© 2010 Cowdray Hunt Branch of the Pony Club
Our Mini Horse Trials team consisting of, Beverly Voller, Celeste Carbello, Jemima Taylor and Lucy Griffiths all headed up to Maidenhead in Berkshire to compete at the Berkshire Pony Club Mini Championships at the Berkshire College of Agriculture.
It was a very early start to travel all the way there as we had to walk the XC course and the SJ before 9am when we had to warm up for the Dressage.
Team spirits were high as we all felt the XC course was long and hilly but achievable with no major scary fences, (a big sigh of relief from all the mums!) so it was a dash to collect numbers and tack up for the Dressage.
All the team where riding their tests at the same time so it was hard to watch how every test went but I think everyone was pleased how their tests rode and well done to them all for remembering it!!
It was a quick turn around for the SJ phase as it was being held in the indoor school and it was quite a way from the trailers, so all the team disappeared to their trailers for tack alterations and then met up at the SJ warm up.
Jemima and Merlin were first to go,they have been training over coloured poles for the past few weeks as Merlin is a hunting pony. So it was a bit of a shocked to suddenly be in an indoor school, Merlin's eyes were on stalks. There wasn't enough time for Jemima to get Merlin used to being in this great big box with coloured fences in it and lots of people staring at him and unfortunately was eliminated. We all felt for Jammy as we all knew how hard she had trained for the day.
Beverly on Poppy were next to go and this combination are well established and rode a lovely clear round.
Lucy on Parsley entered next. Lucy was the youngest competitor there at the Horse Trials and they are a fairly new combination. This was their first major event and I think Parsley got a little overexcited and forgot to listen to Lucy which resulted in a few run-outs which incurred an elimination. Lucy still smiled as she left the arena..... she won every-ones heart!
Celeste and Holly an experienced combination received 4 faults for knocking down a pole which was a shame as Celeste rode a lovely calm round.
The team were still allowed to go XC so another dash off to the trailers to change into XC colours etc and then on to the warm up.
The first five fences were proving to be the most difficult as all the ponies were napping back to the trailers and warm-up area. There were falls and eliminations so we had to get our team organised and make sure they were prepared for those fences. We changed the order of riders so that Jemima could follow Beverly. That seemed to work as they both flew over the fences. Beverly rode a clear and Jemima unfortunately had a couple of stops near the end of the course.
Lucy and Parsley had a few run outs during those first few fences but once under way had a lovely round,, followed by Celeste and Holly who had a stop at the water.
Although the team were not placed I hope they had a great time and learnt a lot.
Celeste and Holly were place 8th in their section, Beverly and Poppy were 1st in theirs.
Well done to you all as you all rode with equal determination and made your Team Manager proud!!!!
Clare Voller
MINI CHAMPIONSHIPS 30TH AUGUST 09