It has been a long time since the last Blog for a variety of reasons, and their needs to be a little catching up before reporting back form the impressive first time outing at Burgham
Memories of Trig point’s victory at Burnham Market seem rather distant as Nicky’s broken ankle at Floors put paid to spring eventing and we are only now back on the circuit.
The first Blog was entitled back with a bang, the next could have been smash and wallop..
I had missed the trip to Scone where Nicky had had several runners and picked up some points for Fiddlewood, and at Auchinleck where Stonedge contimued his points haul picking up 2 on his first run at Intermediate. There was also an outing at Richmond with Cherry law and Tuesday Cruising
The trip to Floors was not so fortunate, with Saturdays eventing curtailed as I saw Nicky being jettisoned head first towards the Trakehner.
Fortunately the air jacket cushioned much of the fall, but it didn’t reach as far as the ankle. Much pain and frustration all round.
I have to commend all the organisers and medical staff who appeared on site extremely quickly and were very helpful , but the result has been a frustrating enforced absence.
Again we have to give many thanks to all of those who pitched up to help in the intervening period and to keep the horses ticking over. A special mention to Team Estonia who now seem to have taken over the grooming duties.
We did manage a trip to Bramham to see the very impressive event there, and congratulations to Ian Stark on an excellent cross country course. A challenge we will look forward to in due course. Of particular note was Charlotte Agnew going airborne into the water on Out of Africa.
Otherwise we have been watching the rehab in progress and now we are ready to return to competition
Burgham
Burgham turned out to be well worth the visit and was also conveniently located for us.
The wider range of activities will I am sure increase interest in the event , and the top showjumpers put on an impressive display.
The arenas and trade stands were well laid out, and there seemed to be plenty of facilities.
The cross country course was also a good challenge and was favourably received though perhaps not the easiest viewing,
The only thing that might require adjustment was the proximity of the eventing showjumping arena to the main arena. In addition to showjumping victory riderounds we also had a foxhounds display and the proximity to a line of jumps did cause some major issues in some of the eventing classes. Perhaps putting a row of trade tents in between might help. That’s the great thing about first time events, that the format can be tweaked, and that’s all it needs.
Entries on this occasion
Wattsburn BE 100
Arctic Soul BE100 HC
Several of the others including Trig Point and Stonedge had been in the showjumping classes earlier in the weekend and acquitted themselves extremely well.
First time out for Arctic Soul this season and Watty after the enforced break
Both scored well in the Dressage, Watty with a 29 and Arctic Soul with a 25 .
In the showjumping arena Watty improved as the round went on scoring an impressive clear, whilst Arctic Soul was unlucky in rolling the last pole though was a little ring rusty, and needed the outing. He did have to endure a victory parade cantering past in the other direction just as he was tackling the line of fences down the nearest side of the arena and managed to keep his concentration enough to jump the fences.
The cross country had a good variety of challenges and both rose to the occasion. Watty went round inside the time register a double clear, and Spike was gradually eased back into competition and finished with 1.6 time penalties accelerating towards the end of the course.
Spike was HC but would have been in the ribbons and Wattsburn came an impressive second, and right up till prize giving looked as though he had won, when there was a rather abrupt change of order . One hopes any minor wrinkles are ironed out prior to the next event in march with higher levels involved, as this looked to be an impressive baptism..
I spent more time than normal over at the main showjumping arena, where there was a particularly impressive Grand Prix. There seemed to be an inordinate number of Whitakers competing as well as Scott brash and Jemma Kirk amongst others, and it turned out that Louise Whitaker just pipped her father to win the £4000 prize. (there isnt an extra zero …)
When one saw the jumps ,and had a hugely informative course walk given by Tim Stockdale one realized one was in a slightly different ballgame
Louise Whitaker is pictured below though not on the horse she eventually won with. The standard was very high on a very cleverly designed course.
Certainly an event to revisit
NBR Points
Wattsburn 14 Foundation Points
Totals for the season (and some catching up looks to be in order)
Foundation points 22 – Wattsburn 22
Points – 34 – Trig Point 26 , Fiddlewood 6, Stonedge 2
Next dates (projected , and given what’s happened with a slight intake of breath)—all entered
Hopetoun – Arctic Soul and Wattsburn (Novice ), Stonedge (Open Novice ), Trig Point (CIC 2 * )
Scone – Arctic Soul – Novice , Rare Hero BE 90 open , Slievcoillte Woody BE90 (HC), Willunga BE 4yo
Aston 3—Stonedge _intermediate , Wattsburn – Novice
Hartpury – Trig point CIC 3*
Blair – Arctic Soul - CCI 1*
And on the runway
Highclere – Stonedge – Intermediate , Trig Point – Advanced
Burghley Young Event Horse and decision on Blenheim await.
August also sees first outing for Iona Kerr riding Murphy XI at Hendersyde in the BE90, where I am sponsoring the Ditch and Rails in the same class. Lets hope she goes past there unscathed. She has requested that I go to watch Trig point at Hartpury 300 miles away, but there will be family representation.
The blogs next outing will be at Hopetoun, followed one hopes by Scone , Hartpury and Blair. One hopes for reasonable weather and a lower diesel price.. and one will have ears out for hendersyde.
Congratulations to all thos elected for the Young Riders at Blair with special mention tot Wills Oakden riding Button clover…
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