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Last updated 05:40, Friday, 15 August 2008
TORRENTIAL and relentless rain may have turned the green pastures of Lowther into a swamp, but the hardy souls who braved the conditions were treated to some fantastic and highly varied performances in the main arena on Saturday.
We had everything from sulky falcons to a sultry Frenchman, with carriages, hunt packs, agility dogs and brass bands in between.
Showjumping provided memorable highlights, with some of Cumbria’s top riders proving they can go up against the country’s very best – and win.
The first showdown of the day came with the Cumberland Ale Snooker class with its £1,500 prize fund. Rachel Walker, Jon Fletcher and Louise Alston all flew the flag proudly for Cumbria, but Jonathan Dixon was the highest placed local, taking fifth place on Sanne.
The result clearly inspired Jonathan to still greater efforts, because in the afternoon he rode his home produced mare Zegreanne Z to a very decisive victory in the Cottage 4 You Open Class, shaving several seconds off a jump-off time which had seemed unassailable.
The course, built by Di Boddy was technically demanding with the smallest fence standing at 1.40 and a variety of wide oxers and difficult lines which called for clean and accurate riding.
Dalston Show also took a bit of a battering from the weather, but nevertheless managed to stage a wide variety of equestrian classes, literally encompassing everything from Shetlands to Clydesdales.
The village of Blencogo had double reason to celebrate, with showjumping wins for two of its residents – Sarah Piele on Magic Sparks and Caroline Charters on Kizzy.
Always a hard act to follow, Helen Millican took first and second in one of the other showjumping classes with Foxy Roxy and Regulator Lad.
The Cumberland Farmers Hunt south branch of the Pony Club is continuing to have a fantastic year – not only do they already have two showjumping teams and a tetrathlon team qualified for the national finals – now they’ve also qualified at every level for the National finals in Dressage as well.
Success came at the Area 2 Dressage competition at Carleton-in-Cleveland where the branch was represented by five teams. First place was taken by the CFHS Open team of Sophie Allinson (first in her arena), Jennifer Pearson (second), Joanna Sayer (fourth) and Dawn Winter – and the Intermediate team of Mark Davidson (first in his arena), Emma Sayer (second), Natalie Sayer and Sally Butterworth.
There was success too for the CFHS Novice Team A which came second and the Junior team which came second out of 18 teams.
Fresh from winning the British Open Championship at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park for the second time, Ruth Edge then went on to claim the CIC 3* at Hartpury with PC Wilson.
The two led from the start and added just 12 cross country time penalties to a dressage score of 34.4 to give them a winning margin of 1.6 penalties over Emily Baldwin and Drivetime. The result also won Ruth a new £18,000 Mitsubishi 4WD.
DIARYDATES
Friday - Sunday, August 15-17: British Eventing Horse Trials, Thirlestane Castle, Berwickshire
Saturday, August 16: Skelton Show
Sunday, August 17: CFHS Open Summer Show at Brougham, Cumbria Riding Club - Jump Cross; Caldew Riding Club 2nd Points Show - Contact Shirley Sadler 016973 51320
Tuesday, August 19: CFHN D & C tests, Kingwater
Wednesday, August 20: Carlisle Races, Flat meeting 1.50pm
Wednesday, August 20: Caldew Riding Club Evening Show Jumping competition 6pm
GREENLANDS
Today: CFHN Branch Pony Club Camp - Jane Ward 01228 576637
Sunday, August 17: Unaffiliated Show Jumping - Mixed 10am start.
Wednesday August 27 and Thursday August 28: Suzie Gibson Lessons - contact Heather Metcalf 016974 76786
KINGWATER
Sunday, August 17: Unaffiliated dressage. Tests: Walk & Trot; P4, P7, N27.
CUMBRIA RIDING CLUB
Sunday, August 17: Jump Cross Day (Open) Newton Manor
Wednesday, August 20: Club Night - Newton Manor, 6pm - 8pm
