Osberton

Tenareze was the star of our team at Osberton finishing 6^th out of the vast CCI** field and completing on his dressage score.

In the 5 year old championships Red Kite did a really smart test and jumped clear in the show jumping, putting him into 2^nd place going into the cross country. He had a green stop at an owl hole where he didn’t see a route through, which was the first cross country fault of his career, putting him out of the running. It wasn’t in any way naughty of him so I gave him a pat and nudged him up so he could stand in front of it and put his head and neck through the hole, after which he popped through with no problems at the second attempt. He is a lovely horse who’s had a fantastic first season. I will keep him in for a few weeks now and give him several days hunting before he has his holiday.

Tenareze and Vrolijk were both drawn early in the large CCI** class and both produced good tests, before giving me great rides around a relatively testing track. Two years ago it was definitely on the soft side but this year it was a decent course with a particularly influential water complex. I was frustrated to be given 11 penalties on Vrolijk for breaking a MIM clip at the rail into the coffin. We were given clear video evidence that he jumped very cleanly in front and only hit lightly (show jumping style) the rail with one hind foot, and the footage shows that the clip was not checked after the previous competitor his the fence very hard in front. The ground jury was given the footage of the previous competitor but didn’t watch it, which was disappointing for Vrolijk’s connections since he was lying in the top five. The 2* show jumping caused plenty of trouble but Tenareze posted a very convincing clear round to finish in 6^th place.

Catherston Definitive, who has not always been the most relaxed to ride, did a lovely test in the CCI* to score 46. He’s a big horse who’s taken a long time to grow into himself and we couldn’t have been more delighted with him. He jumped very well across country, barring a green mistake at a straightforward hedge into bright early-morning sun, and finished comfortably inside the time. The show jumping has been his weakest phase so we were all delighted with a clear round on the final day, brining a little tear to his owner’s eye!

Finally, we had Cavalier Crystal and Monbeg Medlar in the six year old chamionship. Cavalier Crystal did a lovely test to score 43 and was lying in the top five after the dressage but had a very uncharacteristic two fences down before going very well and inside the time across country. Monbeg Medlar, who has been ultra consistent in the dressage this season got a bit tense in the bigger atmosphere, but jumped a great double clear. Both horses finished in the top 20 out of a huge field.

The social highlight of the event had to be the inaugural ‘Equestrian of Sport’, Osberton’s very own version of the BBC panel show, and was hosted by Rory Bremner and Johnathon Agnew. I was captaining the British team with Paul Tapner in charge of the ‘Rest of the World’. With Gemma Tattersall and Sam Ecroyd at my side we had a lot of fun and emerged with a narrow victory!

I also came away the winner of Best Dressed at the final trot up, thanks to Cordings for dressing me so well. HiHo silver provided the prize, much to Rosie’s delight!