England celebrates first win
Norton Disney (1), Lincs
FLOSSIE ENGLAND and Muckrim Eamonn Ban (Freddie) celebrated a first win in a BE90 section. Flossie, a grade III para showjumper, started eventing two-and-a-half years ago after taking on the 14.2hh gelding.
“We bought Freddie to showjump, but it soon became obvious that his talents lay in eventing, so we starting heading in that direction and now I am a convert,” explained Flossie, who suffers from Erb’s palsy, a condition that causes partial paralysis of her right arm.
“Due to my condition I struggle to know how strong a contact I am taking on the right rein. Freddie is very strong, so over the past year my trainer, Georgie Frow, has helped me find ways to make it easier to turn and stop.”
Flossie hopes to step up to BE100 this year with the ultimate aim of selection for the BE100 under-18 championship.
Holly Clarke, 16, clocked up a second BE90 win in a row with her promising young horse, Nico. Their win came hot on the heels of victory at Oasby (1).
“Nico has really grown up over the winter,” said Holly. “We have been concentrating on dressage, polework and lots of technical grids with help from my trainer, Jonquil Hemming.”
Open novice winners Lauren West and Valentino 46 are another combination enjoying a purple patch, picking up where they left off at the end of last season. They have not been out of the top two in their past five outings.