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 …
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