On Sunday we had a super group of Flamstead representatives at the South Herts & West Middlesex PC Dressage, SJ and Combined Training at Bury Farm.
It was predominantly a day of firsts – first time out for some new Members, several new ponies and quite a few members trying new heights or new disciplines. As always the children were super supportive of each other, watching and encouraging each other’s rounds (and sharing chips in the cafe!)
The day started well with the 50cm team of Euan, Jess, Mollie and Mia taking 1st spot with individual 4th for Euan, 5th for Jess and 9th for Mollie.
The 40cm was later in the morning which allowed a couple of our younger members to sneak in their first dressage tests. Congratulations Lilly-May and Maddy for doing lovely tests. Team 40 then flew into 2nd spot with amazing Jess 1st, Mia 3rd, Molly 7th and Euan 8th.
Unusually, we only had 2 representatives in the 60. New member Molly and her lovely pony Strawberry had a lovely round and established combination Flora and Elvis jumped a beautiful clear. This combination went on to have a hugely successful day with a second clear in the 70 and a cracking dressage score of 67% to finish 6th in the 70 Combined Training.
Flora was joined in the 70 by Liv and Jemima who both rode beautifully, with Jemima jumping a lovely clear and just missing out on the individual placings.
The 80cms class was full up with some tricky fences and lines but was bravely tackled by Annie Neil, Amy Vale, Rory Laing, Jemima Hunnisett, Erin Neale, Maya Thon, Cassie Osman and Lyra Deeks. Flamstead rode well, with clears from Annie Neil , Amy Vale and Rory Laing. Jemima, Rory, Amy and Erin won Flamstead a Team 3rd and Annie, Molly. Lyra and Maya won Flamstead a Team 4th.
The Grassroots PC 80 2018 Dressage was ridden by 5 really smart Flamstead rider and horse combinations with Cassie and Clooney, Rory and Roxy, Holly and Henry, Jemima and Tamarisk and Maya and Ricky all entered. We proudly obtained mega high scores with Rory and Roxy riding into individual 2nd place with 71.25%, Holly and Henry 3rd with 70.21%, Maya and Ricky 4th with 70.21%, Cassie on 4 yr old Clooney with 67.92% and Jemima Hunniset and Tamarisk 10th with 63.54%.
The Combined Training Class tests rider and horse in two disciplines and is great training for those out Eventing. Both Dressage and Show Jumping scores are added together for the final result. Rory Laing scored high in the dressage and pinged round the 80cms with a lovely clear which pushed him and Roxy into the lead to WIN the class and get a £20 Amazon voucher (which left rider and pony chuffed to pieces and was spent in the blink of an eye!). Maya Thon came 3rd on her first outing with her new horse – Ricky, and Jemima Hunniset and Tamarisk rode into individual 5th place.
The 90cms started late in the afternoon and Flamstead had 6 entries for this class, Erin Neale, Amy Vale, Annie Neil, Cassie Osman, Maya Thon and Lyra Deeks. Flamstead won Team 2nd with Maya, Annie, Cassie and Lyra with Erin coming individually 4th, Amy Vale and Larry 6th and Annie and Nellie with an unlucky pole at 9th. Special mention should be given to Amy and Larry who have worked so hard with their Show Jumping to go clear and savoured the results of that hard work this weekend. Welldone to them!
We only had one brave soul enter the largest height class of the day, the 1m and it was Erin Neale on her marvellous Grey mare. They are such an exciting combination to watch, being explosive yet careful together at Showjumping and had a truly unlucky pole which put them 4th individually in the class.
All in all, this show was a fantastic way to kick start Easter Show Jumping for Flamstead and Rosie and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the new families, the riders and their ponies and we really look forward to seeing many more out in the near future.
