2007 SENIOR TEAMS ARCHIVE

BRC National Championships 2007 - Lincoln

I have really enjoyed being part if the Riding Club teams this year. There seems to have been a record number of new members taking part, along with all the old regulars. The teams amazingly qualified for 4 championships this year, culminating with 2 teams and 2 individuals at Lincoln in the riding test and style jumping.
Fiona Smith did extremely well against hot competition to come 5th individually with Sam. I felt a little out of my depth in the Advanced test but Lucy (Oh So Sweet) tried her best and Amanda Atkinson and Angie Handley produced very useful tests and the team finished in a creditable 9th place.
The style jumping rules definitely need some work by the Riding Clubs office, as the competitor who managed a near perfect score for style and jumping had so many time penalties she did not get placed in the competition! Our style team managed a very respectable 19th out of 40 teams without the help of Daisy (Only a Dream) who found the Lincoln experience a bit mind blowing. Her way of coping was to try and get round the course as quickly as possible – not very conducive to getting lots of style points and I retired after being unable to turn into fence 4! The rest of the team, Abi Houghton, Angie Handley and Amy Griffin were very understanding.
The evening before the competition the teams and supporters got together to BBQ and chat. Simon Handley, long suffering, but staunch team supporter perked up considerably on the production of some peach brandy supplied by Pam Walker’s better half. I have never seen him that enthusiastic about watching the dressage! The team spirit (non-alcoholic) has been great all year and I am sure the reason our teams have done so well is because of the help and support we give to each other and receive from the team managers and supporters.
Diane Johnson

Blenheim: Senior SJ Teams

(Gemma & Hakuna Matata, Jill & Miss Marple, Maddie & Handcross, Nicky & Abbey)

We all got there at 8.30am and walked the course and then got our horses ready as we were the second team to jump. Jill Smith & Miss Marple was in first for us and had two stops at the first jump and then went on until the fourth jump where Miss Marple stopped again and was eliminated. Maddie Uren & Handcross went second and had a great clear round, I was so pleased for her. Gemma Townsend & Hakuna Matata (Simba) was not so good this year and had 12 faults. And finally Nicola Page & Abby started well then came to a stand still at the water tray jump. They jumped it at the second attempt, but finished the round 4 jumping faults and 5 time faults.
We carried 21 faults into the second round, but sadly Miss Marple wasn’t having one of her better days and had two early stops and another towards the end of the course, so that meant she was eliminated again. Maddie and Handcross were really on good form and had another great round. Gemma went in again, but Hakuna Matata didn’t feel right at all and ended up with 12 faults again. Nicola and Abby improved on their first round, jumping clear. As always we had a fantastic crowd to cheer us on, so Many Thanks to the team and everyone who came along to support us.
Bev Townsend
PS. We had the back chap out on Friday to check Simba and it turned out he had done his back in and had a bad tummy as well. So at least we know why he wasn’t himself.

Area 18: Senior Novice & Intermediate Show Jumping and Style Jumping

The Style team of Di, Angie, Abi and Amy came first, with Di also coming first as an individual and Angie 5th. The Novice red team of Amy, Simon, Becky and Clare were 3rd. The Intermediate team of Jill, Mel, Maddie and Louise came 9th with Jill 3rd, Amy 4th and Mel 5th. So I think they all had a good day! Thanks to everyone who took part on behalf of the riding club and it would be great to get even more people coming forward to take part at the team events next year. It would be nice to add a few new faces to the teams as well as these oldies!
Bev Townsend
PS The photographs from this event are available to view at www.hoof-pix.com

BRC National Championships: Senior Novice Horse Trials

(Photos left to right: Houdini's Odyssey - surveying the view from the stables, Sue & Boaty - coming down to land, Diane & Lucy in deep discussion with Karen)

BRC must be congratulated for holding their nerve and running three days of competition at Offchurch. Severe flooding had decimated the venue, so the ground staff and technical adviser must have worked very hard, to have the ground safe and jumpable.
Waterboatman once again, did a super dressage and although the show jumping wasn't good, such was the dressage score, Sue and him were still in with a fighting chance. Karen did a good dressage and then snuck off and show jumped early! The rest of us stood about waiting in vain, eventually realising she had come and gone – clear! Diane & Oh So Sweet were very harshly marked (I thought), in the dressage, with the judge stating that the first give and retake of reins was not performed. Odd that because I did see them do it, but such is dressage! It was getting very tense by the time Oh So Sweet entered the show jumping. We all held our breath, and apart from one little rattle at fence two, she jumped beautifully to go clear. Abi started off with a good dressage and jumped well for just an unlucky fence down in the show jumping. So they were in a good position with the cross country to come the following day.
The following day I was bored brainless fence judging a very insignificant jump towards the end of the course - fence 5 was the one having all the action! Sue and Waterboatman were not quite so boring though, with Boatie nearly jumping Sue off! Abi did a lovely clear with no time penalties, to finish in 5th place individually in their section. Well done to them. Diane & Oh So Sweet jumped immaculately, but annoying had time penalties on the roads & tracks, which we think was caused by the Vet at the end of Phase A, holding Diane up before she had gone through the flags. Despite my queries with the relevant people, the result stood, with Diane losing 4th place. Karen had a more exciting time, but JJ took exception to a couple of fences. Such are horses!
Many thanks once again to Chief Cook & Bottle Washer, Paul, who kept everyone well supplied with food and drink all weekend. Thanks also to Gemma Townsend and Angie Handley who came along to help and support Abi.
I will not be organising the teams next year and I would therefore like to thank all 15 members who took part at the area qualifier this year. In the past five years we have had teams and/or individuals at four Horse Trials Championships. I think that it is quite an achievement. We have gone in a few short years, from having very few members doing the Horse Trials to now having an abundance of riders capable of competing at National level, so I hope we can keep this going in the future.
Barbara Edmonds

Area 18: Senior Novice, Intermediate & Open Horse Trials 2007

(L to R) Hakuna Matata, Diane & Oh So Sweet, Angie & Our Martine and Waterboatman (looking handsome!)
Photos taken by - Barbara Edmonds

HORSE TRIALS QUALIFIER: Once again it was a busy day at this year’s Area qualifier at Stanway, with nearly 200 entries. We sent a record of 3 Novice teams and 2 Novice individuals, plus 1 Intermediate. It wasn't possible to see everyone compete all sections on the day, which I apologise for now, but the score board speaks for itself. Most seemed to have a very good day indeed!
I have to say I really did not think the WORC could emulate last years results, which just goes to prove what do I know! I agonized endlessly about the placing of each rider, in what would have been four teams, one of which was unfortunately reduced to two individuals by the competition day and I was truly sorry that you could not all qualify.
It was very good to see Waterboatman, after the trauma of last year, back enjoying himself and again doing a fabulous dressage test. Midge once again produced another sterling performance and now will hopefully be taking part in her fourth Horse Trials Championship. Diane & Oh So Sweet, seems to be getting faster with age, no sooner having set off than they seemed to be home. Captain Black was foot perfect on the cross country, with Karen as usual timing it to perfection. Likewise with Gemma & Hakuna Matata who went equally well and if they do not qualify next year I will be more than a little surprised. Though this will have to be in the Intermediate or Open class, as they are now competing and doing well at BE Pre-Novice.
The sixth placed WORC Green team, all proved what super jumpers they are, all doing double clears and with a bit of a polishing up on the dressage, and a few more miles per hour on the cross country they are my tip for going all the way next year.
I was very pleased that Maddie and Handcross were back doing area competitions, after Handcross's trailer accident. I suspect that it's been a hard haul for your horse Maddie, so all credit to you both. Amanda started the year with a real baby horse, and must be delighted how well Clover has come on in that time.
I would also like to thank Nicola Simpson & Shelley Stockford, who I believe volunteered to fence judge for the cross country (possibly with some of our others members?)
Once again well done everyone, and congratulations to our winning team.
Barbara Edmonds

Area 18: Senior Novice & Open Hunter Trials (2006)

AREA 18 HUNTER TRIAL (2006): The re-scheduled 2006 Area Hunter Trials took place on Sunday 13th
May at Trench Farm, Winterbourne, Nr. Bristol. It’s a long drive and we had hardly parked and declared before the sky darkened and large black clouds appeared. The team was Sue Odom & Waterboatman, Diane Johnson & Oh So Sweet, Angie Handley & Our Martine and Lisa Edmonds & Midge. Novice Individuals were Gemma Townsend & Hakuna Matata, Clare Aitkenhead & Karenza Free Spirit and Open Individuals were Caroline Young & Noble Charles and Jill Smith and Miss Marple (Jade).
Sue and I managed to finish the hunter trial dry and clear although I managed to technically eliminate myself by jumping an open fence (we are all making a habit of this)! By the time Angie and Lisa went it was pouring with rain and the course had become very muddy and slippery. The team horses were brilliant and all jumped clear and finished in 3rd place, with Ma doing her best time. Midge couldn’t wait to start and caprioled out of the start box at speed but Lisa managed to keep her steady which was sensible with the ground deteriorating by the minute. The course caused a lot of trouble in various places the last fence was Concorde’s nose section –
very narrow and very white, which caused the most run outs but there were stops at the coffin, the water and the owl hole. Gemma had a stop into the water and Clare ran out at the last fence (Clare was also technically eliminated more than likely jumping an open fence)! Caroline decided not to compete but Jill was very brave and had a go, she was eliminated at the coffin but managed to complete the course. I did feel sorry for Kingsleaze Riding Club who were all so pleasant and extremely well organised and incredibly
wet at the end of the day but they were still smiling!
If you would like to take part in 2007 Area Hunter Trial teams please let me know by sending a completed Senior team application form and a copy of your up to date flu vac.
Diane Johnson

BRC National Championships: Senior Novice Indoor Show Jumping 2007

We all had an early start on the 14th April and arrived to start the competition at 8.30am. All of the team members walked the course, which didn’t look at all inviting. It was designed so that you really had to ride the corners and keep your head to stop you from jumping the wrong fence. The first team of the whole day was our yellow team - Louise King was first in and she jumped really well, ending up with just four faults which was a credit to Louise who looked in pain because she had only just had pins taken out of her knee the previous Tuesday. Angie Handley was the next for us and she was going great, but just knocked the last one. Michelle Raleigh ended up with 12 faults and Gemma Townsend just tapped a pole and it rolled off! So the yellows carried forward a score of 12 into the second round.
For the blue team, Amy Griffin was the first to go and she ended up with 15 faults. Lisa Edmonds had a great round and managed our first clear. Diane Johnson (very uncharacteristically) came off and was not allowed to finish the round – not a happy bunny. And Amanda Atkinson, who was drafted in to make up the team had a brilliant round and also finished clear. So the blues had 15 faults to carry forward.
We all took our horses back to the trailers and washed them down a waited for the second round to start. At 12.30 pm we could walk the course and it looked even worse than the first round, but actually flowed better, though it still took some good riding.
Louise was the first one in again - a great round this time for her ended up with a well deserved clear. Angie had 4 faults but still came out smiling, as always. Michelle Raleigh tried really hard and was so disappointed to end on 26 faults, but it’s taking part and gaining the experience that counts at the end of the day. Gemma enjoyed the second round more, but ended up with 4 faults, making a team total of 20 which put them 13th overall.
Amy improved on her first round performance, finishing on 4 faults; Lisa Edmonds had 8 faults; Diane completed her round with 16 faults and Amanda Atkinson started off well then ended up with 12 faults. Collectively, the blues scored 39 points. The competition had 22 teams that took part and I think it was a great achievement to even get to the championships. We all had a great day, though it was very hot for the horses and riders. WELL DONE ONCE AGAIN AND THANK YOU ALL!
Bev Townsend

Area 18: Senior Novice Indoor Show Jumping 2007

I am sorry for the people who couldn’t take part for one reason or another, which meant some last minute team changes. For this event we had quite a mix of horses and riders - some were completely new to team events, some had new horses, some had progressed from juniors to seniors and some were just new to the SJ teams. We all got there for about midday and walked the course ready to get started at 1.30pm. Our first team member to go in was Amanda Atkinson on Witney Four Leaf Clover and they had just 4 faults. Sue Odom on Goldstream (many thanks Sue for coming in at the very last minute for me), ended up with 4 faults and 19 time penalties, so a total of 23 faults. Stacey Griffin on Diamond Darren was eliminated, but thank you for coming forward and taking part.
Our second team to go was Amy Griffin on Midnight Meg, Lisa Edmonds on Midge and Diane Johnson on Only a Dream who all had good clear rounds.

(L to R: 'The winning team' - Diane, Lisa & Amy/Midnight Meg)

So that just left our third team who was Louise King on Fred Astaire, Angie Handley on Our Martine, Michelle Raleigh on Honeymoon Shamu and Gemma Townsend on Hakuna Matata. They all went clear too.
Because there were 27 teams taking part this year, we then had 4 hours to wait before we went back into jump our second rounds. Amanda Atkinson went in and improved on her 4 faults with a nice clear round, Sue decided to retire, so didn’t go in and Stacey was eliminated again, but never mind it was good experience.
The next team to go was Amy, Lisa and Diane who all had great rounds again. Our final team of Louise, Angie, Michelle and Gemma also did well with only 4 faults between them, so discarding the 4 faults meant they were clear too!
Once the second round was over, there were eleven teams to jump off against the clock in the third round. The jumps were put up a bit higher and the doubles were pulled out as well to make it a little bit harder for all. Amy, Lisa and Diane were the second team to jump off, all of them had good rounds but they ended up with 4 faults. Then it was our next team of Louise, Angie, Michelle and Gemma who had a great try, but ended up with 4 faults as well! We then had the longest wait while the remaining seven teams tried to better our 4 faults and fast times! The results were announced and we had hung on to 1st and 2nd place so we are going to the Championship in April - WELL DONE TEAMS!!!
Many thanks to everyone who took part as well as the mums, dads, granddads, hubbies, boyfriends and children who came along with the teams to support them. It was a very long day for everyone who left home at 10am and didn’t get back until 11pm.
Bev Townsend

(L to R: 'A close second' - Louise/Fred Astaire, Gemma/Hakuna Matata, Michelle/Honeymoon Shamu & Angie/Our Martine)