BRC Horse Trials National Championships Junior Finals 2008 - 08 Aug by Emily Greenwood

Click here for a photo of the team

Click here for a photo of Abbie winning her section

It was with great excitement that we set off for Offchurch in Warwickshire for the Riding Club Junior Novice Horse Trials Championships.

Making up our team was Josh Hill on Fleetwood Factotum, Abbie Lloyd on Jack of Diamonds, Fiona Lewis on The Irish RM and myself on Seafield Dynamite.  Flo Harriss also joined the party on Kurumba,  having qualified as an individual.  We all arrived on Thursday afternoon, stabled our horses and walked the XC course which was up to height (2'9-3') and had one or two technical questions and was a fair Championship test.  That evening we all went out to eat at a fab local pub. 

The day of the competition finally arrived, first to go was Josh, who did a beautiful dressage test with a very good score of 27.9.  My test was not up to its normal standard as Daisy was a little unsettled, scoring 41.  Fiona, Abbie and Flo all did good tests scoring in the 30's.Next came the show jumping where we all jumped clear.

On to the XC and Josh was our pathfinder and came home just having had a glance off at a very technical combination and some time penalties finishing on 68.3, 17th in his arena.Daisy lives for the XC and eat the course up, unfortunately way too fast giving me 8.4 time penalties for too fast and a finishing score of  49.5, placing me 11th in my arena. Fiona jumped a lovely clear round with just 9.6 time penalties, finishing on 45.3  and coming 6th in her arena. Abbie had a very adventurous round, having been stopped just before the first water due to an accident further around the course.  Abbie and Jack took this all in their stride and came home clear within the time finishing on 33.7 and fantastically winning their arena! Flo's horse took a dislike to the double of chairs in the water meadow and unfortunately span round, to pick up 20 penalties.  He then went on to finish the course beautifully. 

Our team was placed 3rd overall which was a brilliant result and we had the fun of doing mounted prize giving, where Daisy got a little excited and thought she was going to go XC again!

We did so well considering Abbie and Jack are a new combination and Jack is only 5 years old. Josh was I believe the youngest competitor on the oldest horse (23), Fleetwood Factotum having been to this competition with Josh's mum and nan!

We now all can't wait for the Summer Champs at Lincoln where Flo, Josh and I have all qualified and Abbie is joining us as reserve for what is guaranteed to be another fun packed adventure.

Emily Greenwood