EQUESTRIAN: Bronze for Carri-Ann (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

EQUESTRIAN: Bronze for Carri-Ann

1:00pm Friday 14th September 2012 in Sport

CARRI-ANN Dark helped Endurance GB clinch team bronze at last weekend’s European Young Riders Championships in Belgium.

The 21-year-old, from Little Cheverell, and team-mates Beth Langley and Kate Atkinson were the fourth fastest team to finish the 120km course Mont Le Soie with a combined time of 20:54:43 after Louise Rich’s ride Oakleaze Farm Cziko failed a vet inspection at the third gate.

But with a Spanish horse declared lame at the final inspection, Britain, including Dark on Vavavoom, pipped them to third. Italy were runners-up in 19:07:53, 74 seconds behind France (19:06:39).

Dark said: “The course was challenging and technical, but great fun. It went according to plan and we had a very exciting finish.’’

Meanwhile, Bromham’s Lucie McNichol was delighted to see ride Zeus of Rushall back in action as he capped a 17-month absence from international competition with a 23rd-placed finish at last weekend’s Blenheim CCI 3*.

McNichol’s 12-year-old gelding, who is owned by Jane and Barry Wookey, made his Badminton debut at 2011 but was injured shortly afterwards and had only competed twice before last weekend’s international.

McNichol, 26, said: “He’s had such a long time out and he’s just spent all that time recovering, so it was nice to see him back in an international.

“He’s always been my top ride so it’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster but last weekend topped the bill.

“Hopefully, he’s ready to get back in the swing of things now and we can target a top-10 finish at Badminton next year.”

In Blenheim’s CIC *** event, Marlborough’s Olympic bronze medallist Andrew Nicholson triumphed on Quimbo.