Equestrianism: Tait's Ironic success not lost on Bartlett
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Your support makes all the difference.Blyth Tait added a first Windsor victory to his formidable list of successes, which include one Olympic title and two world championships, when he rode Ronnie Bartlett's Ironic to a clear show jumping round in the Copper Horse Section of the Arena Leisure Windsor International Horse Trials yesterday.
The New Zealander had been kicking himself for incurring 0.8 of a penalty point through easing up at the end of Saturday's cross-country, but in the end it made not a jot of difference. Franck Bourny, who had been closest to Tait on the overnight scores, gave the Kiwi extra breathing space when Belmont on the Road sent five rails flying for 20 penalties. Having thought that Ironic would probably be sold after Windsor, Tait was clearly having second thoughts yesterday. "It was my masterplan not to have too many horses in England, but I'll have to discuss it with Ronnie," Tait said.
With Bourny dropping to fifth place, Chris King moved into second after a polished clear round on Sir Lancelot VI. The 25-year-old Briton, who is this year's Horse Trials Support Group's scholar, had two refusals with the same horse at Blenheim last year and was bringing him down a step to regain his confidence. King was helped by Yogi Breisner, the Great Britain Performance Manager for three-day eventing.
Matt Ryan, Australia's Olympic champion in 1992, finished fourth on Bonza Katoomba, one place ahead of the youngest competitor, 16-year-old Nicola Wilson, who rode with splendid composure on her sister's Nikkelaj. Today she will be sitting the first of her GSCEs at Midhurst Grammar School.
In the Castle Section, Hannah Bates retained the lead that she had held from the opening dressage phase despite lowering three show jumps with Welton Rip Rap.
The 23-year-old rider still had nearly 10 points in hand, which was a relief after her problems at Burgie last year when she lost her lead with five show jumping errors on the attractive bay gelding.
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