We trekked north of the Wednesday and were staying at the Killiecrankie Hotel run by Henrietta Ferguson.
It is increasingly becoming a house party for the four days of competition and as it turned out we had the owners of the CCI2* and 3* winners also staying.
The weather forecast was being watched closely and over the four day period we had a few heavy showers, (mostly outside competition time). Otherwise it was sunny and blustery and the ground was excellent for cross country.
There were also a continued range of entertainment both during the day and in the evening. A good range of trade stands were more widely spread around the three arenas, which I also think worked better. The owners car parking arrangements worked well and there was good access to the members area.
The new trot up area in the main arena also made things more convenient, though we didn’t have the chance to see any of them actually taking place.
Thanks to the whole organizing team for an excellent job, and for the rain staying away ..
NBR Entries
CCI1* - Stonedge
CCI2* - Cherry Law and Trig Point
Dressage..
Stonedge led off the CCI1* class as a trailblazer and did a reasonable test scoring 52.9 which as the competition wore on was to leave him in 36th place after the 90 horses had completed that phase. The difference in marking between the two judges in this phase had caused some comment, and this extended to both the 2* star and 3 star classes as the competition wore on.
Cherry Law was scored with a 63.9 and Trig Point scored a 54.7 to leave her in 15th equal, with a reasonable difference between the two marks and one that certainly looked overly harsh.
The judges were international and had been chosen from approved lists, but that didn’t seem to ease the feeling of disappointment that pervaded the lorry park after the dressage phase. The one thing that you know with Blair is that the competition isnt solely dependent on dressage. We were both pleased by the way that Trig Point had performed but were already looking to the cross country phase. The three are pictured below..
Cross Country..
After a scotch mist at the start of the one star the weather cleared and there was a dramatic series of cross country rounds in all classes on Ronald Alexanders well designed courses.
Stonedge acted as trailblazer He cruised round the cross country course and showed that in this discipline he certainly has matured. He moved up to 16th place after the cross country
There were a number of casualties and tired horses as the one star progressed. The picture was no different in the CIC3 and CCI3, before we got to the CCI2* with Cherry Law and Trig Point
Both produced magnificent rounds and were only just outside the optimum in their first 2* competition. The ground suited and with an optimum time of 9.21 this was significantly further than they had gone before so it was very encouraging to see them perform so well.
Stonedge took everything in his stride but Cherry law was slightly less sure of the ditch. Trig Point was on top form right the way round the course.
Showjumping..
After the successes at Scone the showjumping arena wasn’t as kind to the team. Stonedge had the second last down, and slipped a couple of places to 17th, bit still was in the prize money and picked up a couple of points. Cherry Law only had one pole, very reminiscent of the gate she knocked down in 2007, almost in the same position across the arena, and ended up in 16th as others also had faults. She picked up 5 points. Trig Point stumbled badly as he landed after the first and this clearly unsettled him. That was to take its toll later in the round when he had a line of three fences down before settling again for the finish. He had been lying 8th and slipped to 12th. As it turned out he would have gone no higher, but it was disappointing to slip out of the top ten.
He remained within the prize money and also picked up 13 points.
Stonedge and Cherry Law pictured above and Trig Point pictured below..
Around the classes..
There were several notable successes from the weekend. Wills Oakden had a great weekend picking up 90 points for his third with Jo Brown in the three star, and 4 points for 7th with Merikano, Debbie Whalley’s horse, in the one star picking up virtually every special prize along the way. They are pictured on their way to a clear round in the 1*.
The two star went to Hugginstown in a very tight finish to the showjumping with Matthew Wright virtually lifting the horse over several jumps to guarantee a victory. . The CIC 3* had already gone to Opposition Buzz who had flown round the course, with William Fox-Pitt taking second with Oslo, and Gemma tattersall, a brilliant 3rd on Kings Gem. The CCI3 was then won by William Fox-Pitt on Neuf de Cours to compete an excellent weekend. They are pictures below tackling the upper water.
The biggest shame was the lack of entries especially in the CCI3* where there were only eleven starters. The attention to detail around the course and the whole calibre of the event deserved more. The cross country was as challenging as ever at all levels.
For NBR the final tally was a 12th for Trig Point , a 16th for Cherry law and a 17th for Stonedge.
Points..
13 for Trig Point, 5 for Cherry Law and 2 for Stonedge making 20 for the yard increasing its total to 116.
Trig Point now moves onto 49 points for the year and 110 in total, with Stonedge now up to 33 and Cherry Law 23 taking her to 67 overall
Stonedge has now scored points in his last eight consecutive events a pretty impressive tally,
Next outings..
Burghley Young Event Horse for Inishmhor and Wattsburn
Blenheim 8/9 cic3 for Trig Point
Gatcombe CIC1* for Arctic Soul
The blog will look to resurface at Blenheim for the Saturday and Sunday if competing and the following weekend at Gatcombe.
No comments:
Post a Comment