The season has started well, with a few weeks of dry weather our first entries have all gone to plan with some great results.
Codebreaker, Ramonda and Othello all had their first ever competiton appropriately on fantastic ground at the wonderful Osberton estate. The cross country wasn’t timed allowing them to have a really kind introduction around an 80cm course. They all put in good performances – Codebreaker finishing 2nd with a 29 double clear, Ramonda finishing 10th with a 27 dressage, one annoying pole and a clear XC and Othello finishing just outside the top 10 with an unlucky pole and clear XC.
EPWORTH
Codebreaker competed in his first BE90, for a mark of 32 in the dressage, one pole, but an incredible cross country round, he finished 10th. Oakbank Ultimate Illusion was entered in the BE100, he worked in well, but was a bit fresh (!) in the dressage arena (but was also extremely harshly marked), so unfortunately it wasn’t our day, followed by 2 poles in the showjumping caused by some tension, but a nice slow educational clear XC. Apollo has an abundance of talent, so channelling this enthusiasm is important.
Aston le Walls unaffiliated
We had a successful event at Aston le Walls. Othello was starting in his first BE90, he did a good test with a few mistakes for 34, followed by a nice confident double clear for 10th place. This was a great learning experience for him. Ramonda did another brilliant dressage, 28, followed by touching one pole, and then clear but slow XC round due to the deep ground at the end of the day. Clifford was coming for a gentle run before his entry at Oasby and he was well behaved for a 30 double clear, he flew round the XC making nothing of the course to finish 3rd.
What a fantastic OASBY we had! Thursday started with the consistent Clifford finishing on his dressage of 30 to take 2nd place in a competitive Novice section. Oakbank Ultimate Illusion did a much improved test for 30, one pole, and a brilliant XC round over much his hardest and most technical course to date to finish in the top 10.
Friday we had the top 3 boys who were all having their first run of the year.
Renaissance Man – 32, double clear and a few time pens for 4th place. Renny gave one of his best XC performances, and he is feeling on fantastic form in the prep for his next run at Belton
Dick O Malley – much improved dressage (with still a few improvements to make) for 31, and a beautiful jumping performance for a double clear, which meant he finished 6th in a star studded Open Intermediate. Priorspark Opposition Free did a beautiful dressage 28, and a brilliant double clear to finish 9th again in a very hot competition.
It was brilliant to have great support from my incredible owners who were all able to come and watch their horses competing at the events and see their improvement over the winter put into practise. It is a team effort, and I am greatful to my grooms who look after the horses both at home and at the events….
Looking forward to the next few events!
