Sophie Fois and Finn Again had another successful day out, this time at the Central Region BSJA show. Nearly the last to go in the 50 strong class, Sophie knew she had a pretty fast time to beat in the jump off  phase.  Finn just did as he was asked, skimmed the corners and won by 2/10ths of a second!   The next class was the 1.10 qualifier. They were drawn to go second in the jump-off where some jumps were raised quite considerably!  They did a cracking time but just had one pole down so ended up coming 5th on the fastest four faults but still just managed to qualify for the second round.

Bernadette and Ravel’s Bolero took second place  in the Petplan Elementary Restricted Championships today. They scored 66.62% … more details when we hear further.

Bernadette Briggenshaw and her Friesian X, Ravel’s Bolero came second in the National Elementary Restricted to Music at the British Dressage Winter National championships today.  B was drawn to go early in the class and went into second place, but there were lots of competitors still to go. She casually spent the morning looking around the stalls and couldn’t believe it when she came back to the board: the class had finished and she was still second. ’Ollie’ took the prize for best british bred and B won the Best Amateur Owner/Rider. Well done!   The pair are competing again tomorrow in the Petplan Elementary Restricted Championship.

Samantha and Spring Pascal have just won the Petplan Prix St Georges Championships at the Nationals.  A very excited Diane just phoned with the news … more to follow.

From British Dressage website:

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Area Festival Champion
Samantha Thurman-Baker with Spring Pascal, 66.84%

17 year old Samantha Thurman Baker from Henley on Thames shone through on her charismatic Cleveland Bay x Hanoverian gelding Spring Pascal to take the Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Area Festival Championship 2010.

“It was really good to win today” she commented “ we were third to go and I was really glad we held the lead until the end. Rolland Tong helped me work in, the first time he’s done this at a competition and I felt it helped a lot. Spring Pascal was a lot calmer in the test, there  were a few mistakes but I was happy with his way of going.”

Samantha is on the Junior Prime squad and is aiming for selection for the Junior European Championships later this year.

Three horses from the yard are busy getting ready for the Nationals which begin on Wednesday.  Spring Pascal and Samantha Thurman-Baker are the first to compete in the Petplan Prix St Georges.  Having returned from Austria on Monday, Pascal has had a couple of easy days before he sets off again.

Ravel’s Bolero and Bernadette Briggenshaw have qualified for the National Elementary Restricted to Music Championships on Friday, and the Petplan Elementary Restricted on Saturday.

On Sunday Tyrpentre Conjurer and Suzie Abecassis are competing in the Elementary Restricted Championships.

We wish them all the best of luck!

Sophie and Finn Again had their second trip out of the year and came home with two prizes.  In the 1m Amateur class they did a super round clipping two seconds off the fastest time to secure themselves 1st place out of a class of sixty. They followed that with the Open speed class over a very tricky course. Finn sped round clear and went into the lead, but the competition got hotter and hotter as some seemingly impossible turns were put in towards the end of the class and they ended up coming 6th.  Finn behaved impeccably and really enjoyed his day out, as did Sophie!

Call from Austria to say Sam and Pascal have just done their second test. Again, no mistakes, but a little more tense. The entry was super but Diane thinks after the first halt Pascal anticipated applause and was a bit uptight for the start of the trot work. However his canter work and pirouettes were really good today. They finished on 62% but as yet don’t know where that puts them.  All done now. A long way for two tests, but the experience has been invaluable. They set off for home tomorrow and hope to be back Monday evening.

The latest call from Austria came through at about 4.30 today soon after Samantha and Pascal had finished their test. Apparently Pascal managed to hold it together, and although a little tense to start he went beautifully.  The pair were extremely nervous beforehand but didn’t let that faze them and they finished on 64.144% and came 20th. That was half way down the class which was won on 69% and the lowest was 57%.  Diane was thrilled, she said some of the other horses were just amazing and watching them in the warm up she didn’t know if Pascal would have a chance. But he did!!!!  Before they left they hoped for a top 20 placing and they’ve done it.  They seem to be having a really good time, the atmoshere is great and everyone is very friendly towards them, even with a language problem. It’s a fantastic experience for them all.  They are on again tomorrow at 9.50am.

Just a short text from Diane today.  They have electric, water and gas! All is good and Pascal is going well.  Tomorrow they are drawn last to go at around 5pm.

The Thurman-Bakers and Pascal have arrived at the competition venue in Stadl Paura, Austria.  Their journey was rather longer than anticipated due to traffic jams and accidents on the road so the 7 hour planned drive yesterday lasted 13 hours!  Both over night stops were good and Pascal relaxed and was well rested.  Now at the venue, Diane phoned home to report but was a bit stressed! 

 ’We can’t speak the language and we can’t find any English people, our electric hook up is not compatible, our gas bottle ran out – we thought it was full- and no one else seems to be arriving until tomorrow at 2pm!’  Teething problems!!  I am sure they will sort it out.  Anyway, Samantha rode Pascal around in the indoor school today; he was very well behaved and the weather is beautiful. So that beats home!  Tomorrow they will rest and things get going on Thursday.  Will keep posts going as we hear.