Posted: 20th June 2016 | Back to news feed

Day One at Bolesworth International
 Thursday 16 June 2016

Brazilian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli started where he left off 12 months ago by being a winner at the Bolesworth CSI **** International on Thursday.

Zanotelli, who won more classes than any other rider during Bolesworth's 2015 event, took the four-star, two-phase class, sponsored by Equiline/Fearns Farm Partnership, on Rock 'n Roll Semilly, landing a top prize of £6,400.

And in doing so, he underlined the rich potential that could easily be converted into an appearance at a home Olympics in Rio later this summer.

"The team looks good - Brazil has some good horses," Zanotelli said.

"I would say we have about seven riders with a chance of making selection, and they all look good. It is a good group together, and everyone is motivated.

"Hopefully, I will be selected. An Olympics at home - and my first one - would be special."

Reflecting on his latest Bolesworth triumph after edging runner-up American Lillie Keenan (super Sox) into second, with Britain's Chloe Aston (Kolibri Classic) third, Zanotelli added: "He jumped very well, he is always doing a great job. He can do the tight turns very well."

Irish eyes were smiling at Bolesworth when Marion Hughes won the four-star speed class, sponsored by NFU Mutual.

A bumper field entered the afternoon's feature event, and Hughes showed all her experience to guide Heritage HHS Fortuna home in a time of 63.93 seconds.

Britain's Keith Shore, riding Zegreanne Z, led the chasing pack in second spot with a time of 64.16, and third went to another Britishb rider - Douglas Duffin - on Chiquito Z.

"I was hoping that I would hoold out for the whole class because there were a good few fast ones to go after me," Hughes said.

"My mare is very fast. I didn't do the inside routes - I just decided to just keep nice and flowing, and I think it paid off."

Dutch showjumper Stefanie van den Brink, meanwhile, had a Bolesworth debut to savour when she landed the four-star opener - a two-phase competition sponsored by Harthill Stud.

And Bolesworth's international appeal was highlighted by the fact that the first five riders represented five different countries - Holland, Egypt, Ireland, Britain and Belgium.

Riding Merida 8, van den Brink's time of 24.49 seconds proved just enough to edge out Egypt's Karim Elzoghby and Colour Girl, with Irish challenger Dermott Lennon (Fleur IV) third, Britain's Harriett Nuttall (Silver Lift) fourth and Belgium's Francois Mathy Jr (Falco van der Clehoeve) taking fifth.

Reflecting on her win, van den Brink said: "I followed my own plan, and it worked out well. We didn't expect to win, but he went really well."

Continuing the overseaas feel, the Czech Republic had cause to celebrate  when Emma Augier de Moussac took the young horse class on Thursday afternoon.

And De Moussac revealed that her winning ride Brighton Bay had been something of a chance buy when she purchased him at auction.

The competition, for six and seven-year-old horses and sponsored by Dutch Flower Shop, saw her prevail in a two-phase contest from Italy's Lorenzo de Luca with Jenny van het Waterblok and third-placed Sussex rider Nicole Pavitt, on Gemmarco 16.

"I am very pleased with him," De Moussac said. "I have a lot of hopes for the horse.

"I bought him at an auction when I'd had a little to drink, so it was not meant to happen! But last year, he knocked only two poles down, and he has been so consistent again this year, so it was a real lucky shot."

On a good day at Bolesworth for Irish riders, Elizabeth Power landed the two-star accumulator, sponsored by Conwy Land Rover, on Doonaveeragh One.

Collecting points for each fence jumped, including an extra points joker, Power collected the maximum score of 65, but her time of 48.41 seconds edged out Emma Stoker (Townend Tallulah V), while George Whitaker (Balibu) was third.

And the two-star, two-phase competition, sponsored by Fowler and Gilbert, went to Britain's Taisie De Gruchy, riding Hoodshill First Look, in a time of 23.07 seconds, and was followed home by runner-up Paul Barker (U2 II) and third-placed Michael Pender (Acorad).

The Castle Arena's with a two-phase two-star opener, sponsored by John Deere, went to Great Britain's Mark Armstrong who came out on top aboard Balougio III, clocking a time of 23.97 seconds for victory from second-placed Paul Barker (Sandors Legacy) and Irish challenger Kenneth Graham (Lenamore Lucy Lou) third.

Yorkshireman Ben Raistrick launched Bolesworth's four days of action in winning fashion with a stylish victory as a packed Thursday schedule got under way.

Riding the consistently-successful Top Limit, Rastrick triumphed in the CSI Am-A two-phase class, sponsored by Halsall Electrical, making light work of a testing International Arena course.

The two-phase CSI Am-B class, sponsored by Aggreko, went to Julie Slade and the eight-year-old chestnut gelding Billy Gogo, owned by The Billy Stud.

And showjumper Matt Sampson and National Hunt rider Nick Scholfield proved an irresistible double act as they powered to victory in the Bolesworth International Jockey Challenge.

The fast-moving partnership triumphed by more than six seconds in the relay-format event, with Sampson setting a scorching pace before Scholfield - fresh from competing at Uttoxeter races on Wednesday evening - finished the job in style.

Their time of 51.39 seconds was more than six seconds clear of runners-up Victoria Gulliksen and Nico de Boinville, last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey and who rode Sprinter Sacre to an unforgettable Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase victory in March, while Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and Ryan Hatch took third.

Great Britain's Olympic dressage gold medallists thrilled a capacity crowd on the opening night of this year's Bolesworth CSI **** International as they showcased their unique brand of magic.

Reigning Olympic, World and European champion Charlotte Dujardin was joined by her London 2012 team-mates Carl Hester and Laura Tomlinson as the stars shone in the glorious grounds of Bolesworth Castle.

Split into two sections - Inter Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle (both classes were sponsored by Cool Equestrian and Mount St John) - Bolesworth's latest dressage spectacle proved to be another sparkling success.

Dujardin, riding young prospect Hawtins Delicato, posted a score of 72.792% to finish second in the Inter Freestyle behind Charlie Hutton, whose established partner Super Blue triumphed on 75.417%, with Tomlinson and Dolceverdy O third (71.500%) and Matt Frost aboard AMD Don Havidoff fourth (66.125%).

And there was a real treat for the audience when Hester and his prospective Rio Olympics ride Nip Tuck performed to the music being prepared for Brazil, as they claimed an emphatic Grand Prix Freestyle victory with a score of 81.917%.

There was also a strong performance from Hayley Watson-Greaves, who finished second on Rubin Nite, while third place went to Emile Faurie and Bohemo Tinto and Richard Davison retired Don Bettino.

Hester said: "I am really happy. That arena was spectacularly perfect in its footing and everything. It was well worth the trip. The horse needed the run, and that is only the second time I have ridden to that music.

"He is the biggest horse, just over 18 hands, and he is very sharp in his mind. He is so fast-thinking.

"Bolesworth is a true international show. I really love it. The venue is stunning, the footing is stunning, and I really hope they can develop the dressage here. It was an amazing crowd tonight."

And Hutton was thrilled with Super Blue, adding: "He has been an amazing horse. He tries so hard, and what a great atmosphere here at Bolesworth.

"Today is the last time I will be competing him at Small Tour level. I am hoping to move up to Middle Tour and Grand Prix, so it was a really special occasion.

"He was very spooky when he was younger, but I know him so well now that I feel I can handle it. He actually thrives on the bigger atmosphere, and he is a horse that has surpassed all expectations."

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