Ruby Thompson and Spring Blossom in the BE100 Open U18
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Allerton Park - find out more here
Allerton Park offered some challenging courses last weekend so those who got round clear were rightfully thrilled.
James Sommerville nearly swept the board by winning four sections, placing second and fifth in two more and having only one slight mishap on the cross country course.
“My yard is within hacking distance from Allerton Park so always want to do well there. In my opinion it is the best National Event in the country and the going was excellent thanks to all their hard work” James told us
“The farriers were on the yard on Thursday very much winding me up as to how many wins might be possible at Allerton that weekend. I optimistically said two! It doesn’t surprise me that Altaskin Jack and Global Ask won as they are both horses I think a lot of. Global Ask owned by myself and the Global Ask syndicate was fantastic to lead the dressage. He is an immaculate show jumper and cross country performed well going clear inside the time albeit green in places. He is still very much learning and being produced for the future”
“The new ride Edison NJ, owned by Carole Dennis, was a pathfinding mission for us both, having only been in the yard four days prior to his section on the Sunday but he certainly impressed for second place in the Intermediate Novice. Altaskin Jack was a star having had an interrupted season, posting his best test to date at this level. He show jumped clear, although he was a little spooky, and cross country he just cruised round like the top cross country horse he is. In truth we could have gone faster, however I was just trying to preserve him and look after him. His big aim will be a good result at Bramham next year and he has now won Allerton Park Open Intermediate two years on the trot”
“Glenomra Bill (Billy) belongs to a friend and owner Clare Hustler who is also part of the Global Ask syndicate. Billy comes in to our yard when she is away on holiday or for a week before an event and then runs in two or three events and then goes back home to Clare to ride out on and hunt. He is her pet. He performed brilliantly in the jumping phases at Allerton and just added a couple of time faults - I was surprised how fast the BE100 time was.”
“Innovania is a new ride to me and this was our second event. She was excellent in all phases. She is owned by Laura Irving and Val Madden who also own Miss Pandora and went on to comfortably win her BE100 section. Miss Pandora did a lovely test for her, I was pleased. Two down was uncharacteristic and then she was having a great round cross country when she took a dislike to the two angled fences four from home. I very nearly came off. However she jumped through on representation.”
“Kilcannon Dragon, owned by the Fairlight Stud and me, went well for fifth place in the BE100 after four faults show jumping. It was a great couple of days for my owners, sponsors, and home team. A big thank you to the Allerton Park team and their sponsors”
Charlotte Parry-Ashcroft won the BE100 Section C on her own Bonmahon Wil Do, Josh Haynes won Section D on Voights Anky Panky, owned by Sandra Lee, and Louis Pern won the Upen Under 18 Section E on his own Cearney.
Jessica Burnham and Not Done in the BE100 Open U18
Twenty-four year old primary school teacher, Georgie Rockingham, won the BE100 Open Section F on her own September Song.
“The horses are my hobby and I have a real passion for them. They are a wonderful release from work pressures and they allow me to relax and enjoy my spare time. I really do adore them. September Song, known as Sonnie or “fat man scoop” at home, is 10 years old and I’ve had him since he was five. I backed and produced him myself with the help of Kate Harvey. I know him inside out and he knows me off the back of his hoof too. We have developed a great partnership and know each other’s quirks”
“He’s had a fantastic season on paper however it hasn’t gone without its difficulties. Earlier this year I decided to finish his season early having had some difficulties in the show jumping. I decided it was best to go and do some dressage and showjumping to work on his confidence and conquer his little issues. Anyway, as things never go to plan with horses, Plan C had to come into play. Sonnie did do lots of dressage and show jumping and was very successful but then he suddenly had to be the “stand in” at the last few events of the season. My mare, who was originally entered, had to have some teeth removed so she’s ended up needing a little break. Sonnie had to step up to the mark and make a comeback to eventing this season”
“Having won back to back events at Frickley and Allerton I think it’s safe to say he was a super stand in and the hard work has paid off! The dressage was by no means his best test- he was feeling a little cheeky and started the test with an almighty spook! However this didn’t seem to affect the judge’s opinion of my cheeky chap and he went on to complete a lovely accurate test. The show jumping is where the problems have been this year, the course was very technical with several related distances (not something you usually see at BE100 level) and very “in your face” bright fillers. However I think the hours of practice in endless rain has certainly paid off. He jumped a wonderful confident clear round. The cross country he is an absolute machine, he loves his job and knows exactly what to do and looks for the flags. The time was tight but I know if I took some economical lines we could get inside the time. He jumped a foot perfect round and felt truly amazing.”
James Sommerville won one of the Saturday Novice Sections and the other was won by Samantha Jimmison on Joanne Pullan’s Diamante II.
Swedish rider Erika Sjostrom won the Intermediate Section I on her own Dantino B.
“I started eventing as nine-year-old on ponies and continued from there. I've ridden on five Juniorr/Young Rider European teams for Sweden and, after my last Young Rider year in 2016, I wanted to take the next step. I really wanted to train with Christopher Bartle and also to compete here in the UK; the quality of riders, horses and courses here in the UK is just amazing and its necessary to expose yourself to that if you have a serious ambition in this sport”
“This year I started two horses at Allerton Park; GHF On The Button (Sire Womanizer out of a TB/Cruising mare), a six-year-old, in the BE100 as he has been quite late in his maturing, and I have given him time. He is a lovely character with great talent and unlimited energy so I am very excited for the future with him. We placed fourth, I still ride him strictly for his education. He did a nice dressage at 26.3 and double clear with some penalties for time in the cross country”
“Dantino B German Mecklenburger (Sire D’Olympic out of a Quintender mare) which I bought as a five-year-old is now an eight-year-old super talent. He moves beautifully and jumps even better, I think the world of him. This competition was part of the final preparations for the CCI3*-L at Osberton in two weeks from now. He did a nice dressage, and in the show jumping he jumped a really nice clear. The cross country is always the interesting phase at Allerton, he went out really fresh and focussed and did his job out there. There were a couple of moments where I had to say "yes we can" and he followed up very nicely. He's really a brilliant horse and I always enjoy being out on the cross country with him. He felt amazing from start to finish and I couldn't be prouder of him.”
“For me it was a wonderful feeling and experience to come here and win again. Dantino won the Novice class here 2017 as well. Last year we were aiming for Le Lion d’Angers 7-Year-Old Championship, but in the competition here at Allerton I had fall with another horse and broke my knee so had to cancel. So to come here again exactly a year later and win is very special”
The second intermediate section was won by Gregor Knox on Castleforbes Angus owned by himself and Plum Rowland.
“Allerton for me was really a box ticking event so I wasn't going for a placing as such, I just wanted a good run as Castleforbes Angus has had some time off due to a small injury and lack of funds. He did some great work in the dressage with added smiles to the clouds as per his usual character! He is a great jumper but, as this was his first run/outing in some time, he was rather full of beans and with his huge stride, backed up with masses of scope, he went round like a speed derby taking out strides here there and everywhere! That resulted in him jumping into trouble in the double to have the second part down but all in all, he jumped phenomenally”
“On the cross country I just went out for a schooling round, I set into a good rhythm and let it all happen. Again, here his stride and scope come into play, he never wastes time he can just keep rolling to the fences so there's never any need to make up time with him. Four fences to home my watch went but I didn’t change a thing and just thought he was jumping well and kept going as I was. It wasn't till later on in the day I realised that the time was so tight and we were in with the fastest bunch. He's quite a special horse and I have great belief in him and hope one day he will have a big win in him!”
“I loved my weekend at Allerton it was such a fantastically beautiful venue for an event. It’s a super atmosphere, very well run and laid out. It is for sure going to be a firm favourite on my calendar in the forthcoming seasons”
Mark Davidson won the third intermediate section on Highlight K, owned by Sophie Dodds and Sammy Oliver won the only advanced section of the weekend on her own Kellypsa Van T Asschaut.
“I’m 29 and have a three year old daughter but I do horses full time with three event horses currently up and running; one at 100 and Novice both owned by Graham Noon and then Kellypsa (Ellie for short) who was competing at her third Advanced class. I have a yard of 11 which includes schooling liveries and hunt liveries, based in the Lincolnshire Wolds so I’m never short of hills and places for fitness work!”
“I’ve had Ellie since she was three - I backed her myself and have ridden and competed her ever since. The best story about her was during her breaking-in when we were trying to teach her to lunge, she actually lay down, closed her eyes and played dead because she didn’t understand! We actually had to untack her on the floor and after that she never looked back although she never lunged again until the age of seven!”
“She is the most incredible jumping horse (I train with Caroline Moore) and the cross country is absolutely her strongest suit, as is galloping. She is extremely fast and I didn’t actually push her around Allerton, that was just her comfortable speed to run and jump. The cross country was definitely the toughest track I’ve ridden on her yet but she coped incredibly well. It rode beautifully but she did launch us both in to orbit over the bridge out of the wood before the triple brush and again off the island in to the second water crossing but luckily we were quick enough to gather our knitting for the next question!”
“She was unlucky to have a rail in the show jumping, but it was another tough track and we were just too close to the front rail of an oxer. She is usually exceptionally careful and I always know if I have a pole it’s 100% my fault!”
“Dressage is a different matter, she is a very hot and stressy on the flat; we have worked so hard with Ian Woodhead to collect her and connect her and we’re working on her changes. At home and training she has started to settle extremely well but the competition atmosphere does unsettle her and she had already added one beautiful change (but not required!) before our first halt which unfortunately set the tone for her test. However the changes we did need in the test were much improved!”
Hazel Towers won the intermediate-novice section on Emily Blaxill’s Frits VD Tojope Hoeve. Jemima Fawcett won the open novice under 18 section on Kilimazing Topaz owned by Freddie Fawcett and Morven Pringle won the last novice section of the weekend on Secret Affaer VII owned by Sarah Clark.
Allerton gave us a really fantastic display of eventing this weekend, and everyone was very complimentary about the venue, the organisers, and the atmosphere.
Article and photos by Jess Johnson
Tamsin Putt and Kingswell Bright Spark in the BE100
