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Oasby (2) 2021 - order or view videos here
All good things must come to an end and Oasby (2) is no exception.
We’re drawing the British season to a close as we started it, in the Lincolnshire countryside enjoying eventing with competitors, supporters and horses alike.
Oasby was not only one of the first events of the 2021 eventing calendar but also saw Oasby Elite run as a test event for top riders, helping British Eventing get started again after the Coronavirus pandemic.
Organised by BEDE Events, Oasby (2) is run over flat ground and offers a great experience for all levels as the perfect event for both the beginning and end of the season.
“Last weekend went brilliantly; the weather was good and the ground perfect. I love the courses at Oasby, they are always fair but up to height,” says Phoebe Buckley, who finished second place in Intermediate Section A on the Saturday, a class led by Sarah Bullimore.
Phoebe Buckley has had a fantastic season with her small but successful string of horses, having gained a 5* qualification with her 15.3hh gelding, Tiger Mail.
Her second-place finish at Oasby last weekend was riding Libby Cartwright’s 12-year-old gelding, Enjoy. She took over the ride on Enjoy at the start of the season following Libby unfortunately breaking her ankle.
“The plan was only ever for me to do a couple of Novices before he went back to her, but her ankle has taken longer to heal than anticipated. I have been very lucky to keep the ride and he has been second, third and fourth in his three Intermediate runs this year,” says Phoebe.
Jessica Bishop led in BE100 Section I riding Cevins Cavalier followed by Andrew Downes leading BE100 Section J, finishing on his dressage score of 24.3. Isabel White led BE100 Section M and Musa Hussain took the win in BE100 Section N.
Winner of Intermediate Section B, Olympian Tom McEwen, wrote on Facebook: “Watch this space,” as his ride, Brookfield Braveheart, had two consecutive Intermediate wins in a row, just ahead of ex-racehorse, Our Old Fella and Piggy March, who also placed second in Open Intermediate Section D on board Graf Liberty, a previous ride of Chris Burton’s.
The Open Intermediate section was led by Emily King (watch Emily's cross country ride here) and saw riders such as Maddison Crowe and Simon Grieve have their final warm up run before the 5* at Les Etoiles de Pau at the end of the month.
Andrew Heffernan led Novice Section G riding Carol Baguley’s SSK Cape Cooley, Joe Wise took the win in Open Novice Section H and Amy Simpson led Open Novice U18 Section E finishing on her dressage score of 27.5.
Earlier this year, Heidi Coy took home a red at Oasby (1) and also went on to storm the classes at Oasby (2), taking the win in Open Intermediate U21 Section C riding David Ottewell’s Carrigsean Tigerseye and Novice Section F on board Lavana Valentino.
Heidi also took home the win in BE90 Open Section R riding 5-year-old Linus T.E and BE90 Open Section T with Alex Postolowsky’s Springhead Maddison.
“I’ve had an amazing season, including second at the Bicton U25 Championships, seventh at Blenheim CCI 4*-L and seventh at Aston-Le-Walls CCI 4*-S,” she says.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won all four sections before at an event! Carrigsean Tigerseye was having a confidence giving run to win the Open Intermediate U21, which is bittersweet as it’s my last ever U21 class.
“Lavana Valentino was pure class and really deserved this win, it’s only his third Novice and what a horse for the future he is. My other two 5-year-olds were both doing their first BE event and took it all in their stride to finish on their dressage scores and win,” she beamed.
Emily Gibbard led BE100 Open Section L riding Bounce Once, Diana Bevan led BE90 Section O riding her own 6-year-old mare Bulby Rhubarb and Harriette Howard led BE100 Section K.
Tracey Fletcher took the win in BE90 Section Q finishing on her dressage score of 28, followed by a win for Samantha Selden in BE90 Section S riding Midnight Madness II.
The rain may have put a physical dampener on the weekend, but it certainly didn’t dampen any spirits with riders commenting how jolly the fence judges were despite the weather.
“I was driving down the A1 that morning in the rain half thinking 'what am I doing?',” laughs Kristy Hunton, winner of BE90 Section P.
“I was on my own as both my husband and mum, who normally come as the support team, were working. They know me for winging it somewhat, so I rocked up with my 14hh pony with only two front shoes and no studs in the rain and he just cracked on and dealt with it, pulling it out of the bag.
“The pony is a legend!”
Bred by Kristy to be a 14hh show hunter pony Seywoods Razzmatazz, known as Raz at home, never made the height or width needed and instead was broken to be sold as a child’s pony.
“Low and behold he never got sold. While making him child-proof we had far too much fun, so I decided to keep him,” she laughs.
After being turned away during lockdown, Kristy and Seywoods Razzmatazz have gone on to win at BE80(T) level at Northallerton, followed by stepping up to BE90 for what has now become two consecutive wins in a row at this level.
“I was very surprised by my result as after dressage I was in third place. I had to get home and sort out my other horses before it was dark so I never thought Raz would manage to win especially after winning the weekend before as well.
“I didn't even realise he had won until I pulled up at the yard three hours later and checked my eventing scores,” she laughs.
And just like that, it’s coming to an end once again.
Our ‘wrap up’ really is wrapping up for the 2021 event season and as we look upon an empty lorry park that has heard so much laughter and the thundering of hooves over the summer, we’re pleased to have had an action packed and enjoyable eventing season and cannot wait for our return next year.
Article by Kelly Aitkin
