By Gillian Fraser

Last updated 05:44, Friday, 22 August 2008

SHE’S already made her mark in the showjumping world, now it looks as though Rachel Walker’s Velica could be set for a glittering new career in Eventing.

Equestrianism

After spending just a week getting to know the mare, Denise Richardson took her to the Richmond Horse Trials - and promptly beat a field of 43 to win the Intro.

’The first two or three jumps in the cross-country were really amusing,’ says Denise. ‘It was all completely new to her and she was all over the place. But she was quick to get the hang of things, and she’s a fantastic horse - a mini with a Ferrari engine!’

Denise nearly went home with a brace of firsts - her own stallion Maximillian Maali came within an ace of winning the Novice after notching up the best dressage score, but a rolled pole in the showjumping dropped him to second.

The previous week he’d taken fourth place in the Intermediate Novice at the Central Scotland Horse Trials.

Denise is delighted with the way he’s progressed this season and says he’s now ready to upgrade to Intermediate.

Ruth Edge took ten horses to the prestigious Thirlestane Castle Scottish Championships, her highest placing of the day coming with Elite Opposition who came second in the Novice.

Four faults in the showjumping plus point eight of a time fault in the cross-country that kept her from top slot. Ruth also came fourth in the two star class with Nick of Thyme.

Claire Garlick also made the trek to Thirlestane, coming 18th in the Intermediate with Lowmoor Brooklyn.

Sarah Jones and Riverside Willow were in eventing action at Bold Heath where they endured just about every kind of weather condition from sunshine to downpours.

However, the ground at the Cheshire course held up really well throughout and Sarah was delighted with a very creditable sixth in the Pre-Novice, finishing on a good dressage score of 34.

Winning rosettes is always a joy - but winning ten in 48 hours is an absolute triumph. That was the amazing result for Helen and David Kerry from Hesket Newmarket when they took their 21 year old mare Gentle Breeze to the national Trailblazers finals at Stoneleigh.

David took Breeze in the in-hand classes, while Helen looked after the ridden side of things and the haul of rosettes was pretty evenly split.

David says they were over the moon with these results. ‘We planned to go to Trailblazers just for the experience of being at a national final and hoped that we might come away with one rosette.

Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d have this much success.’ Helen also thanked Wendy and Gerald from Kingwater who staged the Trailblazer qualifiers which led to their trip of a lifetime.

Kingwater’s now back in action following a short break from competitions - Jacqueline Saunders and Trailtrow Tarf who have qualified for Olympia in the Ridden Highlands section proved a hard act to follow in the recent Dressage show, taking second in Prelim 4, then winning both Prelim 7 and Novice 27.

RESULTS

KINGWATER

Dressage

Walk and Trot Test: 1, Nicky Phizacklea - Tia; 2, Kaye Stanley - Bentley; 3, David Kerry - Breeze.

Prelim. 4: 1, Rossana Martlew - George; 2, Jacqueline Saunders - Trailtrow Tarf; 3, Marita Barr - Granite to Gold.

Prelim. 7: 1, Jacqueline Saunders - Trailtrow Tarf; 2, Sarah McKenzie - Ash; 3, Rosanna Martlew - George.

Novice 27: 1, Jacqueline Saunders - Trailtrow Tarf; 2, Sarah McKenzie - Ash; 3, Cathy Clark -Brian James.

BLACKDYKE FARM

Affiliated & Unaffiliated Dressage

Preliminary 17 Unaffiliated: 1, Jacqueline Saunders - Trailtrow Tarf; 2= Stevie Sharp - Pinkie & Cath Lawler - Winnetou; 4, Andrea Miller - Bob.

Restricted: 1, Cerita Trafford - Ballybuckley Boy.

Novice 20 Unaffiliated: 1, Claire Garlick - A Slice ‘n’ A Half; 2, Chris Hallam - Gallahad; 3, Jane Mitchell - Joshua P Hicks.

Restricted: 1= Cerita Trafford - Ballybuckley Boy & Moira Mactaggart - Sandstorm; 3, Hayley Graham - Blackhill Prince.

Novice 38 Unaffiliated: 1, Jacqueline Saunders - Trailtrow Tarf; 2, Chris Hallam - Gallahad; 3, Bernie Willetts - Tiro.

Restricted: 1, Zara Myers - Dark Legend; 2, Jane Milligan - Jambo Sarna; 3, Moira Mactaggart - Sandstorm

Elementary 43 Restricted: 1, Jane Milligan - Jambo Sarna; 2, Joanna Bancroft - Cool Diamond; 3, Zara Myers - Dark Legend.

Elementary 53 Restricted: 1, Joanna Bancroft - Cool Diamond; 2, Jane Milligan -Jambo Sarna; 3, Liz Mather - Altoby.

Open: 1, Shona Morton - Token Jester.

DIARY DATES

GREENLANDS

Wednesday and Thursday August 27 and 28: Suzie Gibson Lessons - Contact Heather Metcalf 016974 76786

KINGWATER

Sunday August 24: Indoor showjumping. Ponies 11 am Horses 2pm.

Classes: Ponies. Clear Round 1ft 6 or under. 2ft 3, 2ft 6, 2ft 9, or higher if requested

Horses: Clear Round 2ft, 2ft 6, 2ft 9, 3ft, or higher if requested.

CFHN

Wednesday August 27: Newtown Farm Day Rally by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Grice.

CUMBRIA ENDURANCE RIDING

Sunday August 24: Silloth. Pleasure Ride, 15km or 30km.