Individual 6th - National Championships
Anna Bates and Arthur
Sometimes you set out to a competition with the expectation that if everything goes to plan you ought to be near the top of the order. Other days you drive out of the yard thinking your horse ought to go well but you are likely to be outclassed for the prizes.
The Area Horse Trials was one of the latter days, so it was with some surprise that by virtue of a double clear and a fast cross country round I ended up not just placed but winning the class and qualifying for the Riding Club Championships at Offchurch Bury.
Having been pretty surprised to win, our expectations for the Championships were not high (although we were there to do our best!). Mum was viewing the weekend as a holiday and I had arranged parking next to a friend of ours. My priority was how to keep the wine cool for three days as the fridge was not working!
Whilst I was running the streets of London in an attempt to keep fit, Linda Delahooke, Arthur’s owner had been taking him weekly to Kim Bailey’s gallops and together at the weekends we were sent off to get some immensely valuable help from Clare Green on the flat. I was busy telling everyone who would listen that I hoped the cross country would be really hard and the time tight so that we could rise a few places by virtue of a decent round.
Eventually the weekend came, the lorry was packed and the wine was cool. The
lessons paid off and we did a test that semi resembled dressage (and was by far our best ever effort) to lie 13th. Off to walk the cross country and I began to wish that I hadn’t been quite so vocal in hoping that it was difficult. The course was long, hilly and full of skinnies. It was definitely the hardest course that Arthur had ever jumped and a pretty easy course to have a run out on. There were two fences that I was particularly worried about, both harder than a BE Novice fence. I quizzed the fence judge at one and discovered that only four people had jumped the direct route. I had to make a bargain with myself; if I was up on the time halfway I would jump the long route, behind the time and I had to bite the bullet and jump straight.
Luckily, despite little Arthur’s cross country relative inexperience, he absolutely loves this phase and he zoomed round the course to finish with 11 time faults. Initially I was disappointed to learn I had so many as I had gone as fast as I thought I was able, shaved off corners where I could and done all the direct routes. I was thrilled with the way he had jumped though and again thought to myself how lucky I am that Linda lets me ride him. A trip to the scoreboard improved my feelings as although I had 11 time faults, my time was actually pretty fast and we had moved up to 4th place.
Two fences down in the show jumping was disappointing (especially as this is the
phase that he is most experienced in) but the course was causing problems and we finished in 6th place. However, the highlight of the day came when we discovered that he had won the prize for the best retrained racehorse. This meant that we were able to take part in the prize giving and even won another rug.
All in all the weekend was a huge success and this was mostly in the preparation and mostly the fittening work that Linda had done with him – those hills at Offchurch were nothing compared to the ones that we do everyday in the Cotswolds! It was great to be at a competition where the dressage was important but not the deciding factor as no one finished on their dressage score.
Roll on next year – it’s a fun three days and it would great if we could have a crack at getting a team there!
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Novice Area Dressage - 11th August
Have you ever schooled the day before a competition and it's all gone wrong? But you thought Well, this is a good sign cos we're getting all the bad luck out of the way beforehand!'?
Well the approach to the Area Novice Dressage was like that only worse, Much worse!
In the run up to 8th July, Michelle Holder's horse Ring of Fire went lame - the poor chap has done a suspensory (we all hope he's getting better Michelle) and Jo Elliott had an illness in the family so we were down 2 members. So in step Penny Wiggins and Heather Williams - thanks ladies.
Then of course as you know it was cancelled…….
11the August, the new date was out for Liz Hayden so in stepped Charlotte Wadley for the dressage and Lynette Ayres was suddenly doing RT6. Then Sian Evans horse Ruby has a suspected suspensory (is that the latest thing for the vets - a few years ago every lame horse had navicular?) but Hurrah!! Jo was back. We still have 3 teams!! Until Stephanie Light found out her Cricklands Qualifier was on the same day…… A horse, a horse, let's face it there are loads about but we needed a good one - Bosun? Paula Newman, at the last minute had to learn RT8 (what is a Riding Test?). Thanks Paula!
The night before and you'd think we'd be ok wouldn't you? Hello Penny? Darcy's done what?!? Thank goodness for Oghill Albert.
7.30am the morning of the show and the sun is shining…. Morning Becky, Your landrover's done what!?! Down a team member at the last minute…
Oh and I forgot to tell you we had a new venue, oh and Lynette you're now doing RT8, not RT6 (Actually I had told Lynette that a week previously and we had arranged training but the key broke in the lock of her landrover so we had to cancel that!)
The new venue was further away but was super and yes the sun was still shining
We were all on early and pretty much at the same time so it was a mad rush for an hour or so then the rest of the day beginning to chill out and wonder whether it was all worth it.
Well, yes it was!! Our three teams did us proud:
One of the dressage teams….
Camilla Russell & Toome Yankee
Jenny Tritton & Castle Hill Glen
Heather Williams & Mount Shannon
Jane Chivers & Alice
….came joint 2nd initially but unfortunately dipped out of qualifying because you then go to the 4th member & they were just higher than us. But, 3rd out of 24 teams is pretty damn good!
One the other teams just missed out on a rosette each, coming 7th
Megan Morgan & Henry
Lynette Ayres & Magpie
Ann Brennan & Goldie
Paula Newman & Bosun
Our third team were down a member which when there are so many teams is bad luck
Charlotte Wadley & Fearless Frank
Jo Elliott & Gossip Calypso
Penny Wiggins & Bert
But I haven't got to the best bit yet - the individual placings - cos we have a qualifier!!!
Camilla and Toome Yankee won in their arena and are going to the Championships at Lincoln on 9th September
Meg managed to keep quiet this year (we all know how hard she must have worked at that!) and Henry came third Lynette and Magpie did their usual good stuff and came fourth Charlotte has only had Frank a few weeks but got a fifth place Jenny's little Dales pony Glen has come on leaps and bounds this year to achieve a sixth place.
Then to the Riding Test:
Two teams and one came 6th!
Ann Brennan & Cosmic Light
Paula Newman & Bosun
Jenny Tritton & Castle Hill Glen
Jo Elliott & Gossip Calypso
Penny Wiggins & Oghill Albert
Camilla Russell & Toome Yankee
Lynette Ayres & Magpie
Jane Chivers & Alice
With Jenny coming an individual 2nd and Jo individual 6th their team managed the 6th place
Which meant that almost everyone came home with a rosette - I think that must be a record! Beat that then Jo!!
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