred stallion, Chilli Morning, Fox-Pitt powered round Ian Stark’s challenging cross-country course on Saturday. Despite having a long hold on-course, Fox-Pitt timed his ride to perfection, stopping exactly on the optimum time and adding nothing to his leading dressage score of 39.2.

The atmosphere was electric as the combination entered the arena on Sunday for the exciting culmination of the CCI3* competition. One lowered pole added just four penalties to his dressage score and he went on to gain his 49th three-day event victory.

Fox-Pitt's former team-mate Pippa Funnell climbed the rankings from 16th to finish second with Mirage D'Elle on a score of 53.8. Third place went the way of Izzy Taylor, who climbed from 17th place to finish on a score of 54.6 riding Briarlands Matilda.

The entry list for the CIC3* competition had been extended to allow plenty of opportunity for riders keen to impress selectors after the inclement weather affected major competitions, including Badminton and the Chatsworth Horse Trials, last month.

Amid a strong field of almost 100 combinations, Fox-Pitt added nothing to his dressage score of 38.7 to finish ahead of New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson with Nereo, who produced double clear jumping rounds to finish on a dressage score of 42.0. The Queen’s grand-daughter, Zara Phillips, took third place with High Kingdom finishing on her dressage score of 42.3.

Unfortunately, the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes and Stallion Parade fell victim to the weather and Saturday's Pony Club Show Jumping and Mounted Games were also cancelled.