Yet Another Victory for Fox-Pitt and Stunning

The elite of international Eventing had gathered over the weekend at the beautiful Lulworth Estate in the heart of Dorset, South Eastern England, for the renowned Lulworth Horse Trials. William Fox-Pitt, Leslie Law and Jeanette Brakewell, all three of whom are on the Olympic British Eventing squad heading for Athens, along with such stars as Australias three-time Olympic Team champion and individual Olympic silver medallist Andrew Hoy
(AUS) or Blyth Tait (NZL), were among the 56-rider strong field.

William Fox-Pitt, riding the veteran 18-year old gelding Stunning, won the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier in a truly dazzling manner. He took an early lead with 43.1 penalties after Dressage and, after going clear across country, and only one Jumping rail down, he strengthened his dominance finishing on a score of 47.1 penalty points. This horse and rider combination are very familiar with the FEI Eventing World Cup series, given that in 2003 they won two qualifiers (Chatsworth and Thirlestane Castle) and this year were 5th at Chatsworth. Stunning is owned by Mr and Mrs George Apter, generous donators of the FEI Eventing World Cup Trophy for Perpetual Competition Trophy.

Williams performance is all the more impressive given that he came in 5th on Moon Man (final score of 58.3) on whom he competed at the last years European Championship at Punchestown. He thus scores 125 World Cup points and, with 150 points, takes the 3rd position of the FEI Eventing World Cup standings.

William has enjoyed enormous success in recent years and has won medals at all levels apart from the Olympic Games, including four European team gold medals (1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003) and an individual bronze (1997). In May this year he won his first Badminton and is currently leading the FEI World Eventing Rankings.

With 50.8 penalty points Olympic medallist Andrew Nicholson (NZL) places 2nd on Duddles and is followed by Leslie Law (GBR) on Shear H2O with 52.9 points.

Full results are available on
http://www.lulworth-horse.co.uk/results_3start.asp


Bonnie Mosser (USA) riding Jenga won the 15th leg of the FEI Eventing World Cup and the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup Series event at the Over The Walls Horse Trials at Great Meadowbrook Farm near the Central Massachusetts Town of Hardwick (USA). With 43.4 points Mosser and Jenga, an 11-year old bay Thoroughbred gelding, were tied for 3rd after Dressage. They scored 8,4 time penalties in the Cross Country and, thanks to a clear Jumping round, took the final lead with 51.8 penalties.

Finishing in 2nd place with 52.1 penalties is Nathalie Bouckaert (USA) riding West Farthing. With the riders going in inverse order of merit during the Jumping test, Bouckaert, a two-time individual Gold medallist at the North American Young Riders Championships, completed her penalty-free ride first forcing Mosser to have to ride clean in order to clinch the win. Mosser and Jenga were up to the task and held on for the win by a mere three-tenths of a point.

"Nathalie kept the pressure on but Jenga did the job," Mosser said, "I'm very proud of him."

Penny Rowland of Canada on Windswept is 3rd with 58.90 points.

Competitors at the Over the Walls Horse Trials included riders from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and New Zealand.

The full results are available on http://www.overthewalls.com/Results/2004/results_04_CIC.htm

After 15 qualifiers, the leaderboard of the FEI Eventing World Cup is as
follows:
1. Sonja Johnson (AUS) - 200 points
2. Linda Algotsson (SWE) - 190 points
3. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) - 150 points
4. Andreas Dibowski (GER) - 134 points
5. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) - 130 points
6. Darren Chiacchia (USA) - 123 points
7. Andrew Hoy (AUS) - 120 points
8. Matthew Grayling (NZL) - 118 points
9. Phillip Dutton (AUS) - 110 points
10. Kristin Bachman (USA) - 109
11. Viktoria Carlerbäck (SWE) - 104 points
12. Andrzej Pasek (POL) - 101
13. Robyn Fisher (USA) - 100
13. R. de Gouveia Jr. (BRA) - 100
13. Pippa Funnell (GBR) - 100
13. Pavel Sergeev (RUS) - 100
13. Robyn Fisher (USA) - 100
13. Bonnie Mosser (USA) - 100

The 16th FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier will be held at Martinvast (FRA) from 26 to 29 July.