BARBURY HORSE TRIALS: Price's Vortex goes down a storm (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

BARBURY HORSE TRIALS: Price's Vortex goes down a storm

12:30pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Sport

WHILE partner and fellow New Zealand international Jonelle Richards celebrated her Olympic selection this week, there was also delight for Tim Price at Barbury after he won the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) championship, writes DAN BARNES.

The 32-year-old, based in Mildenhall, pipped British rider Oliver Townend (30.0) and fellow Kiwi Dan Jocelyn (31.8) to the lead on 19-year-old gelding Vortex in Friday’s dressage, finishing with 29.6 penalties.

Then in Sunday’s jump-off, Townend and Jocelyn both went clear on respective rides Black Tie II and Valemount, but Price and Vortex produced their own flawless round, despite hitting a pole hard enough for it to jump out of the cups.

“It did go well and he’s quite suited to it because he’s been raced in New Zealand and he’s been to Badmintons and Burleighs,” said Price, pictured right.

“It’s testament to being a thoroughbred – he’s not the biggest, rangiest horse, he’s done it more out of heart.”

Membury’s Laura Collett, who had a double success as she won both the novice section F on Brookfield Cult King and Section G with Longbarn Maisie (24 pens).

“They’ve both been foot perfect in all three phases, so I’m very happy,” she said.

“Brookfield won his last event so I knew he would go well but the other one has had a few problems so I didn’t really know what to expect from her.”

British star Piggy French will miss London 2012 after horse DHI Topper W suffered an injury in the wake of finishing third in the CIC two-star section B.

Former Barbury winner Nicola Wilson replaces her, with horse Opposition Buzz.