Arthur and Allison Springer lead Advanced Division B, which is officially a slightly more testing one than Division A. On entering the competitors were sent an email informing them that their cross country would be similar to the CIC*** (hence why “so many” – all of them! did the bigger drop into the water! ) and they had the option to switch to the softer division if they chose at that time. Allison talked about her ride afterwards, “I was pretty busy this morning show-jumping so I didn’t ride him, and he’s been a lot better lately, but I knew I was in a bit of trouble in the warm-up because he was very fit and full of it and excited to go, but he was super at all the jumps, he just did everything as planned and I was really happy. I think it was a super last run for him before Kentucky, it was just what I wanted to do.” Allison said she’s looking forward to the challenge of show-jumping on Sunday, that she used to dread it, but that she and Arthur “are growing old well together!”
Buck Davidson pulled The Apprentice up after a run out at the cheese wedges at 5, so I was glad to see him have a better go on Absolute Liberty in Advanced Division A, although they did run past the third element at this, the turtle pond. It looked like a genuine drive-by, and Buck circled her round to re-present and she popped over it no problem.
Buck and Titanium in Advanced Division B: still a bit rusty understandably, but a nice steady clear nonetheless
Laine Ashker posted a solid clear with Anthony Patch, a good pre-Kentucky run. Laine took the direct route through the water over the corner here, but near the end played safe and circled in between the two corners, and her mother was standing next to me talking me, herself, Laine, I’m not sure who, through it, “that’s right, circle, good girl…” and when she cleared the second corner I thought I might be deafened by the cheers and it was lucky we weren’t near any windows! God Forbid Lily ever gets anywhere close to Advanced Level, I’m sure I’d be a nervous wreck, I feel for every single mother out there watching, and I hold your hand, no grasp, clench, twist your hand in sympathy – watching is at least a hundred fold worse than riding! Good luck to both Laine and Valerie at Rolex!
Kate Hicks and Belmont also posted a good, solid clear round before Rolex in the B Division
Becky is back! Can’t Fire Me was green in places but Becky still managed to pilot him round extremely capably to finish the day in 5th place in the stronger B Division
Courageous Comet jumped and galloped into third place in Advanced B, sitting two places above his grey stablemate. Nice work, Becky!
Caitlin Silliman rode a beautiful round on TPF fire survivor Catch a Star to jump clean but steady in Division A which restored my faith in faith! It was a great day to see them skip round with such style, and then to see Neville storm round, both so different but both at the top of their game and evidently doing what they love, it must have been my Easter present! Well Done again to them both, and to everyone who contributed to their recovery in any way, no matter how large or small, you were part of those rounds today too.
Leslie Chelstrom had a cracking round on Cecelia in Division A to move up 11 places and take 8th overnight
The Foreman is back again! Phillip saved his best ride for last, except he wasn’t! Phillip explained, “He was’nt that good to tell you the truth, and I think it’s because I just don’t think I prepared him well enough. He’s such a freak of a cross country horse that I’d virtually done none on him at all, so it was a probably a bit of a tall order to go out and jump a pretty big track, but hopefully he’s none the worse for wear. It was a bit of a late decision to bring him, we switched him with another horse that scratched, and I don’t know what we’re going to do with him, I have to talk to his owner Annie Jones, but if we do run him again he’ll be much better prepared.”
Fernhill Eagle went really well in Divison B for Phillip and finished clear with a handful of time penalties
Not a happy day for Madeline Blackman – Gordonstown accumulated three stops around the course but completed in Division A
Icarus did indeed fly around inside the time, and moved up a couple of places to fourth in Division B.
Michael rode Wonderful Will around clear in Division B with only two time penalties, and also leads Division A on Hanni, who I unfortunately didn’t get a picture of but he did talk about his ride on her afterwards, “I wanted to run Hanni just in the advanced before Jersey because she already has her qualifications, and she was a star, she was just fantastic. Every time we move her up, or ask her to go a bit faster she keeps stepping up to the plate. I’m really looking forward to Jersey, I feel like she’s a lot fitter than she was at the Pan Am Games so we’ll see how she does over a three star track but she made the Advanced feel easy today which is exciting.”
Will Coleman on Ideal Contini. If I had chosen Will to ride my horse or be my stable jockey I’m certain I’d be feeling quite smug tonight! Not only are all his rides immaculately turned out at all times, but he gave each one today absolutely a perfect and appropriate ride. Ideal Contini (who won the dressage) and Vancover both posted steady clears in Advanced Division A, but both looked to be going round with supreme confidence, jumping in a lovely technique,unhurried and taking so much home from the experience.
Vancover taking the direct route the first water
Twizzel looked like an old campaigner, and I mean that in a good way, he hardly batted an eyelid it seemed, just did his job, galloped round, jumped the jumps, no biggie. Will seems so comfortable on him, like taking your favourite pair of jeans out of the dirty laundry because you want to wear them again, they just look and feel better than the others (come on, you’ve done that too?!) and although, as on all his horses, he never looks in a rush, they actually posted quite a fast time, but really it was just a pleasure to watch.
Sadly Anne Dornin North fell at the second of the big sunshine tables before the water, but both her and Jimminy Cricket were fine.
Julia Wendell jumped clear on Cavendish, although survived a few lucky moments.
Kristin Bachman’s Lucky Little Spy was the only horse who took a vehement dislike to the drop down into the water, and absolutely refused, three times, to go in. Peter Barry actually had one uncharacteristic stop here on Kilrodan Abbot in the CIC*** but I think that’s because he was coming in too gently to try and get a soft jump in to make the corner.
What a gutsy little mare Madeline is, only 15.2 and she flew round with only 2.8 time penalties, moving her and rider Holly Payne up into the top ten – they lie 9th overnight in Division B.
Ho-hum for Manoir de Carneville, just another day at the office! Take the direct route? Sure! Fly around inside the time? No problem! Sinead and Tate are another combination who were a pleasure to watch and really made it look effortless, and as I write this Meg just updated her facebook status to “Life is Good”! How can you not root for this team?
Kate Samuels stormed around on Nyls du Terroir clear inside the time in Division A to move up into 2nd place.
Go Orange! Sharon White and Rafferty’s Rules looked confident and competitive for a good, solid, pre-Rolex clear.
RF Rovano Rex soars over one of the big tables, while Marilyn already has her eye on the water. Lying 7th in Advanced B, this is actually her lowest placed ride of the weekend, although I think it’s the horse she rides the best. RF Demeter is in 2nd in the CIC*** going into the show-jumping, and RF Smoke on the Water lies 3rd in the CIC**.
Libby Head’s Sir Rockstar tries to make amends for a dismal dressage by jumping out of his skin across country, but sadly has a stop at the double of corners.
Danielle Dichting and the experienced Tops flew around inside the time to move up to 3rd place in Division A, but The Graduate didn’t look ready to go quite as quickly and they parted company at The Turtle Pond. Luckily both are fine, and Dani has two very nice horses to take forward and be excited about.
I was sorry to hear about Jan’s fall later on course at the Sunken Road, and hope that she is ok. Why Not came trotting towards us and looked fabulous, and I hope that’s the case too. For all the trouble the course caused today there were no really serious injuries that I know of. I hope to post the CIC pictures and a brief report next. Karen O’Connor did tell me that Veronica banged the front of her hock when she reached to make the second table and somewhat slid across it. They have x-rayed her, and she’s absolutely fine, but quite bruised and they wanted to medicate her so Veronica was withdrawn from The Fork on saturday evening, and fingers crossed everything will be fine for her for Rolex. Hopefully by now all the horses are resting comfortably and happily in their stalls, feeling proud of themselves, or a bit embarrassed, and I’m sure most of the riders are partying like rock stars. If my memory serves me right from last year, The Fork can throw as good a party as they can put on an event, and they don’t do anything in half measures, so there may be some sore heads and sunglasses in the morning! Well done to all the horses, riders, grooms, volunteers, jump judges, crossing guards, vets, medics… the list of who makes an event work is so long. The course builders were buzzing around all day, fixing flags mostly, but making sure conditions were perfect, and conditions were perfect. Once again tonight the riders stressed what a wonderful competition this is, that this is probably the most important day in the spring season for them and that The Fork is without a doubt the best place to hold it due to the effort that goes into every single aspect of it – the footing, the courses, the atmosphere, no stone is unturned and it’s very much appreciated.
Busy all day – Travers Scheck, Course Builder.
So thank you to everyone for a fabulous day of cross country (and lower level show-jumping ) at The Fork, and thank you for reading, and we look forward to more of the same tomorrow!
Go Eventing!
