An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Warwick Hall (3) 2021 - order or view videos here
It’s that time again. British Eventing’s Area Festivals have taken place up and down the country, across various venues, numerous weekends and countless competitors and we’ve reached the last Area Festival of the year.
Last weekend, Warwick Hall was the host for the final Science Supplements Area Festival of 2021.
Four championship classes ran alongside BE80(T), BE90, BE100 and Novice classes at Warwick Hall (3) where the sandy ‘old turf’ cross country courses in the parkland setting of the Lake District asked real championship level questions of the riders
Winner of the BE100 Section A Area Festival Championship, Maisie Birkbeck and her ride Coolquill Francisco (Sisco), started their day at 4am to head to Warwick Hall; one of the pair’s favourite venues.
“I wasn’t expecting much from Sisco at the Championships after a disappointing run at the Frickley Area Festival Qualifier where he didn’t feel himself. So, to complete, never mind win, was such a happy moment” says Maisie.
A real family horse, Sisco started off as Maisie’s older sisters’ horse before completing the BE80(T) Wobbleberry Challenge with their mum.
“We stepped up to Novice this season. which is a first for both of us, so my plan is to continue at this level and try to get some good results before I move away to university in September. I’m very lucky that my mum is going to keep him ticking over so I can also event him next season if all goes to plan.
“He will always have a home for life with us as we all love him so much.”
Ruby Thompson and Penstrumbly Calon Lad
Other Area Festival Champions included Tyler Cassells riding Destiny’s Daughter in BE100 Open Section B, Penny Clews and Circus Standing Ovation were crowned Area Festival Champions in BE90 Open Section G and Amy Dixon and Goodluck II certainly had luck on their side to become Area Champions in BE90 Section F.
The 5-year-old Section L class also took place at Warwick Hall with Holly Woodhead placing first with DHI Funnyman and second riding DHI Iceberg, followed by Andrew Downes and Harthill Heraldik in third.
The event also hosted Area Festival Qualifiers with riders such as Ruby Thompson and Anna Harris leading the BE90 Qualifying sections and Bethany Lee leading the BE100 Section C qualifier.
The national classes saw Emily King leading BE100 Section C1, Robyn Gray finishing in the top spot in BE100 Section H on an outstanding dressage score of 19.30 and Annie Broad taking the red in BE100 Section I on board Ex Blodwyn 13.
Rachael Aiton and Splash Of Fun were having lots of fun ....
Rachael Aiton and Splash Of Fun led BE100 Section J enjoying a lovely double clear and BE80(T) winners included Chloe Hagan in Section T, Alice Madden leading Section U and Lisa Shuttleworth riding her own, Athlone Fantasy, in Section V.
We all know how much hard work this sport can be, none more so than the winner of Novice Section M, Sarah Cairns, who juggles horses around working full time. That’s why, when she finished in the top spot last weekend (only her second BE win on Ballyblood Sinbad) she was filled with pride.
“He’s never really done more than four events in a season; we didn’t get to any in 2018, in 2019 he did one and in 2020 he did three - one of which was our local event, Kelsall Hill, where he also won the Novice. I never dreamed I’d be able to win a class like this, so for him to have done it twice is just unbelievable and I am so, so proud of him,” says Sarah.
“Sinbad is my horse of a lifetime. Not a lot of people could say their horse’s event prep included teaching an 11-year-old to ride three days before. He’s quiet enough to trot around an open hay field with a complete novice on Wednesday and then pull the win out of the bag on the weekend,” she laughs.
Following a beautiful clear round and dressage test Sarah realised she was leading the class. Not renowned for getting inside the cross country time the pair rode on: “Warwick had built a super course that I had seen a few people having problems with.
“Sinbad was so brave and bold and really made light work of the course and whilst I wasn’t inside the time, we were far enough in the lead that I could afford the extra eight seconds I had and still win. I was totally over the moon with him,” she beams.
Lucinda Crawford wins the Open Novice Section O
Other Novice class winners included Emily Maclean in Novice Section N and Lucinda Crawford in Open Novice Section O riding Cameron Crawford’s Ballintoher Harry with Olympian, Jeanette Brakewell, leading the way in BE100 Open Section K riding 7-year-old mare, Seapatrick Dancing Diamond (more about Jeanette's lovely young horses coming soon)
Jolyse Bell-Syer enjoyed a win on her own, On One, in BE90 Section A1, followed by wins from Mark Jackson in BE90 Section P, Claire Paisley in BE90 Section Q, Nicola Pargeter in BE90 Section R and Freddie Fawcett in BE90 Section X.
BE90 Section Y saw Rachel Valks take home the red on board 6-year-old mare, Anastacia, whilst Martin Arnott led BE90 Section Z and Sara Bowe blew away the competition in BE90 Open Section B1 finishing on a dressage score of 14.50 (yes you read that right!).
Not all Olympians are at Tokyo - Jeanette Brakewell and Seapatrick Dancing Diamond
Every eventing combination has a story to tell of how they got to where they are; some fill you with joy and emotion in equal amounts. Claire Hirst’s second place finish in BE80(T) Section S does just that.
After tragically losing her previous horse Will, Burlea Battleship - known as Stan at home - came into Claire’s life to try to help her heal.
“I was going out each weekend to view horse after horse, but nothing worked, I just wanted Will back. Stan was the only one who made me feel that I could one day move on. I rode him a few times and each time he just made me feel complete again. Eventually his owner came around to the idea of selling him and let him go knowing he would be so loved and want for nothing,” says Claire.
Her confidence was at an all-time low. The emotions of losing Will were still raw and she allowed doubt to creep into her mind out at unaffiliated events: “Eventing seems to be the hardest sport in the world to me, you can do so well in the first two parts for it to all slip away with one silly mistake in the third.”
But then it all came to a head. On the verge of giving up eventing for good Claire was recommended to sign up for a self-belief course with centre10.com.
Tasked with homework to build self-belief with positive affirmations, which manifested themselves as a new bright wallpaper of post-it notes all over her house, last weekend saw her not feeling worried and the nerves turned into, you guessed it, excitement.
“I don’t think I have the words for last weekend. Sobbing uncontrollably over the finish knowing we had finally got a double clear; I could have come last it wouldn’t have mattered, I finally had fun and achieved a double clear at our first BE together. Celebrations did pause as I jumped off with glee setting off my air jacket though,” Claire laughs.
“The stewards at Warwick Hall were so helpful and supportive. Just sometimes those little words of encouragement before you go out are the total pick me up we need,” she beams.
And to us that support and happiness are what eventing is all about. Until next year, Warwick Hall.
Article by Kelly Aitkin
