The world eventing number one left his mark on the history of the 5 Etoiles de Pau in France when he became the first rider to win the event two years running. Tim Price took his performance a step further by achieving this feat on the same horse, the fabulous Jarillo. He withstood the pressure from his two main rivals, the formidable Bubby Upton (GBR), and his wife Jonelle Price (NZL), who completed the podium.
Price admitted at the final press conference that for the first time, the New Zealander was feeling nervous before taking to the show jumping course. Was it because he stood the chance of making history at the event – and in the sport of eventing? Or was it down to the two magnificent clear rounds by the two female riders who were just behind him in the provisional standings?
Price had already completed the course designed by Yann Royant twice with his other two horses, Garcon (16th) and Happy Boy (4th). His horse Jarillo, like Bubby Upton’s (GBR) Its Cooley Time and Jonelle Price’s (NZL) Senor Crocodillo, jumped exceptionally well, even though Jarillo hesitated at #4, touching the rail, which luckily didn’t fall. “He was distracted by the big screen,” his rider explained.
Saturday’s cross-country course, designed by Pierre Michelet, had been extremely challenging. Not a single pair managed to complete the 31 obstacles within the time allowed. At the end of the day, Tim Price had taken the lead in the provisional standings and sat fourth on Happy Boy, while his wife Jonelle moved up into third place with Senor Crocodillo. Great Britain’s Bubby Upton sat between the Prices in second place.
Following the cross-country, Tim Price remarked, “I’m really happy to be riding Jarillo. He’s very shy and can easily be distracted by everything around him on a cross-country course. But when he’s focused on the task at hand, he’s incredible. I forgive him for all his little everyday quirks, because he’s such a marvellous horse. The way he moves is a real pleasure to watch, as are his lightness and his jumping. My job is simply to ride him well.”
On Sunday, not only did Tim Price ‘ride him well’ and win the class – and finish 4th with Happy Boy – but Jonelle also placed her three horses in the top 10: Senor Crocodillo (3rd), Grappa Nera (8th), and Capitaine de Hus Z (9th).
“I was nervous before I went out onto the course,” Tim admitted. “I couldn’t find the rhythm I wanted. But as Bubby said, that’s why we ride top-class horses – we have a special bond with them. Today, I didn’t really help him; if anything, he was the one who helped me!”
Tim Price has also joined a very exclusive club of riders who have won the same 5* international eventing competition twice in a row with the same horse, a club that includes Rosalind Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo, Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Avebury, Michael Jung (GER) and fischerRocana FST, and Oliver Townend (GBR) with Cooley Master Class.
Results here.
~ with files from Les 5 Etoiles de Pau Media Office
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