Another eventful weekend at Scone, with a very entertaining two days. The blog has been delayed for a few days as I have been travelling around Britain.
The contrast in the conditions over the two days was fairly dramatic and those certainly presented some real challenges as the event wore on.
The organising team led by James Oakden did a tremendous job in the very differing conditions, and there is no reason why it couldn’t host an Advanced event, something that Scotland is short of. The variety offered by the reverse running certainly added a new dimension to what is an attractive event, though the course wasn’t any easier as can be judged from the results. A very fair challenge.
NBR Runners
Saturday
Arctic Soul, BE 90, Wattsburn- Intro
Sunday
Cherry Law, Freddy Curtis - Open Novice
Trig Point – Open Intermediate
This was the first outing for Wattsburn, Cherry Law, and Freddy, and with Arctic Soul not having been out since Lincoln it also seemed as though it was a season start
The Saturday saw excellent weather for the younger horses and this was the first time that I had seen the course reversed, something that I think worked extremely well.
The ground was in excellent condition, and it was interesting to see how the young horses were able to handle the cross country.
Wattsburn undoubtedly was a little enthusiastic in the dressage, and also managed to knock three fences down when he lost concentration after what was a good start to his round.
He was very impressive across the cross country and ended up in 15th place.
Arctic Soul also was a little excitable ahead of each discipline, and I was wondering whether he might not actually hold it together in the dressage arena. He actually scored a reasonable 34.5 and managed to knock one down in the showjumping, before coming home clear in the cross country with 5.2 time faults to finish up 9th.
Sundays weather was in contrast with persistent rain with a drier spell in the middle of the day.
However the ground conditions became much tougher as the day wore on noticeable affecting the senior classes
Open Novices
Cherry Law produced an average dressage, before producing an excellent double clear. She was perfect in the showjumping and then was one of only two horses in all the novice classes to go round the cross country course inside the time. This enabled her to finish a very creditable fifth.
Freddy Curtis
Freddy was also back on the competition circuit for the first time since September and was clearly excited to be back. He improved as last season went on, but this was a very encouraging first outing. He was tense in the dressage, and was very unlucky to knock the last down in the showjumping arena, He was also steady paced around the cross-country course though clearly enthusiastic and occasionally gave himself some big jumps. He finished a steady 19th.
Trig Point
Trig Point didn’t have the best of the conditions for his competition. His dressage at 32.7 included one break but otherwise was very sound.
The rain came on heavily in the showjumping and he jumped extremely well clearing everything including all the combinations, and with some extra technical practice going in at home that looks to have paid off on this occasion. However he had a very strange nap between the six and seventh which earned him a disobedience and five time faults..
Looking at the slow motion and looking around the arena there were two very garish umbrellas that just happened to be in the sight line of the fence from the point he had reached. Obviously this was pretty unusual but the fact he jumped clear in tough ground was very encouraging.
By the time he got to the cross country ground conditions were a lot worse than earlier in the day. He jumped very well but after another minor disagreement half way round, which I happened to be right beside, he came home with 23.4 time faults. Others actually did worse so he came home a surprising third and collected 8 points but we can dwell on what might have been. He hadn’t had a cross country round since Burnham market so this was clearly needed, and I feel is has a big performance bubbling under
He is pictured below on the entry to the water.
One to watch
Plenty of action in the 2* with lots of familiar names but my one to watch this time comes from right at the other end of the competitive picture
Sarah Finlayson who I came across at the admissions department at Loretto, where Iona is heading next, had a storming performance in the BE90 for a first outing, with a fabulous cross country round to finish . After a win at their only BE 80 last year this is now followed by a win at her first BE90 on Bellindene Norman
.
Next stop for them is Auchinleck and we will be keeping any eye out to see how they get on..
NBR points
Trig Point 8 .. taking the total to 14 for the year so far.
Next outings
Auchinleck – 6 entered
WattsBurn and Arctic Soul - BE100
Fiddlewood and Stonedge –Novice
Freddy Curtis - Intermediate
Trig Point – Open Intermediate
Cherry law then is set to join four of the others at Floors, whilst Trig Point and Fiddlewood have been entered for Tattersalls in the CCI2* and CCI1* respectively.
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