REPORT
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Eventers Challenge, Redlands |
4th October 2009 |
The final
competition at Redlands this year was the Eventers’ Challenge, a combination of show
jumping and cross-country riding sponsored by Dunton Green based Allways Couriers.
The show run
by Sevenoaks Riding Club in aid of the Bradbourne Riding for the Disabled Group made
£200. First Aid provider Peter Barnes generously reduced his usual fee in support of the
charity.
There were
three classes, Junior and Senior Novice at 2ft 9in and Open at 3ft. Each class started
with a twisty course of five show jumps, including a double, then on to the cross-country
jumps and finishing with a further set of show jumps on grass.
The
competition was judged on closeness to the optimum time with 4 seconds added for a
knock-down. No one equalled the time or went too fast.
Errors of
course led to elimination for more than one rider but they were at least able to finish
their rounds, as were those eliminated for refusals.
No such
problems hindered Alice McCready and Reckless Ruby, who had a perfect round on a time of
2.17; just 15 seconds outside the optimum time. Second place went to Jess Dennett and
Minnie, who had only decided to enter on the day.
Sarah
Crookenden, winner of Senior Novice class, had come close to losing her horse Teddy
earlier this year but the skill and perseverance of vets at the Bell Equine Clinic saw him
make a full recovery and it is great to see him on form again.
Grandmother,
Janet Phillips, is willing to admit to rather more years than the forty which put her in
the South East Eventers League’s veteran section. This didn’t slow her down as
she and Silvern Conetta won the Open class with a clear round just five seconds outside
the testing optimum time.
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