Competitive consistent performances have paid off for Australia’s Paul Tapner, who has finished no lower down the order than twelfth place in all four legs of the Event Rider Masters this year. This has secured Tapner with a commanding score to lead the series with eighty-seven points and this weekend he partners the lovely grey Kilronan, with the competition possibly being the combination’s final swansong together.
Paul Tapner said;
“I’m hoping the softer ground and galloping course at Blair will suit Kilronan. He is returning to his roots as he started competing in Scotland for what might be his final competition. He has been such a wonderful horse and I hope the weekend is a success for him and I am also able to hold onto the lead in the Event Rider Masters”.
Six ERM riders continue with the Olympic spirit this weekend, with organiser Alex Lochore also returning from Rio, where he was the technical delegate for the Eventing competition, in time to run the Perthshire event. Gemma Tattersall, who sits in second place overall in the series with sixty-six points, rides the eight year old Santiago Bay and will be hungry to close the gap on Paul Tapner. Tapner stole lead off Tattersall at ERM’s fourth leg held at Gatcombe Park earlier this month, whilst Gemma was competing in Rio as a member of Team GB’s eventing squad.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s competition, Tattersall said:
“I’m really excited to be back competing in the Event Rider Masters at Blair. I missed Gatcombe, which gave Paul Tapner the chance to overtake me on the leader-board, but I will be doing my best to get ahead again this weekend”.
Fresh from a team bronze medal performance in Rio is the current world number two Chris Burton riding Polystar I, who won his last start – the CIC*** at Barbury in July. Burton is joined by his Australian team mate Shane Rose and his Olympic horse CP Qualified. Both Chris and Shane will be looking for compensation in Scotland, after two costly poles in the showjumping of the eventing competition denied Burton of the individual Olympic gold medal and with Rose having to retire from the Rio cross-country phase.
Three of New Zealand’s Olympic squad that could lay down a challenge on the ERM standings are Jonathan Paget riding Angus Blue, Tim Price on board Xavier Faer and his wife Jonelle who rides Cloud Dancer. Jonelle could be particularly influential on the leader-board if her ERM form continues. She currently lies in fifth on forty seven points, which includes a third place podium finish at Bramham in June.
Following winning leg four at Gatcombe Park riding Cillnabradden Evo, Oliver Townend (GB) indicated he would like to target the horse at the remaining two ERM legs. Cillnabradden Evo has now proved he is very competitive and with his Gatcombe success providing an excellent preparation for the stamina test of Blair’s cross-country it will be no surprise if Townend is featuring prominently on the leader-board on Sunday evening.
Thomas Carlile was an ERM debutant at the beginning of August but now is £12,000 richer after his second place effort at Gatcombe and looks to be reinvesting some of his win by making the journey from his base in France to Perthshire. Carlile rides Opium De Boisy and if he can continue his Gatcombe form the French-man could certainly shake up the series in less than a month of his ERM debut.
New for 2016, the Event Rider Masters incorporates six CIC*** Eventing competitions at venues across Great Britain with a total of £350,000 on offer across the series including a £30,000 rider bonus for the leading rider on points across the series. The series finale will be held at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on 10 and 11 September.
This weekend’s ERM competition can be viewed for free live on Saturday (dressage) and Sunday when the competition culminates with the showjumping and cross-country phases ran in reverse order. Free streaming can be viewed from anywhere in the world at www.eventridermasters.tv
