An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International 2022 - order or view videos here
Developed in 2022 with the Rider Working Group representing riders at Novice level and above and in conjunction with the Eventing Riders Association of Great Britain (ERA of GB) the Intermediate Masters Series provides a new opportunity for British Eventing members competing at national level
Open to riders outside the top 100 who have not ridden at CCI 5* level in the past five years, qualification is achieved by finishing in the top 33% or a double clear in an Intermediate competition and the Masters Series gives entrants the opportunity to ride in a tail coat in the International 20m x 60m arena before tackling the intermediate show jumping and cross-country courses.
Three well-established venues were selected for the 2022 pilot series with Rockingham International in May, Belsay International in June and Nunney International, also in June, hosting the classes
Rockingham International saw a delighted Melissa Joannides aboard Patch Ali take the first win of the Series
Having produced Patch Ali for Peter Rhodes from BE100 level to CCI-S 4* last season, the pair have notched up some significant results including top 10 at the BE Novice Championships.
Melissa says, “Our preparation for Rockingham couldn’t have gone any better with a win at Aston-le-Walls two weeks’ previously”
The pair hope to continue up the levels as Melissa says, “Patch Ali is incredibly brave and scopey and although show jumping is his weakest phase our work with Jeremy Scott really paid off with a fantastic round at Rockingham.”
Having never been to Rockingham before, Melissa says, “It has a big event feeling – the national dressage arenas were far enough away from the main arenas to keep the atmosphere quieter for the younger horses; the show jumping provided a superb opportunity to ride in front of a crowd and although the cross-country was at the tougher end and used natural terrain that was more undulating than I expected it rode very well – we will definitely be going back again!”
Lucy Robinson and Cosmic Charm pulled out a solid test and jumped a double clear on cross country inside the time, which proved to be influential, to take the runner up spot
The Series now heads further north to Belsay International in Northumberland, also hosting the British Pony Championships - we'll see you there!
