SMITH’S LAWN

Another early start for another 8am dressage! Think I need to have words with someone about timings……

This time it was the turn of Kevin Maple’s Ciceron de Buissy DDL, better known as Hugo, having his first run at BE100 level. His dressage is still a work in progress but he gave a reasonable performance for a mark of 33. The showjumping was super, around a tricky track in a rather small arena he jumped beautifully although I managed to pick up 2 time faults. The xc was a lovely track for his first time at this level and after a very, very hard look at the first which we just managed to scramble over, he managed to notch up a double clear. He is still pretty green but has oodles of scope and when more confident he will be super.

Also out, having his first run at BE100 since 2011, was Becky Rignalls’ Burntwood Sorrel, (Ginger) although according to his dressage sheet he is Burntwood Squirrel! Ginger was on top form and produced a lovely test for a mark of 26. He followed this up with a super double clear, adding just 1 time fault from the sj to finish in 2nd place on 27.

Although a 3 hour wait from the end of the sections to prize giving was somewhat tedious I was a little disappointed with the set up this year, although set in a beautiful location at Guards’ Polo Club and the new xc course is super, the dressage and sj were rather pushed to the edges. Watching the emerald green polo pitches being constantly watered all day whilst we were stuck on some pretty hard, dry ground was commented upon by many of the riders, which was a shame.