Berkshire based new Zealand rider Dan Jocelyn and Special Advocate won the first of two Advanced sections at The Festival of British Eventing. By virtue of a clear round show jumping and the fastest cross-country round of the class the combination moved up 16 places to claim section A ahead of dressage and show jumping leaders William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie. Dan’s fellow New Zealander Mark Todd, a winner of the championship here at Gatcombe 25-years ago, rose up to ninth place with the Irish-bred Major Milestone. Sixteen-year-old Special Advocate, by the Thoroughbred Criminal Law was bred by owner Jennifer Hibbert and is the full elder brother to Special Attorney who Dan rode to tenth place in Advanced Section B. ‘I love riding round Gatcombe – I love the terrain and the cross-country – it is such a thrill to ride here and I have been here every year since I arrived in the UK,’ said Dan. ‘Special Advocate knows his job – although he is not the easiest at home, and I finally got the bitting right which has made a difference – so it is good to have a big win and good for Jenny his owner and breeder’. Both Advocate and Attorney will be in action where Dan will be trying to be the first ever rider to complete on full brothers in the same year.

Louise Skelton won Advanced section B, with her homebred Bit of Barney. They too moved up the order with a fast clear cross-country adding just 2.8 time penalties to their 13th place dressage score, recording the second fastest round of the day. Louise’s horse is also one of two full brothers, both by the Thoroughbred Blaze O’ Gold out of her former point-to-point mare, and Bit of a Barney’s brother Partly Pickled also competes at advanced level. ‘I have a soft spot for Barney who is my favourite,’ said Louise. ‘He was born with a wonky leg and was a bit of a runt so the fact that he has even got to advanced level has amazed us,’ said Louise who has also been riding since February with an injured hand and is now awaiting an operation. ‘Barney was brilliant today – we are usually bringing up the rear after dressage and I never expect to win. But we have had some help from Yogi (Breisner – Performance Manager of British Eventing) which has really improved his canter.’

Irish raider Aoife Clark and Vaguely North also produced a double clear to be second while New Zealander Andrew Nicholson and the Spanish-bred Quimbo took third. Andrew, produced the fastest round of the day with Oplitas to move up 13 places into fourth. Adding to a successful day Dan Jocelyn was fifth with Savoir Faer.