A beautiful sunny Saturday in France and Jonelle had a good morning with her two horses. Fernhill Kankan jumped what Jonelle described as “a beautiful round” in the 4S show jumping and that was enough to pull her up from 19th into 11th position before cross country tomorrow.
Full Monty de Lacense (FM) took a few attempts to tick the 3S box and this was his first crack in an interrupted season at the 3L level. He started off looking bright, contemplated parking up early on but then his conscience pricked and he decided to make a proper job of it. His start meant that Jonelle was hunting the clock a bit on the way home but they crossed the line for just 1 second over time and that has pulled them up into 17th spot going into tomorrows showjumping. Jonelle was delighted with him and although the end of the season has come way to soon for him it bodes well for next year.
Tim had a cracker of a ride on Dromgurrihy Gold (Dara) in the 3L. Jonelle rode him here last year in the 2S and he seems very happy to be back on French soil again! Dara did his first 3L at Mallow in July but Tim said he was a different horse here, really soft and adjustable, a super gallop which Dara is starting to love to do and with his long legs was someday always going to find. It’s been a fact finding season for Tim and Dara but they seemed a really exciting partnership for the future at the end of the cross today and Tim was fun of praise for him. They have pulled up into 7th from 12th so no bad effort.
Priorspark Royal Riff-Faff (Raffi) had a bit of a surprise in the 2S showjumping as Tim said it was a really decent track, much more like an intermediate than a novice and certainly Raffi’s biggest test to date. He said he made a valiant effort for 2 rails as he was definitely outside his comfort zone and he impressed Tim as he gave it his all and got through the finish flags. He will have learnt allot today!
Cosby Green rode Jo Pidduck’s Cooley Seeing Magic (Guthrie) to a super clear in time in the 3L to move up into 14th and then piloted her own Highly Suspicious (Puff) to a superb clear in time in the 4L to move up to 2nd place. Cosby and Puff had an unfortunate parting of ways at the end of the first water crossing at Blenheim so have re routed to Lignieres and to be sitting behind Michi Jung and the legend that is FischerChipmunk is pretty impressive.
So a good day for all and a good day for New Zealand as Clarke Johnstone leads the 4S and the 3L. Happy Days!