Bionic 59-year-old triumphs
JH Builders & Bill Kear Arenas & Gallops Borde Hill (1),
West Sussex “I AM a living testament to the wonders of orthopaedic surgery,” said 59-year-old Wendy Neath, who won a BE80(T) riding the “perfect” Ferrero Rocher.
“I’ve had two hip replacements, rotator cuff shoulder surgery and, after a freak hacking accident, my neck is pinned and plated where I broke it,” explained the livery yard owner and riding instructor from West Kent.
“Rocco”, as he is known at home, and Wendy put a recent streak of “so near, yet so fars” behind them to take top spot.
“I’ve been too slow and then too fast across country before,” admitted Wendy. “But after playing with my stopwatch at home, I finished bang on the optimum time.”
Wendy bought 15.3hh Rocco three years ago, when he was five, with the idea of doing TREC and some dressage.
“He’s perfect — I never thought I would event again after my hip replacements, but as long as I put Rocco in the right place he will do anything,” said Wendy, who qualified for the TREC national finals with Rocco the week after Borde Hill.
Lucy Wheeler said she “couldn’t have asked for better” from King Creole VD N Ranch, a seven-year-old owned by Graham Jack, when taking
BE100 section N.
“‘Bubba’ is a bit of a redhead and arrogant, but he’s smart,” said Lucy, who had stepped this horse down a level for a confidenceboosting run after mistakes crosscountry at his previous two novice attempts. “He has all the talent in the world and we’re hoping he will progress up the levels.”