Two days of scintillating weather, with the temperature reaching the mid 20’s.
Fortunately Floors is our local event so we didn’t have to travel very far in the heat, though there was an early start on both days.
Another cracking event organized by Jamie Innes and his crew and there were many familiar faces over the two days.
I still think this setting has tremendous scope for greater use… and some of the pictures simply highlight the appeal.
Everything seemed to run fairly smoothly, with no major issues, and it was good to see the ice cream van and bottled water sales getting the edge over coffee and other hot drinks.
The dressage arenas were well laid out but the scoring seemed somewhat higher than at recent events, and we did have the slightly bizarre sight of Rare hero getting the lowest dressage score of any of the NBR horses and the lowest dressage score he has ever received of 32.5. Arctic Soul produced his best test of the season but yet scored one of his highest marks with a 37.5.
There were several comments around the lorry park about the vagueries of the scoring , but it didn’t detract from an enjoyable weekend.
The other controversy came in the BE100 cross country where a cunningly placed fence 18 caught out a number of riders. The normal route to the finish from previous years had been changed and the slight detour was enough to throw people. On walking the course no fewer than four riders who were on the course at he same time all walked the wrong course, and several only discovered once they got to the end of their walk. There were a number who ended up eliminated. (despite the best efforts in one case to explain where the fence was)
We also must thank Daniella Page, a budding young eventer, who helped the NBR Team out very effectively over the two days.
NBR Entries
Saturday
Arctic Soul and Wattsburn- BE100
Rare Hero – Novice (HC)
Sunday
Stonedge – Novice,
Freddy Curtis – Intemediate Novice
Cherry Law –Intermediate.
Saturday started with Arctic Soul being first on in the Dressage test, and I didn’t think his core of 37.5 was representative of the test he had done, compared with his more recent performances. This to our mind was his best test of the year. His showjumping was very good, and the extra work from Mark Smith again looks to have paid dividends, with another clear. He simply motored round the cross country course, finishing easily inside the time, and his huge stride simply eats up the ground. He finished a creditable sixth and collects another 5 foundation points to take him to 21. He is also ready to move to novice, and that move is likely to happen in one of the next two events. His last four results have been 4th, 9th, 2nd and 6th, setting a good trend.
Wattsburn was the next one up, and he produced and excellent dressage test of 33.0. That was followed by a clear in the showjumping, and although a little greener than Arctic Soul and two years younger only picked up 1.6 time faults leaving him 7 points clear of the rest of the field. So ten foundation points for him and a big boost for the new joint owners Lorna McWilliam and Harry Phillips who have joined Janey Roncoroni as part owners.
Then the grey beast Rare Hero made his first outing for over a year. He was competing HC in the Novice class and began with the best dressage score he has ever achieved, a 32.5 following Ruth Edge into the arena. His showjumping was a little ragged knocking three poles down, but he breezed around the cross country course with only a few time faults. Nice to have him back on the squad, and providing he stays sound he might be routed next to Burgie.
Sunday was slightly less sunny but also a lack of wind so if anything it was more humid
NBR had three more runners with Stonedge up first. His dressage wasn’t anything special with a 39 but he made up for it with an excellent clear round showjumping, and then followed it with a blistering cross country display, to finish only 1 second over the time. This was enough to take him into second place and picking up 5 points,
Next out were Freddy Curtis and Cherry Law, and Freddy was true to form in his third outing of the season this tine in an intermediate novice . Very uncooperative in the warm up with the cross country nearby and his first minute was very tricky, after that he actually showed some very nice paces, though the rider might not have believed it and he scored a 36.4. His showjumping was the best this year and was unlucky to have one down. He then did a good cross country round only being 10 seconds over the time. His next outing will be at hexham with a planned change of jockey to Emily Galbraith, and she may take him back to Novice HC depending on how she gets on with acclimatization.
Cherry Law had a slightly higher dressage score in the Intermediate section, and rolled two poles. It could have been three but for a particularly clever bit of jumping at the last.
Her cross country round was as impressive as ever and she only picked up 3.6 time faults,
Both of them finished just outside the places in their respective classes.
Round the Lorry Park
Several riders to catch up with ..
There were good performances from the Agnews with both Charlotte and Al seen several times.
It must have been particularly pleasing for Charlotte to get her finals out of the way, and she returned to form with a seriously impressive performance on Pavonita.
James Oakden “ambled “ to another point for a double clear on Lady, blaming his grey hair for not being quicker… (Ian Stark has a lot of grey hair)
And Dee Hankey was very pleased with her two outings, with Chequers Toyboy pictured below, though she had decided not to press on the cross country, after a scintillating 26.5 dressage.
NBR…
Points for the Yard
Stonedge 5, taking him to 10 and the yard to 26.
Foundation Points
Wattsburn 10 and Arctic Soul 5 , taking the yard total to 38,
Next outings..
Hexham
Arctic Soul, Trig Point (possibly), Cherry law, and Freddy Curtis (with Nicky as part owner rather than rider )
Burgie
Several planned with entries due later in the week.
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