Hi everyone

Update on the first two competitions of the Area Calender 2010.

Area Novice Indoor SJ

This took place at Hartpury College on Sunday 21st February.  Snow was forecast (no surprise there this winter!) and the competition was in doubt but Frampton Riding Club held their nerve and the foreacasted blizzard did not happen and we all trekked of to Hartpury to do our stuff.  We had two teams of 4, Margaret, Di, Sabrina and Anna and Ali J, Nick, Wendy and Steph.

After the first round which was held in the smaller Indoor arena and was a pretty tight course with some spooky fillers we had 7 clears rounds out of 8 which is pretty impressive!  The second round took place in the massive Hartpury International arena and the jumps looked mighty far apart and spaced out - not much worry about striding anything out, just point and aim!  Anna had taken her young horse and it all proved a bit much and subsequently she found out back problems were there too so she didn't jump in the second round, but the Magnificent Seven went out to do battle and all jumped clear with the exception of just a pole down for Di.

There were 5 teams who qualified on a double clear for the timed jump off and our team (Ali J, Nick Webb, Wendy Robinson and Steph Vincent) were 3rd to go.  We finished on 4 faults and were placed third overall out of 24 teams who started.  Two teams qualified and we just missed qualifying by 3 hundreths of a second!  Our other team finished in 7th position and Ali James and Archfield Calypso finished 5th individually so well done to her.  It was a brilliant day and v exciting for the watchers if somewhat nerve wracking, we had good support and a lovely atmosphere amongst our teams who all rode really stylishly and believe me there were a lot who didn't, so well done to all. Also many thanks to Sue Holloway who supported and helped the teams in the warm up area.

Area Novice Indoor Dressage

This took place again at Hartpury College, the following weekend Saturday 27th February.  We again entered two teams, with two members riding Horse Trials 12 and two riding Novice 25.  Teams were Margaret, Sabrina, Karen Brighton and Becky Felton and Wendy Robinson, Viv Bell, Hollie Clarke and Emma Harrington.  I must say first of all that if there had been a prize for best turned out I think we would surely have won, everyone looked immaculate and I was so proud of you all!  The tests were ridden in the International arena in side by side arenas and the atmosphere was the downfall of many, many horses during the day.  We watched all kind of spooking and bucking and stage fright.  It was a big test of nerve for horse and rider.  All of ours coped really well and Margaret conjured a lovely test out of Carlin who, as we all know, can really cut some stuff when she chooses to but she had her angelic hat on for her test (Margaret has put much work into the mare leading up to the day and it really paid off).  Sabrina is one of our star dressage riders and produced a v polished Novice 25 test on Max.  Becky Felton must be mentioned as I remember a couple of years ago when she did her first Mercian walk and trot test and was quite convinced a Welsh cob could not 'do dressage' and he came in to the big arena and grew a couple of hands and we wondered if he might throw teddies out, but she and he kept their cool and he did a lovely test and came 9th in his arena.  Margaret and Sabrina were 5th in their arena.  Let me tell you there were 35 teams entered and our team of Margaret, Sabrina, Becky and Karen came 2nd!!!!!

We were absolutely gobsmacked, had no expectation of such a good placing and were so thrilled when it was announced.  The other team were not placed but did really calm tests and looked fantastic.

Unfortunately due to some peculiar British Riding club rule only 1 team qualified for the Championships out of an entry of 35 teams which seems ridiculous and I have sent off a letter to BRC asking them to explain how they can justify this but still - hey we did good!   We had a lot of non riding supporters, Jan Rogers, Ali and Kirsten James and Vicky Watkins and of course Hollie and Emma's mums so thank you to all of them.

Next event is Eventers Challenge at the end of March and we have our Mercian /Area get together on March 2nd at Talbot, Knightwick so come along to that.

Alli Haynes

BDRC Area Rep