A local one for once…just a trip to Dorchester but since the original 2 days competition had been shoe horned into just Sunday it meant a fairly leisurely start as the BE 90 classes ran first up.
The BE 100 horses ran in the morning and Jonelle’s trio of young horses all stepped up to their third event with enthusiasm! Plenty of rain has fallen in the UK this July so great footing and it was Faerie Good Golly who won the dressage this time around with a very impressive 21.5. Jonelle had said that she had upped the flatwork tools this week and whilst Golly wasn’t entirely sure she was happy with the new expectations the judge certainly appreciated it. Illico de l’Esques (Nico) did his usual smart test for a 25 and J’Orange (Daisy) had her own opinions to voice for a 31.5 which was something of a compromise!
Tim and Faerie Usain (Maude) slotted in the middle with a 28.3 which is an ever improving score and as they headed over to the showjumping which is held on the all weather at Moreton there was a bit of pressure on Jonelle to maintain her lead. Sure enough Golly jumped an immaculate clear which Daisy, Nico and Maude all did as well which is gratifying at this stage of their training.
And then all four young horses excelled them selves with clear rounds inside the time cross country. Although Golly did actually pick up 0.4 of a time fault for going too quick which certainly proves she is her mothers daughter! As Jonelle says, she doesn’t have Molly’s (Classic Moet) gallop yet but she is definitely a better jumper! It was a great first win for them and with Nico in 4th, Maude in 9th and Daisy in 10th spot a seriously good day for Team Price who don’t always have such smooth sailing with their policy of training youngsters on the job!
Then it was the tun of the novices who had dressage in the late morning and waited all day for the jump phases. Jonelle and EG Tiger Chilli (Lily) posted a 32 whilst Tim and Priorspark Royal Riff Raff (Rafi) were sitting on 30.5 and The Highlander ( Ivar) a natty 26.8.
Lily and Ivar jumped clear whilst Rafi just tipped a pole in the showjumping. Three more great rounds cross country followed with all three not picking up a time fault and Ivar taking the win with Tim for a double celebration day.
And then what turned out to be a treble celebration day as Sean Duffy and Kinsale Oltaire (Phoebe) took out the Open Novice Under 18 class with a 23.8 dressage, a rail and a clear in time cross country! Impressive stuff and well deserved, thanks to Moreton especially as they accepted and slotted in a late entry and that was much appreciated.
Not sure what the locals think about the raiders from NZ who keep popping up in Dorset and Cornwall and snaffling the wins but it’s very good for team morale! This crew have a bit of a mini break now while it’s back to the big boys and girls and they resume their careers in about a months time. By which time we hope that summer will have returned as cool, wet and horribly windy is not what is called summer in my book.