Fox-Pitt picks up the Barbury Castle crown on Ballincoola (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fox-Pitt picks up the Barbury Castle crown on Ballincoola

WILLIAM Fox-Pitt and Ballincoola took eventing's newest crown for Britain on Sunday, July 10, at the CIC*** Maybach Barbury Castle International Horse Trials, finishing a mere 0.4 penalties ahead of Irish rider Sasha Stewart (nee Harrison) on All Love du Fenaud.

Other placings went mainly to local connections with Gatcombe-based Australian Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hoy third on Mr Pratacan; Nick Gauntlett, from Chipping Sodbury, now on a winning roll, fourth on Nyali Beach; Rodney Powell, from Swindon, on Liquid Ice, fifth, and long-time leader Andrew Nicholson, riding Lord Killinghurst, owned by Nikky and Robin Salmon, of Tetbury, placed sixth.

Liquid Ice also won the prize for the best placed thoroughbred and the Barbury Racehorse Trophy from the event's official charity, Retraining of Racehorses.

Other contenders who, quite literally, fell by the wayside, were Bettina Hoy on Diamond Magic and Pippa Funnell on Ensign. Pippa also had a stop on Cornerman.

The cross country course, where it was possible to see every jump, designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Willis Bros of Malmesbury, received high praise from competitors, spectators and officials.

"I have never been to an event of this standard in its first year," said British Eventing chairman, Mike Tucker.