Sue White’s Kilfinnie (Scottie) started the month off in fine style with a double clear at Belton in the hotly contested CIC*** class for 11th place. Belton was to be his last run before heading off to Badminton where Scottie held his own in a high class field that provided a tough competition. A good dressage was improved upon with a super smooth clear XC round and a couple of rails down on the last day provided an overall very satisfactory performance with Scottie finishing in 24th position.
Martin and Suzi Belsham’s Stormhill Michael (Mike) started his 2011season at Burnham Market with an easy open intermediate run. He then went out all guns blazing at Withington in the main Advanced section with an impressive dressage test, followed by a fast double clear which gave him a convincing WIN.
Captain Fred and Penny Barker, Vicki Mace-Benson’s and Georgina Tapner’s Wickstead Didgeridoo (Balloo) stepped back up to the Advanced grade during April with a easy run at Burnham Market where the hard ground gave rise to a slow XC round. He then had his first attempt at a 3*** dressage test at Withington were he tried very hard and got a fairly good mark. He then produced a very classy double clear to finish 6th out of a 51 strong field.
Jane Gwillim-David’s Carry on Joseph (Joe) had just the one outing this month at Belton in the Advanced where he found the dressage all a little too exciting, but then on to jump well round a very big testing track.
Captain Fred and Penny Barker’s Kilronan (Tom) has had a delayed start to his season again this time due to being balloted! He now starts in May at Hambelden.
Sally and Colm McGinn’s Indian Mill (Monkee) is now back in full dressage work and started jumping this week so will hopefully be out competing in the next few weeks.
Andrew Page’s Miss B (Bee) had her second novice start at Larkhill where her inexperience gave rise to some jumping penalties across country. But then later in the month at Withington it all came together for her with a fantastic performance in all 3 phases for 9th place. Andrew has also introduced another horse Carmenero (Carmen) to the team, he is an ex race horse who has come to be retrained. He is showing a great deal of talent so we are looking forward to starting to compete with him soon.
Angela Scott’s Carlito (Carlo) is moving on up the grades quite quickly so is now settling in to Novice level. At Larkhill he looked very classy for a 4th place at only his second attempt at this level. He then went on to Withington where after a good dressage and show jumping, he got far too keen across country giving rise to some steering issues coming out of the water jump where he sailed past an angled log.
Anne Chapman’s Vrolijk (Dude) only competed once this month at Sapey and he certainly made the most of it with a WIN in only his second attempt at the novice level. Anne is now slightly nervous at the prospect of him doing a Novice Regional Final in an attempt to qualify for the Gatcombe Novice Championships.
Jane Gwillim-David’s Supreme Watts (Dai) had just the one outing at Larkhill this month where at his second attempt at novice level he was much improved in all three phases.
Mrs Georgina Tapner’s Clodoline (Katie) also had just the one outing at Sapey where it all came together for her, finishing on her dressage score for 8th place in a BE100 section.
Jenny Waaler’s Boomerang (Boo) and Captain Fred and Penny Barkers’ Strike it Lucky (Paddy) have returned back to school after a lovely holiday at the Barkers and are already in light work at home.
Georgina Tapner’s Wickstead Ulara (Lara) has dragged Georgina out of eventing semi-retirement! It was over 6 years since Georgina’s last completion at novice level and Lara made the task very easy for a rather nervous Georgina at Sapey with a great all round performance. They then went on to Withington where a lovely double clear gave Lara her first B.E. points, which left Georgina beaming form ear to ear!
Peter and Libby Saugman’s Caicos (Cai) has joined the team this month and comes to us with mixed feeling as all concerned are disappointed that his partnership with Hannah Mace (Georgina’s sister) has not been able to continue, but with some control problems across country it has been necessary for a stronger rider to take on Cai. Paul has ridden Cai before, whilst Hannah was on maternity leave. Cai and Paul had their first run together at Sapey in the Novice where a very satisfactory 4th place was achieved.
Zoe Wilkinson’s We Found Nemo (Nemo) is also frustratingly one to fall foul of the balloting system so only ran once this month. He is proving how valuable he is going to be as a junior horse by producing a very good double clear at Withington in the Novice level. Zoe’s GHS Calvaruise (Peanut) had a great outing at Sapey in a B.E.100 section where he finished in 9th place for his first top ten placing.
Emma Owen’s Solis Obitus (Sunny) has had his first introduction to eventing with mixed success. The show jumping all went a little wrong at Larkhill at his first outing, but the XC was much more successful. He then went on to Milton Keynes where the show jumping was much improved but then the XC was not so much fun when Sunny decided one of the jumps was just far too scary to complete, so back to the drawing boards again!
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