(For the events page of 2009 click here)

Evening Event at Cricklands - 16 June 2010

There was a full complement of entries for this third evening event of the summer series, drivers enjoying yet another fine evening at
the David Broome Event Centre near Chepstow.

The most influential feature of this particular competition was the 20 gate cones course, driven first in one direction, gates 1-10 then
immediately in reverse, gates 11-20. This challenge led to double figure penalties for most. However Emily Ham and Jade Nightingale
proved that a good round was achievable, scoring only 3 penalties each. Peter Edwards and his pony pair was the next best with 10
penalties. The water was obstacle 1 and 3 but in spite of this being its first appearance this season caused little trouble apart from
getting the back steppers rather wet!

Matthew Broome won the Novice Pony class convincingly on 220.9 penalties, from Angharad Morris on 239.4 and Jennie Allen close
behind on 241. Elizabeth Pilkington was 4th but she produced the best dressage test of this competition with a mark of 23 penalties.

In Open Pony, Emily Ham, driving with her usual flair took the winner's rosette and achieved the best overall score of the evening
finishing with 172.3 penalties. Rowena Moyse was second.

Jade Nightingale, in the Novice Horse class, earned the second best overall score of 175.9 not too far behind Emily. She built upon the
advantage gained by her excellent cones round with consistently smart obstacle times. Sue Johnson was second.

The Multiples class produced the third best overall score of the evening, Peter Edwards completing on 195.8. Like Jade and Emily his
relatively low cones score stood him in good stead. Janet Macdonald and Ainslie Turner were second and third respectively with their
pony pairs.

First Evening Event at Cricklands - 13 April 2010

What a treat it was to drive on grass after the long winter! This event was the first of the series of evening events being organised by James Broome at Crick this summer, culminating in Club Championships at Tanhouse Farm ,Berkeley in August. The format is very similar to that of the winter competitions except that it is driven in the fields of the Event Centre and uses the permanent obstacles.

Tony Clarke was the overall winner at this event, taking the Open class with a score of 152. Emily Ham was very, very close in second with 155. Both these skilled drivers drove clear in cones and scored the same total of points in the obstacles so it was Tony's dressage mark of 18 against Emily's of 21 which could be said to be the deciding factor. Erica Rye was unfortunately eliminated for a blip in the cones! She was not alone as James Broome then omitted to drive the slalom in the cones so was eliminated too, leaving Ainslie Turner a clear run to win the multiples class with a score of 219.

The three Novice drivers all managed to drive correct courses. Alison Kesans was by far the fastest in the obstacles, which coupled with a clear cones round put her decisively in first place on 191. Sue Johnson was second on 261 and Elizabeth Pilkington 3rd on 297.

Wales & Gloucester Indoor Driving Qualifying Event at the
David Broome Event Centre - 14 March 2010

Drivers competing at the David Broome Centre on Sunday 14th March were treated to a dry and warmish day in compensation for the arduous conditions endured over this winter. Being the last qualifying round of this 2009-10 season, there was plenty of hard fought competition, drivers honing their skills and horses looking exceptionally well, sensing spring in the air at last.

Jack Thorne and Fleur Snow battled neck and neck through the three phases of the Novice Pony class, starting with dressage scores of 27 and 28.5 respectively. With nothing much to choose between their scores through the cones and obstacles Jack held on to that crucial 1.5 lead to take the class with 161 penalties to Fleur's score of 162.5.

Six drivers entered the Open Pony class, Tony Clarke, as so often, producing the best dressage score of the day....only 17 penalties, even though he says that dressage is Fred's least favourite phase. However Emily Ham with her Jack, were unbeatable in the obstacles and she came through to take the class on 152 penalties, the best overall score of the day. Colin Cornwell quietly moved up the rankings to be second, Tony finishing in third.

The Multiples class now enjoys a consistently good number of entries. On this occasion four pairs and a team were in action. Dressage scores in this class were particularly impressive, Janet Macdonald's mark of 19 being the second best of the day. James Broome's team looked more relaxed than on their last outing here and were rewarded with 21.5 penalties. Colin Cornwell was just behind on 22 then Ainslie Turner and Chris Legate-Baggs on 23.5 and 27.5 respectively. The cones course opened up the field considerably, so with a cones penalty score of only 3 and good obstacle times Janet won this class by 9.5 penalties from Chris in second.

The Novice Horse class was won by Liza Phillips. All four drivers produced respectable dressage scores and once again the cones course opened up the field decisively. Liza incurred only 2 time penalties here which put her comfortably into the lead. She consolidated this with steady driving through the obstacles and won the class on a score of 191.5. Although both Jade Nightingale and David Whitfield chased, there was too great a gap to close so they were 2nd and third respectively. Sue Johnson and Toby, at last back after a long lay-off ,took the day quietly.

Kate Fincham-Powell, in a class of her own, took the winner's rosette in the Open Horse class. As was to be expected, the seven drivers who stayed on to compete in the "international" style event set the arena alight as they drove this test of speed and skill. Fleur Snow was a deserving winner on this occasion. She was the fastest driver on time, who also drove clear. Jack Thorne's times were the quickest of the class but at the expense of incurring knockdowns, so he had to settle for second place by 5 points. David Whitfield finished in third place only 3 penalties behind Jack, with Emily Ham taking fourth. Jade and Erica, trying this for the first time, both drove steady accurate rounds. Ainslie Turner with cheerful Woody and Leo enjoyed her own special multiples class here taking the red rosette.

 

IHDT Qualifying round David Broome Centre 7th February 2010

Twenty two drivers came to the David Broome Centre on 7th February 2010, full of earnest intent after losing the December and January events to freezing weather. While some had managed to enjoy an outing or two elsewhere, none seemed short of skill and enthusiasm after the enforced break...and it didn't rain!!

The Novice pony class was seven strong, four of which were juniors. Jack Thorne won this class convincingly on 170 penalties, having led through all the phases. John Weaver upheld the honour of the "seniors" coming a respectable second, partly due to producing the best cones round in this group. Alison Kesans was just 1.5 penalties behind in third place.

The Open Pony class saw a very close finish, Emily Ham and Tony Clarke vying for the lead throughout. In the end Emily won by 2.5 penalties, her total of 165 being the best overall score of the day

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Janet Macdonald with her "mountain and moor" mares (a grey Welsh and a Shetland x Dartmoor respectively) took the Multiples class with a comfortable margin of 15 penalties. Everyone in this class of five achieved good dressage marks, so penalties gained in the cones and obstacles were critical. Colin Cornwell was second having led after the dressage. Ainslie Turner whose chestnut Shetlands so clearly love their job was third and Modris Kesans with his willing Shetlands fourth. James Broome brought out his team of Welsh cobs which was a treat for spectators. They were a bit above themselves in the obstacles, after performing a lovely dressage test, so ended up with slow times. But
watch this space!

Four drivers contested Novice Horse. Liza Phillips produced the best dressage test here, followed by an exemplary cones round, clear but for one time penalty and the best of the day. However David Whitfield with his coloured horse was much the fastest of the class in the obstacles, so won this class with the second best overall score of the day.

There were only two competitors in the Open Horse class which Jonathan Rees won from Modris Kesans. The two drivers were separated by only 4.5 penalties after dressage and cones, then Jonathan produced some of the best times of the day in obstacles 1 and 2 to take the winner's rosette by 10.5 penalties.

After resetting the course and a break, the much postponed "special" event to decide our area's representative for the "Keysoe Challenge" took place. Ten drivers entered for this timed test. They had to drive a combined cones and obstacles course against the clock. There were two rounds and the times and any knockdown penalties were added together to give a driver's final score. The actual course causing few knockdowns, speed and fast, smooth economical turns were needed to achieve a competitive time. After the first round, Jack Thorne and Emily Ham each held the fastest time of 57 seconds, David Whitfield close behind on 59, and Jonathan Rees on 61. Every driver improved their times in Round 2 but none more so than Jack Thorne who confidently took 8 seconds off his already fast time. He duly won this class with a score of 106, from David Whitfield on 111 and Emily on 112.

 

 

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