THANKYOU!!

I would like to say a BIG Thank You to all my sponsors, owners and support team for making this year so successful.

OWNERS:

Philip and Sarah Walker - GINGER MAY KILLINGHURST, FERNHILL CRISTAL, GI MASTER CASTER, MINIMEE
Jason Houghton - RAYEF
Lucy Sangster - MERE OAK
Simon and Mags Hope - MILLFIELD CONDESCEND
Kelly Ward - NOBLE BESTMAN
Denis and Sheila Collett - UNO DI LANDRO
The Vancouver Partnership - VANCOUVER
Anna Windsor-Clive - QUERIDO E
Nicky Betteridge - MY MEXICO
Cindy White - ROYAL HILARITY
Heather Butler - HUNTERS LEGEND

SPONSORS:

ARIAT
www.ariat.com
BARSNBY
www.barnsby.co.uk
HOLLAND COOPER CLOTHING (Fantastic to win Best Trot up outfit at Burghley CCI****!!!!)
www.hollandcooper.com
MAXAVITA
www.maxavita.com
PENTLAND LAND ROVER
www.pentland.landrover.co.uk
THE PURE FEED COMPANY
www.thepurefeedcompany.com
SPORTING SPIRITS
www.sportingspirits.co.uk
WALKER LOGISTICS
www.walkerlogistics.com
WESTGATE EFI
www.wefi.co.uk



SUPPORT TEAM:

Alex Van Tuyll - This year wouldn't have happened without Alex, she has driven me everywhere, held my hand through my first CCI**** (which can't have been pleasurable!!!) done all my entries, kept everyone up to date with emails, as well as being in charge of the yard!!

Mum - This year Mum has kept the show on the road at home whilst we have been away competing, she gets the horses ready for the events and ensures they are turned out beautifully! Mum has also been in charge of helping Grace Walker and Noble Springbok through their Pony Trials and was there when she won Team Gold and Individual Silver at the Pony European Championships.

Felicity Organ - Flick was working for us full time and then sadly left half way through the year to work closer to home, she very kindly agreed to cover the weeks we were away and ensured the horses were worked and the yard was kept immaculate!!

Everyone else who has helped along the way.... there are too many to mention but I am truely Grateful to you all!!!

Review of the year...

2010 has been full of ups and downs, as every season normally is in eventing!!!
The highlight for me was going clear round my first CCI**** at Burghley on GINGER MAY KILLINGHURST. This has been a lifelong dream, so to achieve this on my first attempt and on my 21st birthday was amazing! I have to say a special Thank You to Philip and Sarah Walker for buying me such a fantastic horse to have my first go on!!
Tattersalls was most definitely a low point in the year, I went with two very exciting 8 year olds (MERE OAK and FERNHILL CRISTAL) who I believed had a very good chance of battling it out between them for a CCI** win. They were 1st and 2nd after dressage but then disaster occurred on XC day!!
Both horses flew around their first CCI** until two fences from home where they both misread the step into water and both ended up upside down and drenched in water.... A very disappointing day as neither horse deserved to fall.
After this it was onwards and upwards (literally!!) as we made the long journey to Burgie, chasing qualification for the Young Rider European Championships!! The two 'water boys' were in the CCI** again and we made the journey worth while by taking NOBLE BESTMAN for the CIC* and MINIMEE for the CCI*.
MERE OAK had another nasty fall, but the others were fab, NOBLE BESTMAN AND MINIMEE both finished 2nd and Cristal got his qualification when he completed in 4th.
Cristal put the whole experience behind him and went on to win the final trial at Barbury, win a team gold medal at the European Championships, finish 8th individually and then jump double clear at his first CIC*** at Blenheim!
All the young horses have been ticking along all year and MILLFIELD CONDESCEND will be aiming for Le Lion D'anger next year!!

The most consistent horse on the yard this year has undoubtedly been NOBLE BESTMAN, out of his 15 runs this year he amassed 76 BE points, had a top 10 placing at 14 of these events and his lowest placing was 11th at the Novice Championships, which is where he had his only rail down this year!!! He also started at Pre-Novice level and ended winning the Under 21 CCI** Championships!


I achieved a personal best this year... not during eventing but during a fun class at Blenheim, the Eventers Puissance. Fun was had by all and as Mark Todd stripped down to just his breeches to win another 'life' I went for the bareback option and took my saddle off!! Approaching a 1m85 fence is terrifying enough as it is, let alone coming at it without a saddle!!! JITTERBUG was awesome and I got a real buzz doing it!!

Nearly end of season!

I have now finished eventing for 2010. However Wills and Grace are finishing this weekend.

The majority of the horses are on their well desreved holidays. We do have some youngsters that have recently been backed in work, They are learning the basics and the plan is to sell some over the Winter months.

As the end of the season approaches, it is time to catch up with the sponsors and ownwers to make plans for next year and to check everyone is happy. I am also approaching new companies with a view to sponsorship and even possible event horse ownwership. Fingers crossed! I also intend to go to ireland for the sales to see what is around and hopefully find some budding new stars for the future. Lets hope...

In the meantime, I am going on holiday and Mum and Wills are in charge....

FOR SALE

We have a few horses for sale. Ranging from 4yo to CCI*. If interested, please either email or text. More details and photos coming soon.

Querido E

I am very sad to announce that Anna and Thomas Windsor Clive's Querido E has been put down after sustaining a serious injury in the field. 'Tosh' was only bought this Spring and was progressing well in his first season eventing. It is a very sad loss and my thoughts go out to the Windsor Clives.

A good way to finish the season......

After a muddy week at Osberton I was not looking forward to the prospect of a muddy Weston Park...

Alex returned this morning after a long journey from the States via Leige in Belgium and within the hour was ready to go to Weston. Lorry loaded and we set off with my two, Noble Bestman and Minimee, and Wills, and his two. Much relief was had when we drove straight in and not a tractor in sight. As Philip was sponsoring the CCI*, we had allocated parking right at the front of the lorry park and directly opposite our stables... how lucky are we?!

Minimee trotted up on Wednesday afternoon and was fine. He had a light schooling session directly after trot up as he was doing dressage early on Thursday morning. Steve and Wills' two all trotted on Thursday as they are in the CCI**YR section, which does not start until Friday. Minimee did a very accurate test to gain a mark of 41.1 which left him at the top of the leader board until Piggy French came along! This was followed by a fantastic round across the country inside the time. We did hit the fence in the arena and nearly had a close experience with the soil but luckily we stayed upright! Coincendentally, this fence was sponsored by Walker Logistics, not a good look if I had hit the dust! On Sunday, after our early morning trot up, which Minimee took in his stride, I hastily walked the course in preperation for our round. As Piggy collected some time faults across the country we were in the lead, and I wanted no excuse for having any fences down. Minimee jumped the most superb round and sadly hit the rail going into the final combination, it came down and we lost our lead and slipped into third. Not a bad result but he did not deserve the rail at all, another day he will be a winner.

On Friday, Steve having been quite frisky and full of life, settled really well and got down to business. His test was very good and there is still room for more improvement but he scored 44.7 to head the young rider section. This was followed by an awesome double clear to win. My first and last win of 2010. I cannot wait to take Steve to a CCI*** next year, the aim being Bramham but over the Winter I need to find an owner who is willing to help pay his running costs.... Know anyone? Send them to see the supersonic STEVE, they won't regret it.

Wills did not have such a good day on Saturday when Fred decided that getting his feet wet was not for him, naughty Fred. Luckily for Wills, Orly was fab and flew round. A good weekend but lots to build on for next year for Wills and his horses. They are also having a well deserved rest before coming in to hone the schooling techniques....

Osberton

Mud, mud glorious mud.....

Not sure what else to say! We have survived and I owe the organisers and land owners of Osberton a massive thank you for continuing with the horse trials. The mud has been cleeaned away, the kit no longer smells, the washing machine still works and we're going to another three day tomorrow. Please make the sun shine!!!!

Mere Oak contesting his third CCI** of 2010 was for once not drawn 1st. A massive relief. He sailed through trot up and was even very cheeky with bucks and squeals thrown in for good measure! He did a 41.4 dressage on Thursday morning which left us in the lead until Mathew Wright and his more experienced If You Want II came into the arena and did a 38! However this was not going to be a dressage competition and the weather was dreadful and continues to rain constantly. The big, well built course definately caused some problems on Saturday and the ground conditiond were not great, but no worse than a good old fashioned hunting day. Sadly for me Jambi glanced off the corner and so it was 20 penalities. Very annoying andf i was disappointed with him as normally he is so straight and accurate. On Sunday he rolled one pole to finish 35th. Not a result I would like to finished the season on, but there will be all to play for next year now. Jambi now heads home to the Sangsters for his Winter holiday while plans will be discussed for the future.

Dassetts Courage aka Teddy was in the 6yo class and he managed to score 48.8. He was not as on the button as normal, but in his defence has probably never been in conditions such as those before. On Saturday he rolled one pole in the jumping but I was delighted with him. This was to be the finale for him as after the continual rain the remainder of his section was abandoned. He has no more entries this year so is on holiday for a couple of weeks then I will bring him up early to do some indoor jumping and dressage with him.

Outward Bound aka Buddy came on Friday to contest the 5yo class. It was seriously competitive. Buddy scored 33.3 and I was happy with him. We had an expensive rail down in the jumping and then flew round the xc to pick up 0.8 of a time fault. An overall good result for him and I wiah Sam and Fiona all the best with him in the future, I will be keeping watch for him.....

Weston here we come, plus Alex is back....

South of England

Having worked out the logistics of getting to Ardingly as Alex is away. Competing seemed like the easy bit! Pella (Wills' Mum), Will and I left for Ardingly showground at the crack of dawn, only to be greeted by a large queue on the M23. To say the lease we were not amused! The traffic was at complete gridlock and so the obvious thing to do was hop in the back and start plaiting. Meanwhile, as Will cannot plait, he was in charge of making breakfast. The aroma obviously waffed outside and soon we had people knocking on the door to ask if we'd sell some..... My new business venture?!

Finally we arrived with very little time to spare but we quickly swung into action. Steve did an ok test but initially was given a mark of 35, much to my disblief. Sadly later on it was altered to 52.8. It still left us in the lead but with very little leeway. As always, Steve jumped an immaculate double clear to finish 6th. Beated not only by Wills Goodhew..... he went like a rocket and I went like a snail in comparison. One day the results will be reversed!

Minimee, who was a late substiution, did a lovely test to score 22.3 but the show jumping was upto height and sadly he rolled 2 poles. I am not disappointed with him as recently I have hardly ridden him and so this was a hard task for him. I withdrew him from XC as it hardly seemed fair as his last run was a pre novice! All being well I hope to get a late entry in the CCI* at Weston Park with him.

Mark Ford kindly brought Get Up and Jump aka Lilly for Wills to ride. It was their first outing together and they did not disgrace themselves. The plan is for Wills to ride Lilly for the remainder of the season and then for her to be sold. For anyone interested please email me. Her details are:
GET UP AND JUMP... Bay mare 16.1hh 7yo. 10BE points.Clear xc Tattersalls CCI*.Clear xc in all intermediates. Needs to continue her training on the flat but machine xc... Scopey and will go on beyond junior and young rider level. I have owned her since 3yo.

We finally made it home on Sunday evening after a long weekend and various diversions due to traffic and road closures. Thank goodness for sat nav..... we would have been even longer otherwise!

On Wednesday, I head to Osberton with Mere Oak and Dassetts Courage. On Friday Mum and Fiona will bring up Outward Bound for the five yo class. The weather forecast look pretty dreadful so fingers crossed they have it wrong.....

Moreton Morrell

We took 'Outward Bound' aka Buddy and 'Dick Taytoe' aka Spud to Moreton Morrell. Buddy is a new short term ride for me as I am filling in for Sam Griffiths while he is away in WEG. He is qualified for the Lycetts 5 year old championship at Osberton next week, but being fair to everyone we have entered him here to get to know each other in a competition environment before we head to Osberton. He did a lovely smooth and fluent test to get 26 and followed that up with a double clear to win his section for the day. We could ask for more in our first appearance together.

Meanwhile Spud had returned from the Hopes' for me to ride in one more event while they decide what to do with him. Sadly this was not his day and he marred his test with a couple of mistakes and then rolled two poles in the show jumping and then to top it off had a glance off cross country. So after some discussions with all concerned it has been decided to retire Spud from eventing and let Millie focus on doing some dressage with him over the winter. I wish them all the best and think thry will both be very successful.

Updates....

Since Gatcombe I have been very slack at keeping everyone up to date with my news especailly since Alex is in WEG and I am fending for myself! So over the next few days I will update you all on the goings on at Membury! Watch this space......