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