Bill Levett wins Hartpury CIC3* and CCI2*

The NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials is a truly international competition attracting over 300 entries from 17 nations. 

Levett, 48,  and One too Many NJ led from start to finish in a field of 69 horses the CIC3* (Division D). Their impressive dressage score of 39.8 (the only sub 40 of the class) put them 2.5 points ahead of Zara Phillips on Lord Lauries.  

“He did I think his best ever test to score 39.8 which I was thrilled with. He went fantastically and the exciting thing is that both Bettina and I believe there is more to come,” said Levett of One Too Many NJ (Coco). " “I’m very grateful to Bettina who gives me such great help (and confidence),” he added referring to Bettina Hoy.

A clear jumping round kept them in the lead heading into the cross-country.  The beautifully constructed cross country course, designed by Eric Winter was watered continuously for the past two weeks and Equivated on Friday. All three courses contained two water complexes and the CIC*** course has been designed to prepare horses for Blenheim or Burghley.

Levett flew around the course adding  just 0.8 time faults (only one combination made it within the optimum)  to claim victory by more than  8 points over Sarah Cohen and Treason (48.5) and Kitty King (High Havoc) on 48.9. (Phillips has slipped down the order with one rail in the jumping and was then eliminated on cross-country).

Levett tells us about the event, "Hartpury has always been part of the plan for One Two Many NJ (Coco) in his Blenheim preparation. I like the venue as the dressage and show jumping takes place on a good surface and there is a lot of atmosphere at the venue and the cross country track is always well built, and technical with up to height questions requiring forward accurate riding. I was thrilled with how Coco went, he did his first three star here last year and so it’s interesting a year on to come back, he felt a much more mature horse this year coping very well with all phases. He did a great test to score 39.8, big thanks to Bettina my dressage coach for her help at the event. He then jumped a good show jump round around a square and up to height track where time was tight. He's a horse that really 'comes up for it' in the ring - a real competitor which is a great feeling as you feel like he's really with you and will do his upmost to try and jump a clear.

He was in the lead after the dressage and then stayed there with a clear show jumping, we then decided to have a crack cross country as the owners were keen to and I also felt it would bring him on mentally in his preparation for Blenheim.

The three star track was beefy and technical with the fences coming thick and fast, as in previous years the corners were a strong question requiring forward, committed and accurate riding and the water jumps were tough enough again requiring forward committed riding.

I felt the track had some good questions on it which would continue to round out his education and it would also put down a marker as to his ability to deliver a strong performance. The plan was always to run here and then aim for Blenheim. Thankfully all went to plan (not often you can say that with horses!) He went like an absolute star - he felt very mature and confident galloping well and mentally coping with the questions asked of him, I could not have been more pleased with him. I was very very excited, it is so special to have a top horse like him especially one you've produced since a young horse. He finished well and won the class, a great result for Team Levett and Coco's owners Mary and Gerry. Very pleasing."

Bill & CCI2* winner Baggrave Summertime

One too Many NJ, owned by Gerry and Mary Kemp (GBR), is a 9-year-old bay Irish bred gelding by Chacoa. Levett and One too Many NJ (aka Coco) have had a good season finishing 2^nd at Saumur CCI3* in May and placing 4th at Burnham Market CIC3* (GBR) in April.

Bill and Jenny Levett found One Too Many NJ in Ireland as a four-year-old, and just had to have him.

“He's always been a special horse and one that we have thought would make the big time. We've taken him slowly as he's always found everything very easy and it would have been easy to do too much when he was very young. I've always thought Coco has the potential to be a team horse,” said Bill.

All the horses Bill and Jenny own/produce carry the suffice NJ at the end of their competition names. Bill explained “It’s in recognition of Neale 'NJ' Lavis who got me started in the sport, lent me kit and gave me a horse when I had nothing. A true horseman and a great man.”

In the same CIC3* division Lucinda Fredericks finished 8^th on Latina 43 (Dressage 49.6, clear show jumping and 8.4 XC time).

Brook Staples finished 17^th on Tova (Dressage 44.4, 3 SJ time and 24 XC time).

Christopher Burton withdrew Jaybee Calypso before XC (46.2, 20 SJ with 15 SJ time, WD XC).

In CIC3* Division C Sam Griffiths and Happy Times finished 10^th. After a god dressage score (43.5 Griffiths had 3 rails in the show jumping but a clear cross-country with 8.8 time secured a top 10 finish.

Bill Levett was also 13^th in this class on Ballymore Rich Cat (Dressage 50.8, clear SJ and 18.4 XC time).

Brook Staples was 25^th on Ever So Clever III (60.8, Clear SJ and 27.2 XC time).

Warren Lampard finished 35^th on CTS So What (60.0, 24 SJ, 40 XC and 16.8 time).

Following a cracking dressage test (39.8) and clear jumping round Christopher Burton was in the lead on Underdiscussion – but the pair was unfortunately eliminated on cross country.

Lucinda Fredericks decided to withdraw Prada after a good test (45.2)and clear jumping round.

Catherine Burrell was another to choose to withdraw her horse Urzan after a good start to the competition (Dressage 47.1, 4 SJ).

In both CIC3* divisions almost half the field either withdrew before cross-country or were eliminated/retired on course.  

In the CCI2* The day got even better for Levett with a win in the 2* with Baggrave Summertime (byYarlands Summersong), an 11 year-old 16.3hh chestnut gelding owned by Caroline Edwards and Pam Scott. 
Formerly ridden by Caroline Edwards, this is only the second event that the pair has done together.

“The two star track was tough enough. There were a couple of bigger spreads that had the ground lower on the landing side; "Sunny" was so bold at these fences it took him by surprise a little bit there were times when I needed to hold him off the front of some fences as he makes up so much ground to a fence. Hopefully over time he will realise when I am trying to help him out and tell him there is a drop and he will be ready for it. The ground was OK, they have worked really hard on it,” said Bill

"Sunny is a new ride to me, he's a beautiful model of a horse a striking chestnut with a lot of blood. This was only our second outing together, he's a complex chap and I think is definitely a man's ride as at times you have to make his mind up for him and he's a tall strong athletic horse. He went like a complete star leading from the front in the dressage and going clear inside the time cross country. He jumped well on the final day just rolling a pole to secure a win and top off what had been a very special day.

“Sunny really feels like a horse who will go all the way to four star – he has scope, gallop and jump. Very exciting!

Two wins in a weekend, "I would never have expected that at the beginning of the week – but a great outcome. All of the horses have gone very well,” added Bill.

Quick Links:

• Hartpury website

Source: Equestrian Australia