EQUESTRIAN: Clayton clinches French triumph (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

EQUESTRIAN: Clayton clinches French triumph

8:00am Thursday 10th May 2012 in Equestrian

LITTLE Cheverell’s Clayton Fredericks has made his chance of an Olympic place come a step closer, with a win at the Jardy CIC*** one-day international in France, writes KATE HEALEY.

The 44 year old Australian, already an Olympic silver medallist, re-routed to the competition after the cancellation of Badminton, clinching victory on Bendigo III and third on 10-year-old Walterstown Don, only fellow British-based Aussie Bill Levett splitting the pair.

Fredericks was also in line for third on mare Be My Guest, but a disappointing show jumping round dropped them to 14th.

Bendigo, whose sixth place at the four-star Pau event last autumn had brought him to the Olympic selectors attention, dominated from start to finish.

A strong dressage 38.4 performance and faultless cross country gave them a clear lead, although two show jumping poles allowed Levett to close.

His performance on the chestnut Walterstown Don followed a similar trend, with a 38.8 dressage score, another super clear cross country and two down show jumping.

“It was a pretty tough show jumping test – there weren’t many clears,” he said.

“It was a long track and very big and definitely the biggest show jumping course Walter especially had ever seen. He did go quite well I thought, and the faults on the scorecard didn’t really show how well both horses jumped.”

Fredericks and Levett turn their attention to the Saumur CCI3* (three-star, three-day international, in France next weekend where 2010 Badminton winner Inonothing and Highworth-based rider Paul Tapner will also be heading in search of the qualification for Australia’s Olympic team.

Tapner will also be taking Inonothing’s stable mates Kilronan and Wickstead Didgeridoo.

This weekend’s Chatsworth International in Derbyshire has put on four three star sections to accommodate as many riders as possible.

They include Membury-based unior European champion Laura Collett and Rayef. Collett also has the up and coming Obos Cooley in the one-star international.

Andrew Nicholson, the Marlborough-based New Zealand veteran, runs three Badminton entries, Avebury, Mr Cruise Control and Shady Grey, in an advanced section, and Nereo and Tristar II in the CIC***.

Hodson rider Tom McEwen has also rerouted Dry Old Party to the three star section, with Diesel running at Advanced level, and West Littleton’s Harry Meade is a three-star entry with his Badminton ride Wild Lone.

Others hoping for a good Chatsworth run include Dauntsey’s Beanie Sturgis on Lebowski, Pewsey’s Fiona Hobby, New Zealand double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd and former world champion Zara Phillips.

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