All-female podium at the Eventing Spring Carnival

Three British female riders take the podium at Thoresby Park Eventing Spring Carnival despite appalling weather conditions

England lived up to its wet weather reputation with heavy downpours and huge gusts of wind for the start of the Eventing Spring Carnival (31 March – 2 April 2023) which caused a significant number of withdrawals. But that didn’t dampen the spirits of some riders pushing on to compete and it was all sunshine and rainbows at the end for Emily King, Ros Canter and Yasmin Ingham as they ended up on the podium for the CCI-S 4*.

It was a close battle for third place, but 2022 world champion Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir managed to grasp the final spot on the podium, finishing on a score of 44.20. Ros Canter, the current world number three, took second place with a score of 43.90 on Pencos Crown Jewel. Further proving their worth as two of Britain’s top eventers, Yasmin also secured 10^th place with Rehy DJ, and Ros finished sixth with Lordships Graffalo and 13^th with Dassett Cooley Dun.

Emily King, however, achieved her first four-star win with Valmy Biats, finishing on a score of 41.20 and winning The Lycetts Grantham Cup. The combination battled through the tough conditions to add 14.4 time faults to their dressage score.

Reflecting on her round and Valmy Biat’s performance, Emily said: “I can’t really believe it! He’s been fantastic all week, and it’s his first run of the season. If he was a bit excited, I’d have completely forgiven him. He’s getting more and more established with his movements and calmer with it.

They’d done such a fantastic job considering [the weather], and now it’s just so good. It was a nice balance for one like him who hasn’t run, not too big and too crazy and technical but there was enough to get your eye in with accuracy and testing, but also a good confidence boosting one. He finished how I wanted him too. He was in a good frame of mind, and it was all about getting him listening to me ahead of Badminton.”

Top 10 results for the CCI-S 4*:

1. Emily King and Valmy Biats – 41.20
2. Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel – 43.90
3. Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir – 44.20
4. Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI – 44.50
5. Georgia Bartlett and Spano De Nazca – 44.70
6. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo – 46.70
7. Alice Casburn and Topspin – 47.60
8. Tom Crisp and Liberty and Glory – 48.60
9. Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk on – 49.20
10. Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ – 49.80

Photo credit – Hannah Cole Photography/EquiConsulting