30 July 2010

BRITISH chef d’equipe Rob Hoekstra described Team Murka’s principal rider Peter Charles and Murka’s Pom d’Ami as the “banker” combination of British Meydan Nations Cup after a home win at Hickstead. The combination is so consistent, Rob knows he can rely on them to get the team off to a strong start.

Peter and Murka’s Pom d’Ami were first to go of the four-strong British team, as they have been in the previous five legs they have jumped in. The pair jumped cleanly in both rounds collecting just a single time fault in each. William Funnell (Billy Congo) had the same result, while Tina Fletcher (Hello Sailor) jumped with two time in the first round and one in the second. Michael Whitaker and GIG Amai’s initial eight faults were discounted and they did not jump in the second as the British had already secured the win by a massive 15 points.

“Pommie is a super horse and has only had four fences in the 12 Nations Cup rounds he’s jumped this year,” said Peter. “And it was great that [Team Murka founders] Olga White and Mikhail Mouratov were here to see it.”

This latest performance means that Peter and Murka’s Pom d’Ami are one of the strongest combinations in the entire Meydan Nations Cup series. They will represent Britain in Dublin next week, which is the final leg of the series.

The win comes during a successful week for Team Murka’s riders as Little Murka’s Harry Charles finished runner up in the Welsh Home Pony International 128cm with Doune, as well as winning team silver for England.