Double victory for Campbell
Jesse Campbell claimed both the CIC3* and CIC2* titles at the inaugural Drishane Castle International Horse Trials at the world famous Millstreet in Ireland. His victories were decisive, he and Kaapachino posted a winning dressage score of 74.74% in the CIC3*which gave them a five mark lead on the international field, that included Olympians and their Rio prospects. Jesse’s clear showjumping and a cross-country track where time was an influential factor for those who wanted to be on the podium, meant Jesse and Kaapachino had 10 marks in hand when they entered the cross-country start box for their perfectly timed cross-country.
Jesse Campbell wins the Eventing Ireland CIC** with Cleveland. Pictured with Noel Duggan (IRE) Eric Lieby (FRA) and Sandy Phillips (GBR) Photos Courtesy Millstreet/Drishane International Horse Trials
Jesse claimed the CIC2* title in similar style with Cleveland, a young horse he has produced since basing himself in the UK as a member of the New Zealand Eventing High Performance squad. They won the dressage with a 72.85% score which gave them a 5 point lead on their nearest competitor, and completed the cross-county bang on the optimum time. They were one of only three competitors to complete the newly built Mike Etherington-Smith designed course within the time allowed.
Double triumph lifts Campbell’s Olympic claims
Double triumph for Jesse Campbell in Ireland keeps him in Olympic contention – Ian Anderson, Waikato Times
Libby Law
Jesse Campbell and Kaapachino continue to impress
Kiwi equestrian Jesse Campbell continues to push his case for Olympic selection with a double victory in Ireland. Campbell claimed wins in the three-star and two-star classes at the Drishane Castle International Horse Trials at Millstreet. The Waikato three-day eventer rode Kaapachino to victory in the three-star class, seeing off a high-quality field that featured a number of international entries and likely competitors at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The combination posted an impressive dressage score of 74.4 per cent to grab an early lead over the field and they backed that up with a clear show-jumping round and a faultless cross-country showing. Campbell’s winning score of 44.3 penalties saw him head home fellow Kiwi and Rio Olympic hopeful Tim Price, who took second on 47.6 points after recording the fastest cross-country round on Bango.
The 25-year-old also teamed up with Cleveland – a young horse he has produced since being based in England as a member of the NZ Eventing High Performance team – to put in a similar dominant performance to win the two-start title. The combination had the best dressage score of 72.85 per cent, to lead by five points. They completed the cross-country right on the optimum time and were one of only three competitors to complete the newly-built Mike Etherington-Smith croos-country course within the time allowed.
Campbell’s efforts in front of NZ EHP coach Eric Duvander will have furthered his standing as one of the country’s best young eventers. He made a good showing on Kaapachino in his four-star debut at the Luhmuhlen International Horse Trials in Germany in June and won the two-star D section at the Barbury International Horse Trials in England recently on Cleveland. Campbell also has Amsterdam as a key mount in his quest to be part of the NZ three-day event team to compete in Rio.
Ian Anderson
Waikato Times
