Third Time Lucky for Zoe Adams in the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix
Satonamillion gave Hickstead visitors their money's worth today when winning the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix for Zoe Adams, adding just five penalty seconds to their fast time of 185.66sec.
Zoe, 22, finished seventh in this class in 2011 and fifth in 2012, making it third time lucky for the Essex-based rider.
The last couple years I’ve been close and I love this class, it's such an adrenalin rush - the more times you do it, the hungrier you get to win it. This is his most prestigious win to date, and it's always good to win in the International Arena at Hickstead.
The Eventing Grand Prix, which is sponsored by bloodstock insurers Amlin, is a unique competition where showjumpers and eventers go head to head around a course of showjumps in the International Arena, as well as cross-country fences around Hickstead's estate, with 27 jumping efforts in total.
Zoe's win made it two in a row for the showjumpers, with Ireland's Trevor Breen having won last year on Adventure De Kannan.
Today's showjumping action began with the Royal International Vase, which was won by Kent-based Guy Williams and Bijou van de Vijfheide. He nearly made it two wins in a row with a fast clear on Depardieu van T Kiezelhof in the Bunn Leisure Trophy, only for Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher to pip him to the post with Aristo Z.
Ben will ride for Team GB in Friday's Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ of Great Britain, presented by Longines. It will be Ben's first time riding in his home leg of the Nations Cup series, and he will be partnered by his London 2012 horse Tripple X - with the British team no doubt going all out to reprise their success of exactly 12 months ago in Greenwich.
Ben is also competing Tripple X in the Longines King George V Gold Cup on Sunday, the British Grand Prix.
One of the country's most coveted showing championships reached its conclusion today at the Longines Royal International Horse Show. The Leeman Family Supreme Hunter Championship went to Danielle Heath and Oathill Take The Biscuit, while Katie Jerram’s Dunbeacon was reserve.
For more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk