Equestrianism By Gillian Fraser

Last updated 09:42, Friday, 04 July 2008

DREAMS of Olympic glory crashed at the first fence for Cumbrian-based eventer Ruth Edge after her horse Two Thyme suffered an injury to a front leg.

The news is all the more disappointing since the two won an Intermediate section at Salperton on June 21 with an outstanding dressage score of just 15.9.

Also Ruth's chances of selection would have been high following the news that Lucy Wiegersma has also been forced to withdraw from the squad because her mount Shabraak has been suffering from a poisoned foot.

Better news for Kendal-based Simon Buckley whose spectacular run of good form continues.

The celebrations had barely ended after he won the prestigious Renault Jump at the Royal Highland Show with his own nine-year-old gelding Worrior Van Dingeshof, before he claimed another major prize. This time, riding Gordon Graham's stallion Jericho, Simon secured a place at this year's Horse of the Year Show after winning the Foxhunter Second Round at the Area 15 show.

Simon, who is 25, is no stranger to top-level competition. In 1999 he was part of the successful Junior Euro team which took home the gold, and two years later he won Best Senior Newcomer at Wembley. Since then he's overloaded the family display cabinets with an abundance of trophies.

Juniors keen to taste success of theirown could find opportunity's about to come knocking. On August the seventh, Greenlands is to host the Burghley Event Pony Class - a new competition for the North.

It has sections for up to 13.2 and up to 15hh, with the first three in these sections qualifying to ride at Burghley Horse Trials in September. There are also non qualifying sections for novice and open horses to give competitors the taste of what it would be like to do the Burghley Young Event Horse in the future.

The competition consists of a dressage test followed by a showjumping round, then an in-hand section.

All the marks are added together to produce the final result. The event has secured some topnotch judges including Charlotte Ridley for the jumping section.

Changing disciplines, and Deborah Jackson is still putting Cumbria well and truly on the western map with her five year old American Quarter horse Peppys All Gold. Following a successful trip to the East Coast Quarter Horse Circuit, at Horsecreek Farm, in Cambridgeshire, the two are now ranked third in the Superhorse Competition.

This is the prestigious award for the horse and rider combination with the most points over all the shows during the 2008 East Coast Circuit, and it is hotly contested.

They are also ranked first in the East Coast Circuit Rookie of the Year competition, a full 50 points ahead of the nearest competitor.

They'll be up against the cream of the country's western competitors when they take part in the Championship Circuit in Cambridgeshire in September.

Debbie says she's absolutely delighted with Pepsi (as the mare's known at home), as she's coped brilliantly with the seven-hour journey to get there each time, the intense competition and the swapping from English to western to in-hand classes, and has been consistent throughout.

RESULTS

JUNIORS

Junior 80cm Welcome Stakes: 1,Connie Moore - Connies Bobby; 2, Anna Dunlop - Kerry's Boy; 3, Emily McIntyre-Ward - Not Another Grey.

Junior Discovery/90cms Open: 1, Michelle Byrne - Bacardi II; 2,Josh Rooney - Mr Jk; 3, Anna Dunlop.

Junior Newcomers/1m Open: 1,Freddie Moore - Little Shamrock; 2, Dan Thompson - Brightwood Galaxy; 3, Amy Hill - Amber Girl.

Junior Foxhunter/1.10m Open: 1, Dan Thompson - Cyber Spaceman; 2,Melissa McCarron - Miss Juno.

SENIORS

British Novice: 1,Katie Armstrong - Crossfell Rio; 2, Gillian Robinson - JJ Diamond; 3,Richard Nichol - Katie Daley.

Discovery: 1, Ross Archibald - Arctic Rock; 2, Georgina Windness - Wilco Bravour; 3, Kelly Shaw - Caluno Z.

National Amateur 1.10m: 1, Richard Nichol - Medicinal Purpose; 2, Lucy Thomlinson - Twice as Nice; 3, Dan Thompson - Lansinks Power Girl.

Newcomers/1.10m Open: 1, Katie Armstrong - Crossfell Eurydice; 2,Kelly Shaw - Rosita II; 3, William Dunlop - He's a Diamond.

Foxhunter/1.20m Open: 1, Jon Fletcher - Chemo Z; 2, Lucy Thomlinson - Twice as Nice.

DIARY DATES

Sunday July 6 - Cumbria Riding Club ‘Open’ Combined Training in aid of Wasdale Mountain Rescue and ILPH.

BLACKDYKE

Sunday July 6 - Affiliated & Unaffiliated Dressage

GREENLANDS

Friday July 4 - SBPC Team Training

Sunday July 13 - Unaffiliated Show Jumping: Mixed 10am start

Wednesday July 16 - Suzie Gibson Training - contact Heather Metcalf 016974 76786

KINGWATER

Friday - Sunday July 4-6 - Dave Stuart, Natural Horsemanship. Bookings: Tina Griffen 07961 829900 - Infouk@davidstuart.com.au.

CUMWHINTON

Saturday - Sunday July 12-13 - British Eventing Horse Trials

INGLEWOOD

Sunday July 6 - Unaffiliated Dressage UK Chasers Regional Final.

CUMBERLAND FARMERS HUNT NORTH

Sunday July 6 - Area Show Jumping Venue - Todburn EC Morpeth

Tuesday July 8 - Newtown Farm - Evening Flatwork Rally.

CUMBERLAND FARMERS HUNT SOUTH

Saturday and Sunday July 5-6 - Zone Games Final, Newcastle Racecourse

Sunday July 6 - Area Show Jumping, Todburn

JOHN PEEL RIDING CLUB

Saturday July 5 - Area Dressage

Sunday July 6 - Area Show Jumping