Nicholson poised to defend his Leg 3 ERM title

An area of outstanding natural beauty, home to the iron age fort of Barbury Castle in Wiltshire, will provide the stunning backdrop for Leg 3 of the 2017 Event Rider Masters.  The £50,000 ERM competition features forty of the world’s best Event riders, representing eleven nations at the St. James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials on the 8th and 9th of July. 

Locally based Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and the seventeen years young Nereo return to Barbury on their first run since their victory at Badminton in May. The pair are a favourite combination to top the ERM podium for the second consecutive time at Barbury.  Prior to last year’s ERM victory, Andrew also won the last four of Barbury’s own CIC*** competitions riding Avebury.  In 2015 the combination also delivered the current lowest Barbury finishing score at this level, of 33.9. 

The New Zealander is also one of only two riders in the ERM series to have completed a leg in the 30’s, the other being Britain’s Gemma Tattersall.  He achieved this last year when winning on Nereo, finishing on a penalty score of 39.6. 

Commenting ahead of Leg 3 of the Event Rider Masters, Andrew Nicholson said;

 “This weekend will be tough competition.  The fantastic prize money on offer across the ERM really has inspired the riders.  It’s a very strong field but Nereo is fit and well and we plan to keep hold of our Barbury and ERM crown this weekend”.