Gosling Cup and Area 8 70cm Eventing Qualifier

For the 70 cm Essex and Suffolk had 2 teams :

Blue

Ella Aldous

Mia Pearson

Antonia Gorbitz

Red

Daisy Cave

Poppy Anley

Tatiana Hotham

Emilia Ward

Charlie Rutland rode as an individual in the 70 plus class.

Sadly Daisy’s pony was off games (get well soon Calvin!) so both teams just 3 riders.

They all produced some lovely dressage tests receiving some super comments. Both teams had some super clear SJ rounds from Poppy, Tatiana, Mia and Ella. The XC proved to be the rather more challenging part! But very well done to Charlie and Tati for completing the course and Tati for her 6th place which has gained her a qualification to the Championships at Aston Le Walls in August.

Essex and Suffolk had one Gosling cup team as well as Jemma Caley and Halle Milton riding as individuals.

The criteria for the Tack and Turn out had been relaxed this year, however all team members looked incredibly smart with particularly beautiful tails thanks to Emily Butler who came to lend a hand, working wonders on their tails! With the glorious British Summer our tack and turnout was done in torrential rain!! But all riders and parents managed to keep their sense of humour and quickly rung out their clothes in time for the dressage.

The whole team rode excellently and a particular well done to Grace Hotham for her brilliant dressage score of 26.04 which was the winning score in her group, that combined with her faultless SJ and XC meant she came overall 1st in her group as well.

Next up was the team ride, the actual team hadn’t all been able to practise together before the day due to the Gosling cup taking place earlier than usual and during term time. However they did a great job, they had a practise on foot expertly lead by Nicki & a ridden practise before taking to the ring.

The team all had very impressive clear Show Jumping rounds which they came joint 1st. Halle also had a lovely clear round and just 1 unlucky pole for Jemma.

The final part of the competition was the XC. A super, well dressed course and for the team the Gosling Gate (a gate that needs to be open and shut while mounted within 60 seconds) which caused no problems for our riders. It wasn’t Amelia’s day on the XC course with her horse getting slight stage fright at the occasion! But some other super rounds with just a few faults picks up by the team and individuals.

In the individual class Jemma came 4th and Halle 2nd.

All riders did our branch of the Pony Club proud and were a wonderful support for each other showing incredible team spirit.

Huge thanks need to go to Suffolk Hunt Pony club for hosting such a wonderful event, all the hard work to make it happen really showed and was much appreciated.

Also to our own Gosling swat team, made up of Mary, Nicky and Wendy, whose incredible support and help made it such an enjoyable occasion.

At the end of the day ‘The Gosling’ was handed over to Puckeridge Hunt Pony club who will be hosting it next year.

Many thanks to Cat Anley for the write up!