In an action-packed Saturday at the Defender Bramham International Horse Trials, bumper crowds were treated to a top day’s equestrian action with over 130 horses tackling Andy Heffernan’s clever cross-country test. In the Defender CCI4*-L, Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time are a step closer to defending their title while in the Defender CCI4*-S it was a third Bramham win for Tom McEwen. With his Olympic and European medal winning partner JL Dublin, he won by just a single second margin. Alice Casburn had a dream Bramham debut with Topspin to win the British Under 25 title.
Defender CCI4*-L
The field for the 2026 edition of the Defender CCI4*-L may only be around 50 combinations, but it’s full of talent, so today’s cross-country test was always going to be a feast for the eyes. In his second year as Bramham course designer, Andy Heffernan really stamped his signature this time around. A change of direction, several new combinations, old favourites in new locations and encouraging options for all, gave riders and spectators alike a new perspective.
Saturday morning is usually emotionally supercharged for any course designer, but Northumberland’s Katie Magee, who was fifth out on course, gave Andy a reassuring moment by going clear inside the time with Lady Sharon Parnaby’s Cushlas Indigo – the fences were jumpable, the time achievable.
The first of the contenders for top placings to head out into expanse of Bramham Park was Selina Milnes with William and Angela Rucker’s Cooley Snapchat. This duo won the short section here in 2023, so know the terrain well. Winning the best dressed female at the first horse inspection thanks to a vision of sequins, it seems, brought out Selina’s inner dressage diva to produce a 27.9 on day one, which left her fifth heading into today. Selina hasn’t been at full fitness this spring with rib injuries, but riding her seasoned campaigner was like putting on a familiar, comfy pair of slippers – the duo simply purred round, stopping the time at 9.57, some five seconds inside the time to set the score for others to beat.
Shortly after, it was the turn of Thursday’s dressage leaders, Piggy March and MCS Maverick, owned by the Maidwell Mavericks. They set off in determined form, eager add another title to ‘Eric’s’ 2023 victory here with former rider Pippa Funnell. The first five fences were taken with ease. They made three-part Defender Shoulder at six look like a schooling exercise, before taking the turn to the Womble Bond Dickinson Bond Pond. They were super through the first bounce element, before then taking on the skinny in the middle of the pond. A bold jump brought the second bounce up quickly and Eric couldn’t quite make the step up cleanly, bringing him to an abrupt halt. Piggy took the long route and hacked round the rest of the course clear, but their chance of a second title was over.
The next combination who could end the day in a prominent position were 2024 MARS Badminton champions Caroline Powell and Chris Mann’s Greenacres Special Cavalier. Their 29.0 dressage test left them sixth heading into today and, with the course causing a good few issues and a tight time, Caroline knew a good clear could promote them up the leader board. Their round was true quality – a partnership who know each other so well and the brave mare answered her rider’s request at every question. Experience brings results and Caroline’s in-built metronome reaped dividends because they stopped the time at 10.01 – one second under the optimum to retain their 29.0 score and provisionally slot in behind Selina.
Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham and her rising star Gypsie du Loir, owned by The Sue Davies Fund and Janette Chinn – runners up ahead of the cross-country on 24.8 – headed out on course to see if they could make it a repeat of last year, when they posted a fantastic clear to clinch victory in the short section. Today’s longer test was completed in style, with the 10-year-old mare showing maturity beyond her years. Yaz did ‘hold her hand’ a few times for reassurance and clarity, which cost a few precious seconds. They completed in 10.16, some 14 seconds over time to add 5.6 penalties to their score, relegating them off the podium on 30.4, but it was a round to be proud of at this stage in ‘Gigi’s’ career.
Directly after Yaz was the USA’s Tiana Coudray and Annabelle James, Kyrle Arscott and her own D’Artagnan. After dressage, they were fourth on 27.4 and with scores incredibly tight, they needed something clean and quick. ‘Smokey’ obviously got that memo and gave Tiana a super ride to complete just eight seconds over the time allowed, adding 3.2 for a two-phase total of 30.6, putting them just a shade behind Yaz.
As the end of the class drew near, the anticipation built. There was one final duo on everyone’s mind – Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time, owned by Susan de Zulueta, Jane Dear, Susie Holland-Bosworth, The Duchess of Norfolk, Hillary Russell and Bubby herself. It’s no secret that this week has been full of emotion. ‘Finn’ is a horse that Bubby clearly adores, but mixed form since they realised a dream last year just turns the sentiment level up. Add to that the adrenaline and nerves that go with cross-country day and she had reached fever pitch mood.
Bubby set off in the knowledge that she had 3.7 penalties in hand over Selina if she wanted to retain the lead – that’s just under ten seconds. The first few fences were tackled with huge enthusiasm by ‘Finn’, as is his normal, but the martingale had snapped by fence four – for Bubby, this is a vital piece of tack to help with his exuberance. At the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond, the grey gelding’s athleticism came to the fore with a great bounce in but, with a new found freedom, his high head carriage made it difficult for Bubby, who did a great job managing as they progressed around the course.
As they jumped the Defender Round House complex, three fences from home, it was touch and go as to whether they were going to get the time. Finn was still keen and Bubby managed to keep a good rhythm until they’d cleared the Rainbow Equine Hospital Finale and finished. The time was 10.11 – nine seconds over. She’d managed to keep her lead, but the margin was now just 0.1 of a penalty.
That makes it very tight at the top, with just a fence between the top six. There is, of course, the final horse inspection to negotiate before the final showjumping phase to determine the 2026 Defender Bramham CCI4*-L champion.
Defender CCI4-S and British U25 Championship
In the short format, it’s the coloured poles that are first up on the penultimate day at Defender Bramham. The most notable change in the top order was a drop down to fifth by overnight leaders Jesse Campbell and Speedwell, who had a rail in the treble combination towards the end of Jason Abb’s flowing track. This handed British duo Tom McEwen, riding James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, pole position with a copy book clear. Kitty King and Renkum Jitterbug went second and Kiwi Samantha Lissington with her own and Pip McCaroll’s Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ climbed into a podium placing going on to the cross country.
The first round to catch the eye came from Alice Casburn riding mum Caroline’s homebred Topspin. This duo have huge experience together and rerouted to Bramham – a first trip – after Badminton didn’t quite work as planned. A 33.4 dressage left them in the top 30 and their faultess showjumping round pulled them up the order slightly. However, they were electric across the country and made light of Andy Heffernan’s course to finish in 7.07, 10 seconds over the optimum to finish on 33.4. This threw a gauntlet down for all to match and, being only 24, Alice is eligible for the U25 championships – this brought her right into contention for the title.
Dressage day one leaders Alex Hua Tian and Manjushri of China successfully negotiated the showjumping and also had a good spin around the country, with a good clear and just eight time penalties to give a final tally of 37.4 to go just behind Alice.
The ‘round of the day’ accolade must go to World Class Programme rider Sam Ecroyd, riding Bloomfield Manuscript for Joe and Kate Walls and Tricia and Rob Sargent. Their 33.7 dressage score left them just outside the top 25, but they crafted a clear in the jumping to start their rise up the order. Sam set off in determined fashion and really never took his foot off the pedal – but without pushing out of a forward flowing rhythm. They stopped the timing beam at 6.57 – spot on the optimum time. It would prove to be the only faultless round of the section. This gave them the lead and the score to beat of 33.7.
Jesse Campbell’s rail may have dropped him off the top, but he was still in touch, and, in Speedwell, he has a great horse for across the country. Sadly, they just didn’t lock on to the skinny island fence in the Womble Bond Dickinson pond and ran past, ending their chances of a top placing.
The next into the start box was Tom McEwen and ‘Dubs’, who turned out to be simply class – the trust and partnership they share was clear. The tricky combination fences which had plagued many others were nothing but a schooling exercise. However, time would be a factor and as they jumped the Stick Pile at fence 21, they were slightly down on the clock. Tom didn’t overly push ‘Dubs’ but used the strong natural flow. They safely jumped the last, and the time was given as 7.04 to add 2.8 penalties for a final total of 29.6 to knock Sam off the top spot.
There was one final combination who could spoil Tom’s party – the notoriously quick Smantha Lissington for New Zealand with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. The mission was simple – nothing but clear inside the time could beat Tom. Samantha gave it her all, shaving every millimetre possible. They were flying, but it was going to be close… 6.59 was the final time. Not quite quick enough for the victory but it was well deserved runners up spot, with Sam Ecroyd earning one of his best results to date with some fantastic cross-country riding.
Tom summed up the day; “I thought his jumping this morning – which feels like another day ago – he was jumping really well, smooth. Yes, he was really good – we had a bit of a hold on course, which is not bad thing round a course that I still thought was very technical and had plenty to do. I thought he was brilliant again. We had a really, really good canter around, the ground was amazing and the fences were brilliant. There were a good few combinations, especially the Defender Shoulder – I thought that was a really good combination and it was great prep to maybe being selected. He is a little bit lightly run compared to the of some others, but that’s just the decision we made.”
In the under 25s, victory went to Alice Casburn and Topspin. Cerys Macauly was consistent with Kananaskis to snatch second and Tom Bird climbed from 97th after dressage to 21st overall, with strong jumping performances to secure third spot in the championship.
“He just keeps digging and keeps getting better,” said Alice of Topspin. “He has come out feeling so well this year. Mum and I nearly had our first fall-out earlier in the year because I think I had in my head that he was 18, but Mum was like “are you riding by the number or riding by what you are riding?,” and I sort of sat there and thought about it and I was riding by the number. He’s shown that this year – he’s come out so well and the flat has improved, he just loved every second out there. I knew that when I went to the showjumping that he was spooking at everything and having a great time. I felt like he deserved this more than me. He’s done everything for me, from all the way at the bottom to the top, and I am very, very grateful and lucky to have him.”
There was one sad note to the day when news came through that Charlie Foxtrot, the ride of David Doel, suffered a fatal cardiac catastrophe out on the cross-country course. Veterinary personnel were on the scene immediately but, despite their best efforts, nothing could be done. On behalf of the eventing community, the Bramham team offers sincere condolences to David, the owners Michael and Sophie Payne, and the horse’s connections.
Coming up
Sunday is finale day and the final horse inspection in front of the house at Bramham starts at 9:00, with 32 due to come forward for the Defender CCI4*-L. The showjumping starts at 14:00 in the Defender Arena, where we’ll find out who will take the top honours this year. The annual Wetherby Skip Services Grand Prix will bring the curtain down from 15:00.
You can follow the action with times, scores and all the info via the Defender Bramham International Horse Trials app – just download from your preferred app store. You can catch up with on socials too – we’re on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
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