REYBRIDGE Eventing scored their first win of the 2019 seasoning in Portugal when Chippenham-based David Doel won the Barocca International Horse Trials 3* event
Riding Eisfee, owned by Mr & Mrs James, Doel faced a strong international field of 60 competitors from across Europe, including Olympic riders from France, Belgium and Holland.
After the dressage phase, Doel was second behind Dutchman Tim Lips on a score of 23.5, just 0.2 of a mark behind.
The cross-country phase was a good test with a number of combinations and skinny fences to tackle.
The time was hard to achieve, with Doel one of only six riders getting home in the time, and when Lips retired his leading horse, leaving the Wiltshire eventer was at the top of the leaderboard going into the final day.
The show jumping was closely contested, with just one fence between the top three riders. However, Doel held his nerve to complete a clear round inside the time to win for the first time in Portugal.
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