Clarke makes her mark
A 12-year-old scored an impressive hat-trick at Field House, Staffs (27 July), writes Jo Prestwich. Holly Clarke rode Newoak Truffel to win three from three at prelim and novice, scoring 83%, 85% and 86.25% to boot.
Newoak Truffel was found for Holly, who trains with Jane Critchley, last November after a hunt worthy of Crimewatch.
“We went to see a pony at a Pony Club show and ‘Joby’ was trotting around in the background,” said Holly’s mother, Alex. “It took a while but we tracked him down and found him in Cornwall. He and Holly have hunted all winter and have also been doing unaffiliated eventing alongside the dressage outings.”
A mare bought to event won a prelim at Foxes Dressage, Wirral (25 July). Jacqueline Byrne bought the Pro-Set mare Narita from eventer Andy Heffernan last year, after a friend saw her advertised on the internet.
“I bought her to event, but we’ve been concentrating on the dressage,” said Jacqueline who finished 10th at the level at the north-west regionals.
Rebecca McNair headed a medium at Aintree EC, Merseyside (30 July), riding her own Bolana. The 10-year-old mare is by Houston, out of a Gregor mare, and Rebecca bought her as a three-year-old from Julie Lockey.
“I’m a fan of mares and as soon as I tried her I knew she was the one,” said Rebecca, who has seven more mares at home and is just about to start competing the first of her own home-breds.