Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ, winners Intermediate Section C
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Richmond (1) - find out more here
Set in beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, Richmond Equestrian Centre played host to the first of their two British Eventing (BE) events this season. Three days of competition, covering sections from Intermediate to BE90, saw some quality riding in excellent facilities that are set to continually evolve thanks to investment from new owners Abigail and Andrew Turnbull. This includes changes at all levels of the competition from intermediate through to BE90, so riders frequenting Richmond BE could look forward to some new tests and challenges…
Competition commenced Friday and saw Intermediate, Novice, and Section F of the BE100 competitions. It was a particularly successful day for Kristina Hall-Jackson, who took victory in both Intermediate Section A with CMS Google and BE100 Section F with Killerisk Leo.
“I’ve produced both horses myself” said Kristina “Google is a nine-year-old mare, she’s a very special horse and is the sweetest mare who tries her heart out for me. We will aim her at Tattersalls to do the U25 class then onto Blenheim 8YO/9YO Championship. She is an out and out jumper and loves her job!”
Google is owned by Kristina’s parents and was purchased as a five-year-old from Vere Phillips.
“I am a really superstitious person and, when I got back to the horse box from walking the course, I found out I was number 13 and I thought I’d have no chance of doing well, never mind winning!”
Her BE100 ride, the six-year-old Leo, was also purchased from Vere as a four-year-old and had a very good BE100 record last year.
“He’s not the flashiest horse on the flat but is very accurate and correct in his way of going. Jumping is his thing, he has springs. I’m aiming to move him up to Novice then will head to the Young Event Horse 6-Year-Old Championships at Osberton. Both horses are fantastic jumpers and it’s so nice to be sitting on good jumpers.” It looks like Kristina should hold onto that number 13 bib!
The Intermediate Section B was closely contested, with just 1.3 separating the top three. It was won by Lucinda Atkinson on My Zenyatta with a score of 33.7 from second place Julie Lawson on Faerlie Similar finishing on a score of 34, and Morgan Kent riding Chevalian Duchess in third with a score of 35. In Section C, Yasmin Ingham riding Rehy DJ finished on their dressage score of 29.8 to win from Bella Innes Ker riding Carolyn, who added four faults for a rail in the show jumping to her dressage to finish on a score of 32.6.
There were four Novice sections with two each being held on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Section D saw another win for Lucinda Atkinson this time riding PRF Jaguar Elite, with the pair adding just 0.4 of a time fault to their dressage score of 28.5 whilst Section E was won by Polly Stockton riding Sir Alfred II on a score of 31.5.
On Saturday the Novice Section K was won by Sara Bowe riding Halcyon Cruising Lady owned by Mrs Claire Lambert and produced by Sara after she was broken in. This is only her second season, but she has already enjoyed a lot of success.
“The little mare is actually for sale and will make a very smart and competitive junior’s horse. In the mean-time we plan to continue her career and step up to 2* soon. She is a mare with a great attitude to her work and oodles of talent. She certainly makes me smile when I ride her!” says Sara “Richmond is a local event for us, and it was brilliantly organised, courses were fantastic and posed different challenges to past years which was a welcome change.”
The changes she refers to include new jumps in the cross country and a resurface of the show jumping arena. Organiser and owner Andrew Turnbull commented that “We’ve done all the courses, upgraded the jumps, made the jumps a bit more technical. We’ve got intermediate riders who are saying it’s a proper intermediate course now.”
Section L was won by Emma Corner riding Edmonton ELS who added just 0.4 of a time fault to her dressage score of 24.8 to finish on 25.2 from Sarah Bartlett on Pauldarys Dun And Only finishing in second on 32.3 and Jemima Fawcett on Kilimazing Topaz finishing on her dressage score of 33.5 rounding up the top three.
Kathryn Harrison and Rising Star, winners of the BE90 Section I
BE100 sections G and H were both held on Saturday with Julie Lawson and Chivas Regal winning Section G on their dressage score of 29.8 and Issie Thompson on her 16.1hh dark bay Pennineview Kaiser Chief took victory in Section H with their dressage score of 26.3. This was Issie’s second win on the gelding following a victory in April at Breckenbrough, also in BE100. Even more impressive the pair have been together less than a year having teamed up in June 2018.
“He gives me such a good feeling round the dressage” said Issie and it showed, with their impressive score of just 26.3. They are now setting their sights on Frickley Under 18 class.
Kathryn Harrison riding the aptly named Rising Star won the BE90 Section I on a score of 29.5 ahead of Baren Major and Emlyn, just 0.6 penalties ahead of Katie Brickman on Black Jack V. Katie was also second in Section J BE90 with her other ride Etasja missing out by one point to Caitlin Pitcher on Jonjo Star who finished on her dressage score of 33.3 to win.
Three further BE90 sections were held on Sunday with Section M being won by Kimberley Marshall on D Akieda who finished on their dressage score of 29.3.
Kimberley and owner Sue Allerton were full of praise for the 16.2hh chestnut mare who, they were quick to point out, is not your typical chestnut mare, describing her as completely chilled out. She lives on a dairy farm with lots of cows, tractors, and even the occasional deer, but is not fazed by any of it. Sue purchased the mare, now nine, as a six-year-old and the aim was always to event, although she is also excelling at British Dressage (BD) competitions.
The mare had been with Jean Clemmits, who had trained her all the way through before she came to Kimberley. The pairing got their first BE start together at Epworth in March, finishing third, despite their first experience of jumping a cross country fence together being in the practice ring at the event! “She’s an absolute pleasure” says Kimberley, and they are looking forward to lots more success in the future at both BE and BD.
In BE90 Section N Sarah Fanning on Ard Naugat took top honours adding 0.4 cross country time faults to a dressage score of 34.5 to finish on 34.9. Vanessa Howdle and W Daramorquin scored 35.8 to finish in second whilst Evie Hole-Todd finished third on Cooliney Star.
Kathryn Woolley and Oberonza, third in the BE90 Section O
The final BE90 Section of the weekend; Section O, saw all the top three clock up double clears with Victoria Dennis rounding off a successful event for her on James Adams’ mare Emjay Master Vision taking top spot with a score of 27.5, whilst Katie Stephens-Grandy also clocked up a double clear placing her in second on her dressage score of 31.8. Finally, Kathryn Woolley on Oberonza scored 32 to finish in third.
“All the horses were awesome this weekend. I only had so many rides as my daughter had a very bad fall and broke her back, so I had to come out of retirement and step back into competition. It’s been amazing and has made me realise Just how much I still love the sport!” Victoria told us. It certainly showed, with Victoria clocking up three second places in BE100 and the BE90 win across the weekend.
The final day of competition was rounded off by the BE100 Sections. Kate Broatch and Trent Red Mexico won Section P on a score of 25.9 by just 0.1 from Victoria Dennis on Halcyon Graf who clocked up a double clear to finish on 26, with Samantha Jimmison on Quarryfield Vintage in third on a score of 26.3.
Section Q saw three double clears in the top three with Melissa Searby and Kastaar winning from Victoria Dennis on Jemoon Wolken Dream, and Matthew Wright on Redwood Autumn in third.
Section R the 100 Open was the final section of the day and was won by Willa Newton on Lauries Laudatio 2 adding nothing to an impressive dressage score of 20.8 from Laura Ritchie-Bland riding Esi Falsterbo on 22.6 with Edward Bradley on Finnigans Gold finishing in third.
The next BE at Richmond will be held 30 August to 1 September and riders can look forward to more changes at the venue as Abigail and Andrew have more work planned, particularly on the water jumps.
“They’re getting bigger and stronger, at the minute the intermediates don’t jump through one of the waters, but they will do next September. The feedback we’ve had has been very, very good” says Andrew
They plan to start with the diggers as soon as the event stops, and new jumps will be getting built and replaced right up until the next event. Riders can look forward to an even more evolved track for September, at a beautiful venue with fantastic facilities!
Article by Helena Barras
UPDATE
Sadly the 2019 September Richmond (2) event was cancelled due to an outbreak of Strangles but Abigail and Andrew had big plans for 2020. They must be the unluckiest people in the eventing world as their May 2020 event was cancelled to Coronavirus - fingers crossed for September and Richmond (2) 2020!
More water jumps to come at Richmond in September!
