Event-Owners Blog from Belton

Another Raztaz weekend- Fiddlewoods Podium, Stonedge upgrades, and Trig Point's Error of Course..

Another eventful trip to Belton for NBR, with a huge amount to see and a tremendous weather.

We were staying at Langar Hall, a superb setting and highly recommended.

Belton was as entertaining as ever with a range of activities in addition to the event itself. The range of trade stands was wide and the fashion show made an interesting addition. There was no food tent this time round but there was a very well located members and owners tent which was a very welcome development and something to be adopted elsewhere. The use of an aerial photographic map for the cross country map in the programme also worked well.

However two areas of concern were being regularly aired in the lorry park. The hardness of the cross country ground was one of them which brought a whole string of withdrawals, something that will need some looking at. Losing over a third of the field in the top class was disappointing especially as a number of the top riders were involved, and the lower classes had to endure much more disappointing dressage surface than we had experienced in the last few times here. In the latter case , it does appear that the National Trust may have needed more car parking space but one hopes an alternative arrangement can be found for next year. There was so much good about the event that I am sure these issues can be ironed out. Dog agility, stallion displays, high quality dressage, a very good fashion show only form part of the list. Will Cutty’s next horse be a stallion as she seemed to enjoy riding the display one so much.

NBR had three runners

Trig Point in the Open Intermediate on Saturday, but preceeded by Stonedge and Fiddlewood who both Noviced on Friday

The performances of both Novice horses were extremely impressive and a clear step up from Burnham Market.

Stonedge followed an impressive dressage with a clear in the showjumping arena and was clear cross country only picking up a few time faults to finish seventh.

There were some signs of inexperience at one or two jumps but the potential is quite clearly there, and he came seventh. His double clear earned him his first point and an upgrade. As one can see he gave the ditch plenty of air…

This was the event that Fiddlewood came of age. An impressive dressage was followed by another clear cross country which left him right in the mix.

A clear round with only 0.8 of a time fault was enough to put him into third place and to pick up four points. Clearly his best result to date and he really was on terrific form all weekend.


On Saturday it was Trig Point’s turn and his dressage looked extremely accomplished and a complete transformation from Burnham market. He looked seriously impressive and looked very classy.

His 31.8 left him very well placed, and there was a sense of expectancy going into the show jumping as one of two others preceeding him had fences down. The first eight fences were very impressive but he had the last of the treble down, having come in too strong, and then inexplicably Nicky missed out the final fence and was eliminated as he exited the arena. The arena had been empty as she entered the arena, to begin her round so had no reference point and then sadly human error ran its course. This was a great shame as he was definitely in the running for a podium finish, but as to whether that would have happened no one knows. Very deflating all round. However all of this was put into context as our groom had a car crash on Saturday near the yard and thankfully is ok, though suffering some injuries. Lets hope she is back with us soon. Now a reroute to get some cross country mileage, with a late entry to Scone in the Open Intermediate and hopefully an opportunity to put in a good all round performance. This means all three of mine who arfe fit will be out at the same event for the first time this season> lets hope the weather holds.

Points for the Yard

Fiddlewood 4 and Stonedge 1.

Score for the year to date Fiddlewood 5 and Stonedge 1.

Next outing for NBR – Scone

Wattsburn and Arctic Soul on the Saturday and Cherry Law, Freddy Curtis and Trig Point on the Sunday

From around the course,

The organisers informal competition gets going although they were in different classes… James Oakden got a first point on Lady and Alec Lochore came a creditable 8th on Raztaz Rebel. Who knows what will happen if we get a few more on the circuit.

The advanced course was certainly a challenge with several fences proving influential. The brush corners at 5 caused a whole string of problems and a number took the alternative. It was a shame that there weren’t more as it made compelling viewing.

One who went straight and rode it perfectly was Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town and perhaps unsurprisingly went on to win the class. She is Pictured on the approach and the actual video is copybook riding.

The other main debating point was how riders were going to get to Lexington and we wish everyone trying to get there the best of luck…

There was lots more action all over the course and plenty of challenges for both riders and horses, and one could go on for pages.

It was good to see some encouraging performances from several Scottish riders, Louisa Milne Home, Tabitha Baird, and a fantastic cross country round from Emily Galbraith on Crown Alliance.

We all look to head to Scone to put the disappointment of last weekend behind us, whilst not forgetting the successes of Stonedge and Fiddlewood.

Eventing is never dull …

The Burnham Market Blog to start the season..

Almost spiked by snow (though Spike actually was)

The season opening blog almost became a victim of the weather as the forecast for snow in the Borders proved accurate. Six inches was enough to delay the NBR departure from the yard, and put paid to Arctic Soul’s competition for the second week in a row. At least three horses were able to make the journey south with the prospect of competing, though we were grateful to the organisers for allowing Stonedge to slot into the Friday novice class filling a gap that had become available, after the eight and a half hour journey south meant that he missed his allotted time on Thursday. The picture on Wednesday morning didn’t fill anyone with enthusiasm, but a rapid melt did allow a delayed departure.

So this was to be NBR’s second outing of the season as Witton had fallen victim to the weather.

Arctic Soul had come fourth in a BE 100 at Lincoln for an encouraging start, with Fiddlewood and Stonedge also opening their account

Stonedge came 14^th in a BE100 and Fiddlewood came an 8^th in a Novice getting a point for a double clear.

The Runners

Trig Point was entered in an Open Intermediate, with Stonedge starting his first Novice joining Fiddlewood.

Location, location, location

The Kerr family had already headed South on the Wednesday afternoon and it was a welcome relief escaping the snow. We stayed at the excellent Titchwell Manor, which was only 10 minutes away from the event.The Lorry Park had changed position for this years event, something that I think worked much better with the stables just below. The dressage was still pretty exposed and it was bitterly cold on the Thursday, but at least it wasn’t snowing (as it has done in the past).

A good array of Trade stands, and it was good to see the attendance rising each day, along with the improving weather, and some excellent viewing on the Saturday.

The cross country ground was in excellent condition, though the showjumping did become slightly heavy towards the end of the three days. This turned out to be the only event that survived the weather over the Easter weekend

Iona pictured at the 10^th on the Novice track…

NBR’s competitions took place on the Friday with Stonedge joining Fiddlewood in the same Novice class. Both had some tense moments in the exposed and windy Dressage but had scores in the mid 30’s, then each rolled a pole while jumping impressively otherwise, and completed clear cross country rounds in very similar times. Stonedge did an excellent job on his first outing at Novice and looked perfectly at home with the obstacles, and only finished just behind Fiddlewood in 13^th place. Early days in the season but plenty of encouragement for both.

Trig Point then came out for his first competition of the year. There were undoubtedly a few cobwebs in the Dressage, which included a couple of unscheduled disagreements, though some of last years fluidity was there to be seen. An arena under snow for a significant part of the last few months hasn’t helped. Getting the first competitive outing under ones belt will help focus the mind. The other two phases were much more competitive. He produced an excellent showjumping round only to have the second element of the final double down, and was on impressive cross country form, coming home with 19.6 time faults, a good start considering he had not seen a cross country course since last autumn. It was more important that he had an opportunity to stretch his legs rather that go for a position on this occasion and we are building for more important events later in the spring. Photos thanks to Photo-Synergy

The Friday was also marred by the tragic death of Porloe Alvin who fell at the last in the advanced class, a rather innocuous looking fence. Thoughts go to his rider Lucy Wiegersma and his connections.

We also attended on the Saturday and saw some sparking competition in the CIC 3* classes, with a number of the top horses being involved in pre Badminton runs.

Ashdale Cruise Master and Imperial Cavalier are pictured below tackling the water..

Opposition Buzz completed the course in the fastest time of the day and put in some extraordinary jumps whether at the start or the finish of the course. The horse clearly is on springs and really looked to be enjoying himself, and provides compelling watching.

The honours in the CIC3* went to Ollie Townend, with Ashdale Cruise Master and Paul Tapner with Stormhill Michael

Interestingly the showjumping saw time faults come into play and in addition to those on the cross country course played a vital part, and it took a little time for the riders to adjust to getting the balance between pace and precision. Section Q in the CIC 3* saw only one of the top 11 having time faults in the showjumping, while for Section P, which had gone before, no fewer than seven of the top eleven managed to pick up a time fault. In the cross country two obstacles that proved very interesting to watch. The angled brushes at 7 and 8, which saw a whole array of different routs, and the exit from the quarry to a skinny, which required significant concentration, and a number of horses required some attentive riding to get them concentrating in the right place.

Something had seemed to go amiss with the showjumping scoring on day two, with several rounds that I watched coming up with a different result than I’d expected.

Whatever had been going on was firmly resolved by the Saturday’s competition, which provided compelling watching.

It was good to catch up with so many on the circuit after what seems like an age, and good to get an event under ones belt

A considerable number had made the trek south from the Borders and beyond, Ian Stark, Caroline Powell, Olivia Wilmot and Ruth Edge, to name a few and we all exchanged travel stories.

Next stop for the Blog and NBR is Belton, followed by Scone

At Belton Trig Point, Stonedge and Fiddlewood are competing in the Open Intermediate, and the Novice Classes

The week after at Scone we will see Arctic Soul (BE100) joined by three season debutants, Wattsburn (BE90), Cherry Law and Freddy Curtis (both doing Open Novices). Weather permitting. May looks set to be Auchinleck then Floors, followed by CCI2* action to finish the month.

Cancellations

As BE is looking at running alternative classes to start to replace the events lost to the weather, I would make my customary request to consider a Floors 2, and also to consider running an advanced there.

With the loss of Witton Castle at the end of March, and Burgham at the end of July there are now only two Advanced classes in the whole of 2010 north of Chatsworth, namely at Eglington and Auchinleck, in Ayrshire. Witton could also be considered for the Burgham slot after its sad cancellation, and clearly being based North of the Border I am hoping we will see one or two more events creep this way. Blair remains the crown jewel as others have fallen by the wayside, but I still think Floors looks to be a stunning setting, and is geographically well sited.

A Big Thanks

Congratulations and thanks to all at Burnham Market for putting on such a splendid event, and we already have the hotels in mind for next year, as the proposed date is very close to a major birthday..

http://www.nbreventing.com/

New Website

After significant work over the winter months the NBR Eventing website has undertaken an upgrade with some cracking photos in the Gallery section and updated Biographies on the horses. There is also a connection to the blog. For those wanting to catch up on what is going on, and who is in the yard this makes a good place to start. Feedback is always welcome

Good luck to all in 2010

Regards

Philip Kerr