Sharon Hunt is Talk of the Town
“I’m shocked,” said the 32-year-old, “but I always knew he was a phenomenal horse”. The optimum time of 90 seconds proved extremely difficult on the spacious jumping track and only nine out of the 32 finishers avoided collecting time penalties.
Tankers Town lowered the third fence, but Hunt kept up a good speed and did not incur any other penalties, giving her the slimmest of leads – just 0.2 of a penalty – over Ingrid Klimke (GER), whose chances of a first CCI4* win disappeared when she had both parts of the double at five down.
“The course really suited my horse because he is so good at jumping fast,” explained Hunt.
Sharon Hunt’s victory is the culmination of a 12-year partnership. Her parents bought Tankers Town, an Irish Sport Horse by Ceredigion, as a four-year-old and she broke him in herself.
Hunt gained her first Union flag competing as an individual at the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Tankers Town and was a member of Britain’s bronze medal team at the 2008 Olympics. Her previous best CCI4* result was fifth at Badminton in 2008. She has recently moved to a new base in Kent, England, and is now trained in Dressage by former British team rider Anna Ross-Davies.
When asked if she will be attending any more of the HSBC FEI Classics, Hunt said: “Obviously, I now hope that I will be on an aeroplane to Kentucky, but if that doesn’t come off I shall certainly be at Burghley trying to win some money!”
Results
1 Sharon Hunt/Tankers Town (GBR) 43.0 + 0 + 4 = 47.0
2 Ingrid Klimke/FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER) 39.2 + 0 4/4 = 47.2
3 Andreas Dibowski/FRH Fantasia (GER) 44.2 + 0 + 4 = 48.2
4 Andrew Nicholson/Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 48.2 + 0.8 + 0 = 49.0
5 Oliver Townend/Ashdale Cruise Master (GBR) 42.8 + 0.8 + 4/4 = 51.6
6 Lucy Wiegersma/Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GBR) 44.8 + 0 + 4/4 = 52.8
7 Mary King/Apache Sauce (GBR) 51.0 + 1.6 + 8 = 52.6
8 Andreas Ostholt/Franco Jeans (GER) 53.3 + 0 + 8 = 61.3
9 Lucy Wiegersma/Granntevka Prince (GBR) 48.2 + 2.8 + 8/5 = 64.0
10 Andrew Nicholson/Armada (NZL) 58.5 + 0 + 2/4 = 64.5
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
