Tattersalls CCI***

Last week I was out in Ireland at Tattersalls with High Havoc doing the CCI*** High Havoc went very well and did a lovely test. He had an early draw which is never the best, but BB stayed very relaxed and did his best test at this level, he missed one change which was a shame. He scored 51 which was good enough to leave us in sixth place going into the cross country.

The cross country was big and bold, with a lot of ditches!! Below is fence seven, I named it the Vicarage Vee!!

BB flew round the cross country giving me a great ride. We had nine time faults, which was a shame, but I played it safe coming off a bank down to a corner and put a circle in which cost us the time. This dropped us down to 11th, but I was thrilled with how he went.

BB trotted up very well on Sunday morning and definitely wasn't feeling the effects of Saturday. He then jumped an immaculate clear in the show jumping and probably produced the best round he has done to date. This was good enough to move us up to 10th place which was a great finish to a brilliant week.

Mount Ballan

I had Persimmon in the Novice. He was a little star again and did a 29 test, to be very well placed after this phase. He then had one down which was a shame as he has been so careful all season, but he felt a little tired as he has been quite busy recently. He was super cross country and jumped a lovely clear to finish 3rd.

Check out Persimmon jumping through the water at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_kt_MrtszU

                                                   Persimmon @ Mount Ballan
I also had Eros Moon, he was competing in the BE100. He went brilliantly and did a 28 in his dressage to be placed very well. He then went on to jump a fantastic double clear to win!! This was his first win eventing, which he really deserved as he tries so hard all the time and has been very consistent all year.

Watch Eros Moon through the sunken road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRnZDdMi568

Tweseldown

I had two rides at Tweseldown in the NRF this was with Zidante and Ballingowan Diamond. Both went superbly keeping there very impressive records up. Zidante did a lovely test to lead and score 25 Ballingowan Diamond was not far behind though scoring 31, they both rolled one pole which was unlike them, but none the less jumped well.

They were both fantastic cross country and gave me great rides. Zidante won, her third win on the trot!! And Ballingowan Diamond finished just behind her in second!! They are both now qualified for the Novice Championships at Gatcombe now which is fantastic.

Sorry no pictures, Ben was at work!!

Aston Le Walls

I have been at Aston Le Walls for the last for the last three days. On Thursday I had General Opposition and Bee Animas doing the Open Intermediate, General Opposition went very well and was much happier on the slightly softer ground. Nigel Taylor had done a fabulous job watering, which was very much appreciated especially by Herbie!! He did a good test and a lovely double clear, but didn't go too quickly so finished just out the placings.

Bee Animas also went very well, he produced the best test in his section to score 25 and then also jumped a great double clear and was much more settled than at Burnham Market. Again we didn't go too quickly and also finished just out of the placings.

I had Ballingowan Diamond and Starlight there on the Friday. Starlight was competing in the Intermediate, she was rather full of herself and didn't score as well as she could getting a 35. She then unfortunately had two down, again just from being too fresh, she hasn't run since Gatcombe as she has been waiting for better ground. We didn't run cross country as it was still a little too firm for her.

Ballingowan Diamond was in the Novice and went really nicely. He scored a 31 in the dressage then jumped a beautiful double clear to finish 2nd!!

Back to Aston again on Saturday this time I had Persimmon there in the Novice. He to went well and scored a 27 in the dressage then jumped a great double clear. After his little miss understanding at Hambelden we just went steady cross country, but he jumped really confidently and finished just out the placings.

Hambelden

This weekend I was at Hambelden with Amsterdam doing the BE100, Persimmon doing the Novice and Zidante in the Intermediate. Amsterdam did a nice test but lacked a bit of concentration at times. He then jumped a lovely clear show jumping and felt much more groan up than at his first event Broadway. The cross country didn't quite go according to plan, he jumped very well and again had come on from his first run but had a silly run out when he miss understood and double of angled logs but he finished very well.

Persimmon did a lovely test to be in second place on a 27, he then also jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping and really enjoyed being in a bigger more impressive arena!! Unfortunately the cross country again didn't go quite so well. He was jumping a lovely round and going very well round a tough course, but completely misunderstood the second water. He is quite green at this level so we have had a little recap and been cross country schooling this week where he was great and jumped in and out the water as happy as larry!!

Zidante was a little superstar again and saved a slightly frustrating and disappointing weekend. She did a phenomenal test to lead on a score of 18!! Then jumped a foot perfect double clear to win her second Intermediate on the trot.

                                                     Zidante winning the Intermediate

Withington Advanced

Due to the very dry weather that we have been having and the firm ground I only ran one of my four Advanced entries, this was High Havoc. The others all being saved for another day (once it has rained!!) as none of them love the firm ground.

High Havoc really redeemed himself this weekend after a disappointing time out in Compiegne. He was doing the CCI*** dressage test and performed a good solid test. He missed one of his changes and his halts weren't as polished as they could be, so plenty of room for improvement. He scored a very competitive 32 (67%) He then went on to jumped a lovely polished double clear to finish 3rd. Watch High Havoc through the water and over the 2nd last combination that caused a lot of run outs. Please click on the links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS0Hrc7mAP8

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgzvzatGMz4