Emma Stoker & Townhead Tallulah V win Vilamoura Grand Prix
Sunday 24 September 2017
It was a brilliant CSI 3* International victory for Emma Stoker with Bob Young’s 12 year-old bay mare Townhead Tallulah V today when they claimed the Grand Prix title in Vilamoura, Portugal.
From a starting field of just over thirty it was nine that managed a first round clear to claim their place in the jump off. Emma, the only Brit that managed to make it through to the male dominated second round, couldn’t have found any more space to shave time from when she posted another clear in what proved to be an unbeatable time of 43.27 seconds.
The only other rider who managed to get below the 44 second barrier was home rider Duarte Romao (POR) with the 9 year-old mare Utopie d’Bonneville but his time of 43.31 seconds saw them relegated into 2nd place. Irma Karlsson (SWE) took 3rd with the 12 year-old gelding Starling 7 in a time of 44.27 as the only other combination that managed to deliver a double clear.
Yesterday, Saturday, had also seen two British victories in the CSI 3* classes. Firstly in the form of Laura Renwick with the seven year-old bay gelding Alothain de Blondel when she claimed the 1.35m class as her own having stopped the clock clear in a time of 66.66 seconds. Notoriously fast, Laura excelled herself making sure no stone was left unturned in respect of where she could save time by managing to finish almost ten seconds faster than her closes rival Ninon Decaqueray (FRA) who took 2nd on Paradis Latin in 75.23 seconds.
The second GB victory came in the 1.45m class when Harry Charles, fresh back from his double Silver medal victory at the Junior European Championships, took pole position with his father Peter’s ten year-old bay gelding Controe. Stopping the clock in 64.92 seconds was enough to put him ahead of Adeline Hecart (FRA) with Question d’Orval who finished just over a second behind him 65.42 seconds. This followed their win on Friday when their double clear and jump off time of 26.19 seconds saw them finish ahead of Harry Marshall (IRE) and Chirokko M who broke the finish line 27.89 seconds.
Friday, also saw GB’s Chloe Aston take the 1.40m CSI 3* Table A. Her clear in 62.27 seconds on the 8 year-old stallion Cornado’s Boy RC was enough to claim 1st place ahead of Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) with Coran Imperio Egipicio who stopped the clock a fraction of a second slower in 62.73 seconds.
The opening class on Thursday, a 1.30m speed saw the Union Flag heading the line up with George Whitaker on the 12 year-old gelding Cream Caramel. His clear in a a time of 52.52 seconds was enough to secure him at the head of the line-up wth Joao Victor Castro (POR) taking 2nd place on Kaprice DV.
For full results https://bitly.com/
14kvaj7pl3106.jpg "Jonathan Egmore and Mollie Rose Smith are winners in the Equissage Pulse British Novice Second Rounds.")
11dtw0hmsttk0.jpg "NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers get underway at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
