Aussie Levett third in Equestrian Open
Australian rider Bill Levett placed 3rd in the British Open Eventing Championships held at Gatcombe Park (GBR) over the weekend.
A star-studded field of 85 riders contested the title which doubled as a qualifier for the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Finals taking place in Poland 21-23 August.
The event was again won by Ruth Edge (GBR) who was the defending champion. Edge is now one of only four rides to have won the British Championship three times.
Britain-based Bill Levett, 46, rose from equal 8th position after the dressage phase with a fast cross-country round on Vera Leggett's 14-year-old French-bred gelding Hippolyte.
Levett and Hippolyte have had a number of good performances this season including a 3rd place finish at Saumur CCI3* in May and 6th place at Burnham Market CIC3* in April.
"I am thrilled with this performance," said Levett "the competition was very tough and it is a prestigious event."
Fellow Australian competitors also performed well. Paul Tapner finished 12th and 13th on his two rides Inonothing and Kilfinnie 11.
Australia's Lucinda Fredericks, 2009 winner of the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, was leading the competition after the dressage and jumping phases but elected to withdraw before the cross-country, as did her husband Clayton who was in 5th position aboard Ben Along Time. Clayton is keeping Ben fresh for the HSBC FEI World Cup Final where he will defend his 2008 title.
For full results please see http://www.bdwp.co.uk/gat/09/
