NZL-Tom Tarver-Priebe rides Popeye Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
Tom Tarver and Popeye have announced their return to the European circuits with a fifth placing in a very hotly-contested CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix on the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Spain.
Twenty-one of 87 starting combinations went through to the jump-off of the Santiago Varela-designed track where Tom and Popeye were again all clear, coming home in 42.82 seconds. William Funnell (GBR) and Billy McCain set the early pace of 41.47 to take the win.
Also coming through to the jump-off and finishing in 19th place was Richard Gardner aboard Calisto 5. Daniel Meech and Cinca 3 picked up eight faults in the opening round with Lily Tootill and Ulysses NZPH on nine and Samantha McIntosh aboard Alaid de Chez Nous retiring.
Samantha and James S notched a double clear in the 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier (gold 4) saw them place 12th with Tom and Popeye right behind them in 13th spot. Samantha also placed third aboard Alaid de Chez Nous in the 1.4m (gold 3) class which attracted 61 entries and was won by Marcelo Chirico Ferreira (URU) on QH Baloudarc LF.
Daniel steered Dominick to fourth place in the 64-strong 1.35m (gold 2) which was again won by William Funnell but this time aboard Billy Ring.
Richard and Roulette 134 placed fifth in the 78-strong 1.30m (gold 1) with a double clear in 34.66 seconds. The class was won by Niall Talbot (IRL) and Kobold V. Schloesslihof CH in 31.85 seconds.
The NZ contingent will remain in spain this week for the second week of the Autumn Tour.
The horse details:
James S – owned by Xavier Tirant
Dominick – owned by Johnson Horses GmbH
Roulette 134 – owned by Gestut Jennissen, Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH
Cinca 3 – owned by Johnson Horses GmbH
Ulysses NZPH – owned by Tootill Equestrian, Theresa Gattung
Alaid de Chez Nous – owned by Takapoto Equestrian
Popeye – owned by Tom Tarver and Lucia Voss
Calisto 5 – owned by GestGestut Jennissen, Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ