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Mandiba looked fantastic as the trailblazer this morning, getting stronger and more confident the whole way round, and even surprising Karen by leaving a stride out dropping down into the water two fences from home. Karen’s second ride RF Amber Eyes looked strong, and also jumped clear with a couple of time to keep her in second place, and Marilyn Little-Meredith stormed round on RF Smoke on the Water to stay in 3rd. More pictures to follow. One jump was taken out before the class started, a double brush at the top of the hill near the end due to visibility issues in the direct sunlight, which led to a slight delay in starting, so the short break between divisions just became shorter! Lots of advanced and 3* riders have been pacing out the double or corners behind me as I stood by the water, it’s a long two strides but numbered separately – what to do?!
There were four clears inside the time: Selena O’Hanlon on the lovely Foxwood High who has the most enormous stride, and I wondered if she might be slow because she looks hard to turn, but I guess her gallop must just eat up the ground, not to mention that jump! Also Rachel McDonough on Irish Rythm who jumped through the first water without a stirrup, well sat! Jamie Dolittle, last to go on A Dream Come True and Marilyn Little Meredith on Smoke on the Water, who made a bold, perhaps not the best move coming out the step to the cabin the first water, rode very aggressively for a long stride but got away with it. First horse on course now for CIC***.
GO EVENTING!
