A five-star pair are back at their best, a new combination scores and a rider returns from a fall with a win
EVENTING HIGHLIGHTS
30 May-2 June
Little Downham (1), Cambs
DAVID DOEL and Galileo Nieuwmoed enjoyed the perfect dress rehearsal for Luhmühlen’s CCI5* when they headed the sole advanced section. They added 9.6 time-penalties – the fastest time in the class – to a 32.3 dressage.
This result comes off the back of a disappointing Badminton, where David opted to withdraw the 13-year-old, owned by Gillian Jonas and Mary Fox, after the dressage when he sensed the gelding wasn’t feeling himself.
“He had a week off when we got home and when he startedmessing around in the field, we decided he was obviously feeling much better, which he was,” laughed David. “He had one trot around the school and one jump lesson with Nick Turner and we gave him a bit of fun again, having a trot and canter around the fields.” David said he was really pleased with Galileo Nieuwmoed’s dressage here, which left them in fifth after the first phase.
“We changed up his warm-up by shortening it to keep him sweet – he’s not built for dressage and it’s not his favourite phase – and he was really rideable,” explained David.
“Jumping-wise he was on springs. The showjumping was a decent enough track because it was quite muddy. There was one moment where he touched a pole and had a strop about it, stuck his nose between his knees and kicked out.”
David commented that the cross-country at Little Downham can be intense in the middle section of the course.
“It caused enough problems but I had a fab ride and it was great to give him a spin around. I felt a bit embarrassed that we were the quickest as it felt like we were just having a nice canter round, but he is naturally speedy and loves to gallop and jump. Hopefully we can go to Luhmühlen now and finish on our dressage score.”
