WALES & WEST Hunters Equestrian, Glos | Burrows Court Farm, Glos | Severnvale EC, Monmouthshire
A newly affiliated partnership impressed at Hunters Equestrian with a convincing double novice win.
Sarah Owens and her 11-year-old gelding Bright One VH Dijkeinde are in their first season with
BD. Already established on the British Eventing (BE) circuit, the partnership scored 74.16% to head the novice 28 before nailing the novice 37 qualifier.
“His best phase is probably the dressage,” said Sarah’s mother, Nicola. “He’s a lovely mover and a lovely person, too — really easy.”
Sarah, 18, was prompted to concentrate on dressage for the winter season after a win in the team dressage at the Pony Club open championships at Cholmondeley Castle in August.
“She’s an active member of the Cotswold Hunt branch and trains with Robert Lumb,” added Nicola. “We bought ‘Monty’ two years ago, and the partnership has become stronger than ever this summer.”
Hot competition at Burrows Court Farm produced some impressive percentages across the scoreboards, but it was
Calum Whitworth who achieved the highest mark of the day. Riding Sue and Rob Fearis’ sevenyear-old gelding Fernando II (United x Special D), he headed the medium qualifier with 78.67%.
Calum also took both elementaries, on plus-75% scores, with Sandra Biddlecombe’s Wynton-sired Floris.
Kathryn Carmody dominated the elementaries at Severnvale with Wesley V. Kathryn, who works and trains with Lizzel Winter, has ridden the 14-year-old Lupicor gelding in BYRDS and at the Sheepgate under-25s.
“Wesley is normally quite laidback, but he has a cheeky side,” she said.