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• Two qualify for the ODE National Championships !

• Note from Meg

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Two qualify for the ODE National Championships !

Once again the sun shone brightly for the Area 18 Horse Trials qualifier at Broadway on 13th June. Arriving at 8am to the usual holdups of passport checking and last minute collywobbles, I quickly made my way over to the dressage to see Polly do a lovely dressage test (27.7!!) on her horse Sky Girl; Michael was on top form too with Lucky. He was followed by Kim Drinkwater who did an immaculate test on Paddy earning an amazing 22.7% which put her in the lead! All of the Cheltenham Novice team members pulled out some good performances in the dressage with Noel and Hazza 36.4, Helen Gabriel and Jugosovo 37.3 Jen Allen on Ted 37.7, Di and Jay 38.20 Michael 38.6 and Alex Plain 39.1 – very respectable scores all round.

The show jumping did not run as smoothly with a few poles rolling here and there but Michael, Polly and Kim all jumped clear.

Cross country raised a few pulses as Helen realised she couldn’t find her medical card, but conveniently found it in my car – now how did it get there??! Alex and Di came home with fantastic clear rounds and within the time, but time penalties cropped up for quite a few… including Polly, 8.4 and Kim (who was too quick!!) with 6.8. Fortunately the competitors below Kim all picked up a few additional penalties so were unable to knock her off her individual first place position (I know it’s not sporting, but we were pleased!). This meant Kim has qualified for the National Championships!!! Well done Kim!
Di came 6th in her section (jolly good result for what Di felt was, for Jay, a “bad day”!) Polly was also 6th in her section (after a 15 year break from eventing Polly was over the moon! – all that preparation and training paid off!) and Jen Allen was 7th in her section (brilliant as this was her very first ODE and only 2nd dressage test!) Final scores meant that the Cheltenham Totties Team finished 7th out of 24 teams, just missing out on a rosette!

I have to confess, I didn’t get to see the intermediate dressage tests as a bit of interference from a spectator meant I was in dire need of the regulation picnic…. which overran slightly!!! (very enjoyable for all the riders, supporters, friends, boyfriends and family all sitting down together to swap stories).

However I knew that Bob, Sian, Anna and Kelly were all seasoned eventers and were more than capable of looking after themselves as their results proved – all very good respectable marks! Bob had a couple of poles in the show jumping and was clear cross country, Sian jumped double clear with no time faults (fab!!) and Anna had one pole down, but clear cross country and within the time!! Kelly declined to jump as she felt the ground was too hard for her horse, but the team managed to soldier on and came third with Anna individual 3rd. Sian and Ruby were individual 2nd and became our second combination through to the National Championships!

The open team did not fare so well. In the run up to the event, the ever gorgeous Arthur was injured with a kick to the head and was recovering in hospital so was unable to compete. We all wish him a speedy recovery; hope he’s doing well Linda, we’re thinking of him. Xx.

Fresh from their experiences at the BE National Championships at Badminton, Lauren and Fred put in a good dressage test which put them in 2nd place. But then an unfortunate pole down show jumping was followed by an uncharacteristic run out cross county - Lauren could not stop kicking herself! Bad Luck Lauren! Amanda and Kilconnel Fox put in a respectable dressage performance, but rolled a couple of poles, then had a run out at the technical double near the end of the course. What a shame! A good reminder that even the established and experienced combinations can make the odd slip…

As the rain poured down it gave us rather a sombre end to an otherwise exciting, enjoyable and successful day for CDRC – two individuals, Kim and Sian, through to the National Championships on 6-8 August 2010 at Aston-le-Walls, Northamptonshire NN11 6RT

Team line up and result were as follows:
Cheltenham Hotties:
Michael bates Lucky Striech
Noel Ennett Haphazzard
Kim Drinkwater Paddy Individual 1st Qualified
Alex Plain Ludo Individual 8th

Cheltenham Totties Team 7th place
Di Cook Jaycoozie Individual 6th
Jen Allen Wixford Ted Individual 7th
Helen Gabriel Jugoso V
Polly Schreuder Sky Girl Individual 6th

Intermediate: Team 3rd place
Bob Fennell Otis
Sian Evans Ruby Walsh Individual 2nd Qualified
Anna Bates Grey Man Individual 3rd
Kelly Salter Terimon Player

Open:
Lauren Creed USA K
Amanda Rawson Kilconnel Fox

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Having travelled up to Aston at the beginning of June to watch Di and Jen compete at the Festival of the Hunter National Championships, I found I was the only CDRC supporter in attendance. There I was whooping, whistling and cheering for all I was worth…. On my own! It was quite embarrassing until I told the rest of the crowd of spectators that I was the sole supporter and they all joined in with gusto cheering Di and Jen on – one of life’s magic moments!

So make a note in your diary and go and support Kim and Sian, or volunteer to help out? Drop me a line if you can help? But whatever you do, pack a picnic and we’ll meet you at the grandstand to help you enjoy it!

Huge thanks to our team trainer Sharon Thomas who not only provided a wide range of interesting training in the lead up to the event, but also, once again, gave up her day to give support to the teams. Personal thanks from me for all her input and help whilst picking the teams, as well her motivational influence on the day as it as a huge struggle to be in two places at once with support and encouragement for all! I certainly missed having the excuse of competing myself this year, but I think Henry was glad to be dozing gently in his field!

Thanks also to Fe Moore who came along to cheer everyone on and provide moral support – but missed out on the picnic! I was hoping to return her favour of providing the Milky Ways at the practice! Well done to everyone for providing an exciting and entertaining day with loads of highs (and a few lows – but there’ll be a next time!!) Thanks for all your kind words on the day. I’ll be hanging up my clip board after the Championships but wanted to thank all the riders, supporters, Sharon, Fe, but most of all the horses, for having made the last three years of ODE Manager a most challenging and rewarding time.
Meg

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