There could have been no more appropriate winner at Cornbury House Horse Trials in the British Eventing Young Horse Championship for six-year-olds, supported by The Howden Way, than Izzy Taylor on Johnny Hornby’s Barrington Boy.
Johnny Hornby, who lives locally to Cornbury, has supported the Oxfordshire event by sponsoring the popular owners’ marquee through his Barrington Sport Horses operation. He also gave each winning rider throughout the event (over the age of 18) their weight in Hawkestone beer or cider – Johnny owns Hawkestone alongside fellow Cornbury local Jeremy Clarkson.
Izzy and the Sligo Candy Boy-sired Barrington Boy completed on their dressage score of 25.1, ahead of Bubby Upton (Sancerre De Tiji), who had led going into the final showjumping phase but dropped one pole to give way at the top of the podium to Izzy.
“I’m really pleased for Johnny because he’s put so much into this sport and he’s put in a lot here at Cornbury, and it’s nice to feel like he’s got something back,” said Izzy.
“These six-year-olds, they’re babies. He’s very smart, but very big and apprehensive in his brain, which is good, because he looks to me [for reassurance], but if he gets a scare, it’s a big deal for him. I’ve had him for about a year now and he’s beginning to trust me. He’s lovely on the flat, he’s still growing, and he’s a very, very good cross-country horse and a careful jumper.
A delighted Johnny said: “Ever since Izzy’s been riding for me, wonderful things keep happening. We were six-year-old world champions [at Le Lion d’Angers] last year with Barrington Alice and today we’re the six-year-old national champions with Barrington Boy.
“We breed a lot of horses, but I want to get to a place where Izzy only rides the very best, because then I think we get back to where Izzy belongs, which is at the top of the sport.”
Bubby Upton also finished third on Guinduno, whom she owns with Millie Brenninkmeyer, Nick Wentworth-Stanley and Joanna Ritblat.
Tom McEwen – winner of two Olympic team gold medals for Britain, including this summer in Paris – topped the British Eventing Young Horse Championship, supported by The Howden Way, for seven-year-olds. His mount was Fred and Penny Barker’s Maestro, a son of Hampshire VDL, and the pair added nothing to their dressage mark of 25.8.
Tom said: “He jumped at the [showjumping] World Breeding Championships as a five-year-old with Michelle Kenny, so this should be easy for him. He‘s so cute and such a lovely horse. He’s easy, snaffle-mouthed and maybe a bit too much of a pet! He’s got a great brain, as have all three of them [Tom also finished fifth on Quintus and 17th on Shannondale Arnold].
Kitty King finished second on Penelope Holley, Joanna Jones, Kitty’s mother Jane Boggis and Jane Tolley’s Kantango, with whom she took the six-year-old championship here at Cornbury House last year. Third was Lizzie Baugh on her own and The Spice Syndicate’s Calida Spice.
As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.