Australian eventer Sammi Birch and the talented gelding Parkfield Pumpkin delivered an impressive performance to win the CCI2*-L at the Aspen Cooling Osberton International Horse Trials, topping a massive field of 82 combinations.
Leading from the outset, Sammi and the nine-year-old gelding (Amiro Z x Silvo I) produced a superb dressage score of 25.6 and went on to complete both cross country and showjumping clear of penalties, finishing on their dressage score.
The competition proved incredibly tight, with less than two point separating the top three. Olympian Oliver Townend and Thunder Bird Z (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x VDL Harley) claimed second place on 26.3, while Emily King and HG Woods (Bretton Woods) were third with 26.7.
Sammi’s success extended beyond her winning ride, with strong performances from her other two rides – MBF Quidams Touch, who finished 19th, and Hamilton Cooley, who placed 31st.
